🏡 Fewer Ukrainian refugees than expected seeking extension

Fewer than expected Ukrainians who came to Sweden through the mass refugee directive have applied to extend their residence permit.

Of the more than 49,000 people who received residence permits under the directive, only over 33,000 had submitted their application when the deadline expired last Saturday.

Migrationsverket (the Migration Agency) does not yet know whether some have left the country or if there are other reasons. The agency is currently investigating the matter. Circular migration, where people travel to other countries without notifying authorities, is one possibility.

The residence permit for those receiving it is valid until 4 March 2024.

Facts: Mass Refugees Directive

In March 2022, the EU activated the Mass Refugees Directive for the first time since its introduction in 2001. The directive allows Ukrainian citizens or those who have a residence permit in Ukraine and have resided there before February 24, 2022, to receive protection in the EU without applying for asylum.

Those who have been allowed to stay on the mass refugee directive can choose to settle themselves, or they are assigned to a municipality. How many instructions each municipality receives depends on a distribution rate that takes into account the municipality's population, the labor market, and the total reception of asylum seekers, unaccompanied minors, and new arrivals who are already in the municipality.

The Swedish Immigration Service's latest forecast is that 15 000 applicants from Ukraine will make their way to Sweden in 2023.

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by Elin Nordlund/TT | edited by Riedia

🥙 Winner under inflation: “Finally the Swedes compare food prices”

As food prices rise, consumers are turning to low-priced options. The biggest winner under inflation is the German chain - Lidl.

Lidl has seen a double-digit increase in customers every month for the past five months, with their brands selling better than more expensive, well-known brands.

Buying less food, looking for lower prices

“Finally the Swedes compare food prices”, says Robert Stekovic, commercial manager at Lidl.

“Previously, Swedes have not cared so much about what the food has cost, they have bought anyway.”

Similarly, Willys and Matsmart have seen growth by over 23% and over 30%, respectively, as people opt for own-brand products and lower-priced options.

Johanna Eurén, Head of Communications at the low-price chain Willys, says that consumers are more eager to look for products in lower price ranges.

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by Johanna Ekström/TT | edited by Riedia

🏥 Worse grade for Swedish emergency medical care

Swedish emergency medical care received a lower overall satisfaction rating last year, according to a recent nationwide patient survey.

The treatment by staff was highly rated - while many were less satisfied with the information.

Less emotional satisfaction

The overall impression dropped from 85.7 to 81.9 points out of 100, with lower ratings for emotional support, feeling involved and respected, and information provided by staff.

Patients were most satisfied with how the staff treated them and assessed their health upon arrival, as well as with cleaning.

The study, coordinated by the Swedish Municipalities and Regions, highlights the importance of providing patients with accurate information about waiting times, rotation, prioritization, and where they can seek further treatment after visiting the emergency department.

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by TT | edited by Riedia

🍔 Bloody burgers: Overlooked risk for children

The trend of consuming bloody hamburgers in Sweden has led to an increase in the cases of EHEC, a bacteria that can cause permanent disabilities in children.

Marie-Louise Danielsson-Tham, professor of food hygiene, criticizes that eating undercooked burgers is "nonchalant, ignorant and with a total lack of respect for the risks".

185 children

The bacterium is spread through minced meat that has not been heated up properly. The whole hamburger should always be heated to 70 degrees, which kills the bacteria immediately.

Children under the age of five are particularly vulnerable to complications associated with EHEC and are at risk of hemolytic uremic syndrome, which can cause acute kidney failure.

Meanwhile, approximately 40% of children who contract EHEC suffer permanent kidney damage.

In 2022, 857 people required hospitalization due to EHEC in Sweden, with 185 of them being children.

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by TT | edited by Riedia

💊 The number of children taking ADHD medication has increased significantly in recent years, especially among boys aged 5-19, where the proportion rose from less than 1% in 2006 to 5.6% in 2022. The increase among girls was from almost none in 2016 to 3.4% in 2022. ADHD diagnoses have also increased, and experts suggest that medication, along with other measures, can have positive effects on reducing exclusion, crime, car accidents, and suicide.

☢️ The Green Party in Sweden demands a law to ban nuclear weapons from being introduced into Sweden, whether in times of peace or war. They are concerned about the lack of clarity in the bill on Swedish membership of NATO currently under discussion in the Riksdag. Six out of eight parties are supporting the law, while the Green Party and the Left Party will vote against it.

🥚 Since December, at least 79 people in Sweden have been infected with salmonella from a major egg producer, and there has been an increase of three cases in the last month. Eggs from several food giants have been recalled due to the risk of salmonella, and the infected people are from 16 different regions and between one and 91 years old.

✈️ Scandinavian Airlines ( SAS ) is looking to expand its air routes between the US and Sweden and in April this year, it is launching a new direct route to New York from Gothenburg. The route will be served three times a week.

🇫🇷 French protesters demonstrated against President Macron's proposed pension reform , which would raise the retirement age from 62 to 64. Despite being the seventh demonstration since January, the turnout was lower than expected. The reform will be voted on in the Senate by 26 March at the latest, with two-thirds of the population skeptical about the changes.

🇮🇩 Indonesia has begun construction on its new capital city in eastern Borneo, with important buildings expected to be completed by August 2024. However, the project has faced criticism from environmental groups who warn that it poses a threat to the environment and wildlife such as orangutans and sun bears. The new capital is intended to replace Jakarta, which is prone to flooding and pollution.

🇨🇳 China's National People's Congress has elected its government for the coming years, headed by President Xi Jinping. The new government consists entirely of men, except for one woman . General Li Shangfu becomes the new Minister of Defense, succeeding Wei Fenghe, and Xi Jinping was elected for a third term of office, making him the longest-standing leader of modern China.

🏥 The costs incurred by Sweden's regions for healthcare workers rose by 25% to approximately SEK 7.5 billion last year. The cost of hiring staff represented 4.8% of total personnel costs, while costs for own personnel increased by 2.5%. The corona pandemic has been cited as the primary cause of these cost increases, along with high sickness rates and delayed care.

💒 The number of divorces in Sweden has decreased, which may be due to the high cost of separation caused by high inflation and household expenses. Last year 21 465 couples chose to divorce. Such a low number of divorces have not happened since 2006, according to statistics from Statistics Sweden (SCB).

🏗️ The EU has agreed to update the Energy Efficiency Directive (EED) with a requirement that at least 3% of publicly owned buildings' areas must be renovated each year, as part of its efforts to reduce energy consumption by 11.7% by 2030. The new EED is part of the EU's "fit for 55" package aimed at reducing the bloc's total emissions by 55% by 2030. The agreement will need confirmation from the European Parliament and the EU Council of Ministers.

🚴 Lake Vättern . Registration for the classic Swedish competition Vätternrundan is now open! Vätternrundan takes place annually in the month of June, and cyclists from all over the world come to Motala to take part in this unique event. Pronounced as ‘vet-turn-rund-an’, this cycling competition is the largest recreational bicycle ride in the world with a 315 km course along the shoreline of Lake Vättern, the coldest lake in Sweden. One can get enlisted individually or in a team. Of course, there are many other variations of this competition for all bike enthusiasts or curious athletes that want to ride through the beautiful sceneries of Lake Vättern… but not for 300 kilometers! There’s competition for doing half of it, and even one for kids and e-bikes! The best part is that, because Vätternrundan is a recreational ride, there are no winners or losers - it is all about enjoying the ride.

🎤 Stockholm . On March 18, Moderna Museet will host a keynote lecture by Jack Halberstam titled “ Trans* After Trans .” Halberstam is a writer and scholar from Columbia University, New York City, who has done groundbreaking research in the field of gender studies. The lecture will explore the representation of trans-bodies in art and literature, and how this representation can be expanded to be more inclusive. The event is open to the public and free of charge, and pre-registration is not required. The lecture will be conducted in English.

According to a study published in the Nordic Journal of Migration Research, many Swedes are moving to Portugal. There are several reasons, among which the warm weather in Portugal is, of course, key.

However, sentiments of “disenchantment with Sweden, political correctness, and a perceived collapse of the welfare system” have also contributed to making them move.

Additionally, lower costs of living and beneficial tax regimes are also key factors in choosing Portugal over other countries. Not to mention, low crime rates and a more effective healthcare system.

Could this be a new trend for Swedes? We’ll have to wait and see…

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by Viviana Levet/Riedia