Sweden has become the the first country in the EU to offer permanent residency to Syrian refugees,

[pampango]

according to the Swedish news site The Local.

The decision covers all asylum seekers from Syria who have been granted temporary residency in Sweden for humanitarian protection. They will now receive permanent residence permits, the Swedish Migration Board announced on Tuesday.

Previously, around half of Syrian asylum seekers had been granted permanent residency, with the remaining half receiving three-year residence permits.

The foreign ministers of countries neighbouring Syria are due to meet in Geneva on Thursday to discuss the refugee crisis, the UNHCR reports.

Sweden has always had a welcoming policy towards refugees. This openness drives the far-right Sweden Democrats crazy.

The Sweden Democrats or Swedish Democrats is a far-right and right-wing populist political party in Sweden that was founded in 1988. SD describes itself as a nationalist movement. ... In 2011 the party moderated its profile by also identifying as a social conservative party.

The Sweden Democrats' party programme is based on nationalism. ... The journalist and historical author Henrik Arnstad has characterized the party as fascist. Nordic Studies scholar Benjamin Teitelbaum has called them radical nationalist. The party has been described by sociologist Jens Rydgren, and others, as xenophobic, racist and right-wing populist. In 2013, a Sveriges Radio journalist called the party xenophobic, which resulted in a complaint lodged to the broadcasting regulator. The Swedish Broadcasting Commission determined that this description was acceptable to use.

Immigration

The Sweden Democrats believe that the current Swedish immigration and integration policies have been a failure. ... SD feels that the current situation with a large number of immigrants living in cultural enclaves is not beneficial for the country.

As the party considers Sweden to have had too much immigration in later years, which it claims have seriously threatened national identity and societal cohesion, SD wants to reinstate a common Swedish national identity which in turn would mean a stronger inner solidarity. SD rejects the policy of multiculturalism, but accepts a multiethnic society where cultural assimilation is promoted. SD wishes to strongly restrict immigration, and give generous support for immigrants who instead of wanting to assimilate in Sweden voluntarily prefer to emigrate back to their country of origin.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sweden_Democrats

[dipsydoodle]

1. All 2 million ?

Syria crisis: UN says more than 2m have fled.

More than two million Syrians are now registered as refugees, after the total went up by a million in the last six months, the UN's refugee agency says.

More Syrians are now displaced than any other nationality, says the UNHCR.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-23937972

[pampango]

3. No. But for a small country Sweden has been very open to refugees.

In 2012 and 2013, a total of 14,700 Syrian asylum seekers came to Sweden. Together with Germany, Sweden is the EU country which has accepted the highest number of asylum seekers from the war-torn country.

Sweden sets a fine example that other countries should follow.

My OP on the Syrian refugee crisis.

[Bluenorthwest]

2. And what about the righteous US which says it cares so very much?

When do we start airlifts to bring them here, to safety?