Sweden's approval rate for non-EU work permits sits at approximately 80%, yet a political debate over which government agency should manage that process is now threatening coalition unity. The Liberal Party's proposal to strip the Swedish Migration Agency of its responsibility for labour immigration has been interpreted by the Sweden Democrats as a move to dismantle the entire agency, creating fresh tension within Sweden's governing majority. 'It's definitely worth talking about,' said Ludvig Aspling, the Sweden Democrats' migration policy spokesperson, regarding the potential closure of the agency, signalling a new front in Stockholm politics over migration bureaucracy.
A Proposal for a New Authority
The debate centers on a statement from Labour Market Minister Johan Pehrson of the Liberal Party. He argued that the focus of Swedish migration policy must shift. While the current mandate period under the Tidö Agreement has concentrated on limiting asylum-based immigration, he stated the next period must prioritize attracting highly qualified labour migrants. To achieve this, Pehrson suggested transferring the responsibility for work permit applications from the Swedish Migration Agency to a new, dedicated authority. This proposal aims to create a more efficient and welcoming system specifically for labour migration, separating it from the politically charged asylum process handled at the Migration Agency's headquarters in Norrköping.
Coalition Partners Clash on Interpretation
The reaction from the Sweden Democrats, a key member of the governing majority alongside the Liberals, was immediate and stark. Ludvig Aspling framed the Liberal suggestion not as an administrative reshuffle but as a fundamental question about the Migration Agency's existence. 'Do the Liberals want to shut down the Swedish Migration Agency?' Aspling asked publicly, framing the issue for his party's base. This interpretation escalates a bureaucratic discussion into a core ideological conflict about the structure of Sweden's immigration enforcement. The Sweden Democrats have long advocated for significantly stricter migration policies, and the Migration Agency is the central body implementing those rules passed by the Swedish Parliament.
Ministerial Confusion and Political Calculus
The responsible minister for migration, Maria Malmer Stenergard of the Moderate Party, expressed bewilderment at the Liberal Party's move and the subsequent SD reaction. Her office, located in the government district of Rosenbad, now faces the task of managing a policy rift it did not initiate. The Liberal Party's proposal appears to be a strategic positioning ahead of negotiations for a future Tidö Agreement. By advocating for a streamlined, pro-business labour migration channel, they seek to appeal to their traditional centrist and business-oriented voters, differentiating themselves from their more restrictive coalition partners. However, this public airing of internal policy differences risks destabilizing the cooperative framework essential for passing government policy through the Riksdag.
Historical Context and Systemic Pressure
This debate does not occur in a vacuum. The Swedish Migration Agency has been under immense operational strain for nearly a decade, first from the high asylum numbers of 2015-2016 and more recently from the stringent policy changes implemented by the current government. Processing times, though improved for some categories, remain a point of contention for businesses seeking international talent. Historically, Sweden has experimented with separating migration streams, the former Swedish Board of Labour (AMS) once held some responsibility for labour migration before reforms consolidated authority. The Liberal proposal essentially advocates for a return to a form of that split model, arguing that a single agency cannot effectively handle both restrictive asylum policy and facilitative labour policy.
The Road to the Next Tidö Agreement
All parties involved acknowledge this discussion is a precursor to negotiations for the next Tidö Agreement, which will outline the coalition's shared goals for the coming political period. The Liberal Party has clearly laid down a marker: enhanced labour migration infrastructure is a priority. The Sweden Democrats have responded with their own marker, framing any diminishment of the Migration Agency's role as unacceptable. The Moderate Party and Christian Democrats, the other two coalition members, must now navigate this divide. The ultimate decision will be a test of the coalition's ability to compartmentalize disagreements on specific issues while maintaining overall cooperation. The outcome will significantly influence Sweden's attractiveness to global talent and the administrative structure of its migration system for years to come. Will the Swedish Parliament see a proposal for a new authority, or will the status quo prevail under sustained political pressure?