The Local Sweden

Half of Swedes support law banning begging

Tue, 03 May 2016 12:05:04 +0200

Only one political party in Sweden wants a ban on begging, but half the population shares their view, a new survey shows.

'Our story is some kind of Disney fairytale'

Wed, 25 Nov 2015 13:04:34 +0100

Josefin Karlsson was so disgusted by the abuse hurled at the young beggar sitting outside her local supermarket in Gothenburg that she resolved to talk to him. The chats went rather better than expected, because in December they get married.

Minister asks Swedes not to give cash to beggars

Fri, 11 Sep 2015 13:46:00 +0200

Sweden's equality minister said on Friday that Swedes should donate money to charities rather than giving it directly to street beggars, a move she claimed would help give EU migrants the choice to stay in their home countries.

Fewer beggars in capital despite national rise

Tue, 14 Jul 2015 15:48:08 +0200

After a sharp rise in EU migrants begging in Stockholm earlier this year, officials say numbers dipped in the spring, in the wake of several high profile mass evictions from the city.

Sweden set to pen deal with Romania on welfare

Thu, 04 Jun 2015 10:04:39 +0200

Sweden is set to sign a deal with Romania to help the struggling country solve some of its most pressing social issues, including providing aid for Roma beggars on home turf.

Municipal interpreters spoke wrong language

Sat, 25 Apr 2015 13:21:18 +0200

The municipality of Helsingborg hired interpreters to communicate with migrants from Romania. Problem was, the interpreters spoke a language the Romanians didn’t know at all.

Sweden eyes deal with Romania on welfare

Thu, 02 Apr 2015 14:32:36 +0200

Sweden is close to reaching a deal with Romania to help the struggling country solve some of its most pressing social issues. The focus will be on children's rights, the government's special co-ordinator Martin Valfridsson told the Local on Thursday.

Fifty beggars evicted from Stockholm square

Wed, 11 Feb 2015 10:34:00 +0100

UPDATED: Dozens of rough sleepers have been evicted from one of the Swedish capital's largest public squares, amid rising concerns about the growing numbers of beggars in Stockholm.

Romanians go hungry as mega-cathedral rises

Tue, 23 Dec 2014 13:41:00 +0100

The EU should demand that Romania meets its membership obligations and prioritizes its destitute people ahead of 'pharaoh-esque' building projects, the Liberal Party's Jenny Sonesson argues.

'Racists' blamed for homeless tent attacks

Tue, 15 Jul 2014 14:54:00 +0200

A local group assisting homeless EU migrants in southern Stockholm has claimed that "racists" were behind the weekend attacks on camps which left tents and car tyres slashed.

Romania backs Swedish begging ban

Sat, 08 Feb 2014 10:41:00 +0100

The Romania ambassador to Sweden has called for a review of Swedish legislation which permits begging, a situation which she claims complicates the country's efforts to integrate its citizens in Romanian society.

'Romania must pay for beggars': Liberals

Tue, 21 Jan 2014 09:50:00 +0100

Romania should foot the bill for its citizens who travel to Sweden to beg, two prominent Liberal Party politicians said on Monday as they admonished certain EU countries for not taking care of their poorest citizens.

Ericsson probed over suspected bribes

Tue, 21 May 2013 11:06:00 +0200

Swedish telecom equipment maker Ericsson is suspected of having bribed ministers in Romania in connection with being awarded a contract for the country's emergency number and is now under investigation in the United States.

'Any Swedish job pays more than in Romania'

Fri, 03 May 2013 09:45:00 +0200

With Romania's Eurovision entry considered something of an underdog this year, The Local's Patrick Reilly discovers why many of the thousands of Romanians in Sweden can relate to that uphill slog.

Swedish schools may have served horsemeat

Mon, 11 Feb 2013 15:43:00 +0100

As food safety officials hold crisis talks in Sweden, it has emerged that lasagne containing horsemeat may have been served in Swedish schools and hospitals.

Jail for heads of massive sex trafficking ring

Mon, 14 May 2012 17:00:00 +0200

Two Romanian men were sentenced on Monday to six years prison for smuggling eleven women to Sweden as part of a brutal and far-reaching prostitution ring.

'I wasn't allowed to cry on the street': prostitute

Tue, 20 Mar 2012 17:58:00 +0100

A 24-year-old woman from Romania gave evidence on Tuesday as the case against the Gothenburg prostitution ring unfolded, explaining the horrors that she faced under the iron grip of her pimps.

Police bust massive sex trafficking ring

Tue, 28 Feb 2012 16:15:00 +0100

Six men are set to be charged on Wednesday in the Gothenburg District Court on suspicions of operating a comprehensive human trafficking operation which brought young women from Romania to Sweden to sell sex.

More EU citizens join the ranks of Stockholm's homeless

Mon, 09 May 2011 18:48:00 +0200

On Europe Day, May 9th, many will no doubt celebrate the increased mobility of EU citizens, but open borders and bureaucracy have also resulted in rising numbers of homeless EU citizens in Stockholm, The Local's Geoff Mortimore discovers.

Sweden offers cut price fighters to Romania

Fri, 16 Apr 2010 09:04:00 +0200

Sweden has offered Romania 24 new Gripen fighter aircraft at a cut price to match that demanded by the United States for second-hand F-16s, officials confirmed on Wednesday.