News from Sweden – Euro Weekly News

News from Sweden – Euro Weekly News https://euroweeklynews.com News and views in English since 1998 Tue, 06 Oct 2026 10:44:34 +0000 en-GB hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.1.3 https://euroweeklynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/cropped-EuroWeeklyNews-Favicon-2-60x60.png News from Sweden – Euro Weekly News https://euroweeklynews.com 32 32 Woman’s flea market find in Sweden sells for €124,000 and shocks auctioneers https://euroweeklynews.com/2026/10/06/womans-flea-market-find-in-sweden-sells-for-e124000-and-shocks-auctioneers/ https://euroweeklynews.com/2026/10/06/womans-flea-market-find-in-sweden-sells-for-e124000-and-shocks-auctioneers/#comments Tue, 06 Oct 2026 10:44:34 +0000 https://euroweeklynews.com/?p=580587 A woman who bought an old metal torch at a flea market in Sweden has watched it sell for more than 1.4 million kronor (around €124,000). Auctioneers had only expected it to fetch about 25,000 kronor (€2,200), but it turned out to be an unfinished Olympic torch from 1956. The torch was made for the 1956 equestrian Olympics in Stockholm and went under the hammer at Stockholms Auktionsverk…

]]> https://euroweeklynews.com/2026/10/06/womans-flea-market-find-in-sweden-sells-for-e124000-and-shocks-auctioneers/feed/ 2 Sweden deports 458 Britons since Brexit in shocking residency crackdown https://euroweeklynews.com/2026/09/06/sweden-deports-458-britons-since-brexit-in-shocking-residency-crackdown/ https://euroweeklynews.com/2026/09/06/sweden-deports-458-britons-since-brexit-in-shocking-residency-crackdown/#comments Sat, 05 Sep 2026 23:07:46 +0000 https://euroweeklynews.com/?p=578210 A home, a family and decades of memories have not been enough to protect hundreds of Britons in Sweden from being forced to leave. Sweden has confirmed that 458 British citizens have been deported or forcibly removed since Brexit, revealing the scale of a residency crisis that has been quietly building since the UK left the EU. The figure has drawn attention because these are not simply people…

]]> https://euroweeklynews.com/2026/09/06/sweden-deports-458-britons-since-brexit-in-shocking-residency-crackdown/feed/ 3 Swedish gang fugitive accused of 20 violent crimes found hiding in Sitges villa https://euroweeklynews.com/2026/08/03/swedish-gang-fugitive-accused-of-20-violent-crimes-found-hiding-in-sitges-villa/ Mon, 03 Aug 2026 17:59:56 +0000 https://euroweeklynews.com/?p=575550 Officers watched an upmarket home for days in Sitges while the wanted 21-year-old inside never ventured beyond its surrounding garden. Then, amid concerns that guns or explosives could be inside, Spanish police entered. The search began in June 2025 through the European Network of Fugitive Active Search Teams (ENFAST), which allows specialist police units to exchange information and pursue…

]]> Swedish minister makes history by bringing baby to EU meeting in landmark first https://euroweeklynews.com/2026/06/26/swedish-minister-makes-history-by-bringing-baby-to-eu-meeting-in-landmark-first/ Fri, 26 Jun 2026 09:39:56 +0000 https://euroweeklynews.com/?p=572534 A Swedish government minister has made history after bringing her three-month-old baby to a meeting of European Union ministers, becoming the first person known to have done so in the bloc’s history. Sweden’s Climate and Environment Minister, Romina Pourmokhtari, attended a meeting of EU environment and climate ministers in Luxembourg on Thursday accompanied by her infant son, Adam…

]]> Stockholm tops climate ranking as Spain misses out https://euroweeklynews.com/2026/05/30/stockholm-tops-climate-ranking-as-spain-misses-out/ Sat, 30 May 2026 09:25:16 +0000 https://euroweeklynews.com/?p=570431 Stockholm has been named Europe’s most climate-resilient capital city, outperforming every other national capital in a major new study assessing how well urban areas are prepared for the impacts of climate change. The Swedish capital topped the rankings ahead of cities in Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, while capitals in Spain, France and Portugal failed to make the top 10. The ranking comes from…

]]> Explosive culture: Bomb squad detonates live grenade casually left in central Malmö https://euroweeklynews.com/2026/05/01/explosive-culture-bomb-squad-detonates-live-grenade-casually-left-in-central-malmo/ Fri, 01 May 2026 19:33:17 +0000 https://euroweeklynews.com/?p=568071 Panic gripped Malmö city centre, Sweden, this Friday, May 1, as a live hand grenade was discovered lying in a public outdoor space. Authorities acted rapidly, cordoning off five streets and issuing what they call a “VMA”, or public emergency alert similar to text message alerts, to make sure residents stayed away from windows and balconies. National bomb disposal experts arrived shortly after…

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]]> IKEA’s meatball lollipop is real, yes really real. https://euroweeklynews.com/2026/04/20/ikeas-meatball-lollipop-is-real-yes-really-real/ Mon, 20 Apr 2026 10:21:11 +0000 https://euroweeklynews.com/?p=566969 If you’ve ever looked at IKEA’s famous Swedish meatballs and thought to yourself ‘This needs to be on a stick’ then you’re in luck. IKEA has teamed up with Chupa Chups to create a limited-edition, meatball-inspired lollipop, a playful sweet that nods to the flavours people associate with the famous IKEA restaurant experience. The unusual collaboration started life as a funny April Fools’ tease…

]]> Sweden records one of Europe’s lowest smoking rates amid policy debate https://euroweeklynews.com/2026/04/19/sweden-records-one-of-europes-lowest-smoking-rates-amid-policy-debate/ Sun, 19 Apr 2026 13:13:22 +0000 https://euroweeklynews.com/?p=566918 Sweden has reached one of the lowest smoking rates in Europe, with recent estimates placing daily cigarette use at around or below 5% of the adult population. This threshold is widely used by public health researchers to define a “smoke-free” society. The decline has taken place over several decades and is attributed to a combination of high taxation on cigarettes, public health campaigns…

]]> Digital Euro by 2028? Why Sweden is defending cash while Spain pushes for digital-only https://euroweeklynews.com/2026/04/19/digital-euro-by-2028-why-sweden-is-defending-cash-while-spain-pushes-for-digital-only/ https://euroweeklynews.com/2026/04/19/digital-euro-by-2028-why-sweden-is-defending-cash-while-spain-pushes-for-digital-only/#comments Sun, 19 Apr 2026 10:31:28 +0000 https://euroweeklynews.com/?p=566897 In a letter sent in March 2026, Pedro Sánchez urged the European Council to accelerate the digital euro launch to 2028, framing it as a necessity for “financial sovereignty.” However, this push contrasts sharply with Sweden, where authorities are now mandating physical cash reserves as a defense against 2026’s rising geopolitical cyber-risks. For residents in Spain, the shift is already hitting…

]]> https://euroweeklynews.com/2026/04/19/digital-euro-by-2028-why-sweden-is-defending-cash-while-spain-pushes-for-digital-only/feed/ 5 Swedish Security Service arrests suspect on terror offence suspicion https://euroweeklynews.com/2026/04/10/swedish-security-service-arrests-suspect-on-terror-offence-suspicion/ Fri, 10 Apr 2026 19:53:31 +0000 https://euroweeklynews.com/?p=566234 A person has been arrested in Sweden on suspicion of involvement in terrorist-related offences, according to Swedish authorities. The arrest was carried out by the Swedish Security Service, known as Säpo, which is responsible for national security and counter-terrorism matters in the country. Officials confirmed that the individual is being held on suspicion of a terrorist crime.

]]> Sweden to end permanent residency for asylum seekers from July 2026 https://euroweeklynews.com/2026/04/08/sweden-to-end-permanent-residency-for-asylum-seekers-from-july-2026/ Wed, 08 Apr 2026 18:06:44 +0000 https://euroweeklynews.com/?p=566027 Sweden is set to change its immigration rules in a way that will affect how refugees and protected individuals settle in the country. From 12 July 2026, asylum seekers will no longer be able to obtain permanent residency. Instead, temporary residence permits will become the standard, removing the current path that allows many to stay indefinitely after a few years. The proposal is part of a…

]]> Migrants in Sweden see deportations delayed as government reviews rules https://euroweeklynews.com/2026/03/23/migrants-in-sweden-see-deportations-delayed-as-government-reviews-rules/ Mon, 23 Mar 2026 00:52:48 +0000 https://euroweeklynews.com/?p=564570 Sweden’s government has moved to pause and soften certain deportations following sustained political and public pressure, in what has been widely described as a limited policy reversal. The change affects specific groups of migrants, particularly teenagers and individuals who have established lives in the country, rather than representing a broader shift in migration policy.

]]> US Embassy in Sweden issues travel warning to US citizens after embassy blast in Oslo https://euroweeklynews.com/2026/03/08/us-embassy-in-sweden-issues-safety-warning-after-early-morning-blast-in-oslo/ Sun, 08 Mar 2026 21:26:42 +0000 https://euroweeklynews.com/?p=563376 The U.S. Embassy in Stockholm, Sweden has issued a security advisory urging American citizens to exercise increased caution after an explosion occurred outside the U.S. Embassy in Oslo, Norway in the early hours of Sunday. The advisory was published on the embassy’s official website on March 8, following reports of the overnight incident. The embassy guidance is aimed at U.S.

]]> Sweden to pay up to €35,000 for refugees who agree to leave https://euroweeklynews.com/2026/02/28/sweden-to-pay-up-to-e35000-for-refugees-who-agree-to-leave/ https://euroweeklynews.com/2026/02/28/sweden-to-pay-up-to-e35000-for-refugees-who-agree-to-leave/#comments Sat, 28 Feb 2026 07:14:41 +0000 https://euroweeklynews.com/?p=562668 Sweden is introducing one of the most eye-catching migration measures seen in Europe in recent years: from January 2026, refugees who voluntarily give up their residence permits and leave the country could receive up to 350,000 Swedish kronor – roughly €35,000 per adult. The proposal, confirmed by Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson’s government, represents a dramatic increase on the previous return…

]]> https://euroweeklynews.com/2026/02/28/sweden-to-pay-up-to-e35000-for-refugees-who-agree-to-leave/feed/ 3 Swedish MP uses Tottenham Hotspur metaphor to criticise government’s economic strategy https://euroweeklynews.com/2026/02/22/swedish-mp-uses-tottenham-hotspur-metaphor-to-criticise-governments-economic-strategy/ Sun, 22 Feb 2026 08:17:22 +0000 https://euroweeklynews.com/?p=562110 In a heated economic debate in Sweden’s parliament, Mikael Damberg drew international headlines after comparing the country’s economic management to the fortunes of Tottenham Hotspur. Speaking during a fiscal policy discussion in the Riksdag, Damberg, a senior figure in the opposition Social Democratic Party and Sweden’s former finance minister, used the football term “Spursy” to criticise what…

]]> Sweden pledges €95M to help Ukraine weather energy crisis amid Russian attacks https://euroweeklynews.com/2026/02/06/sweden-pledges-e95m-to-help-ukraine-weather-energy-crisis-amid-russian-attacks/ Fri, 06 Feb 2026 12:10:45 +0000 https://euroweeklynews.com/?p=560625 Sweden has announced a significant humanitarian and energy relief package for Ukraine, pledging roughly €95 million to help address the country’s severe energy challenges this winter. The funding, confirmed on February 5 by Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, is intended to supply urgently needed generators and heating equipment to Ukrainian communities suffering from widespread power…

]]> Paid in seeds: Swedish birds get job as street cleaners https://euroweeklynews.com/2026/01/24/paid-in-seeds-swedish-birds-get-job-as-street-cleaners/ https://euroweeklynews.com/2026/01/24/paid-in-seeds-swedish-birds-get-job-as-street-cleaners/#comments Sat, 24 Jan 2026 15:53:10 +0000 https://euroweeklynews.com/?p=559463 In the streets of Södertälje, a suburb of Stockholm, a Swedish startup is turning to one of nature’s cleverest problem-solvers to tackle a persistent urban headache: litter. Cigarette butts make up approximately 62 per cent of Sweden’s street litter, according to the Keep Sweden Tidy Foundation. The problem burdens councils with millions in annual cleanup costs. Södertälje, like many cities…

]]> https://euroweeklynews.com/2026/01/24/paid-in-seeds-swedish-birds-get-job-as-street-cleaners/feed/ 4 Sweden and Morocco discuss bilateral cooperation, Ukraine and Gaza https://euroweeklynews.com/2026/01/19/sweden-and-morocco-discuss-bilateral-cooperation-ukraine-and-gaza/ Mon, 19 Jan 2026 20:51:32 +0000 https://euroweeklynews.com/?p=558961 Sweden’s Minister for Foreign Affairs Maria Malmer Stenergard held talks on Monday, January 19, with Morocco’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nasser Bourita, focusing on bilateral cooperation and key international conflicts, including Western Sahara, Ukraine, and Gaza. According to a statement published by the Swedish government, the conversation underlined both countries’ commitment to…

]]> Sweden is spending €1.6 Billion to protect its skies https://euroweeklynews.com/2026/01/12/sweden-is-spending-e1-6-billion-to-protect-its-skies/ Mon, 12 Jan 2026 08:17:10 +0000 https://euroweeklynews.com/?p=558122 If you live anywhere in Europe right now, it probably won’t surprise you that defence spending is climbing again. What might raise eyebrows, though, is just how much Sweden has decided to put on the table – 15 billion Swedish crowns, roughly $1.6 billion, for new air defence systems. The aim isn’t about fighter jets or overseas missions. According to the Swedish government, this money is about…

]]> Ikea shifts strategy in China by closing seven stores https://euroweeklynews.com/2026/01/07/ikea-shifts-strategy-in-china-by-closing-seven-stores/ Wed, 07 Jan 2026 22:09:34 +0000 https://euroweeklynews.com/?p=557864 Ikea has announced that it will close seven of its stores in mainland China from February 2, marking a significant adjustment to its operations in the country. The closures are part of a broader strategy to streamline operations and focus on sustainable growth in one of the company’s largest overseas markets. The stores affected include locations in Shanghai Baoshan, Guangzhou Panyu…

]]> Spain trains them, Sweden keeps them: the silent exodus of UIB scientists https://euroweeklynews.com/2026/01/04/spain-trains-them-sweden-keeps-them-the-silent-exodus-of-uib-scientists/ Sun, 04 Jan 2026 17:19:29 +0000 https://euroweeklynews.com/?p=557558 The steady outflow of Balearic scientific talent towards northern Europe shows no sign of slowing. What recently appeared as an isolated case involving mathematicians and IT specialists has now been confirmed as a broader, structural trend. The same ‘corridor of excellence’ linking the Universitat de les Illes Balears (UIB) to Sweden is firmly established in the field of Microbiology.

]]> How much do you earn? Anyone can check a neighbour’s income in Sweden – And it’s considered normal https://euroweeklynews.com/2026/01/02/how-much-do-you-earn-anyone-can-check-a-neighbours-income-in-sweden-and-its-considered-normal/ Fri, 02 Jan 2026 16:17:20 +0000 https://euroweeklynews.com/?p=557469 In Sweden, a longstanding tradition of public access to information allows citizens to look up anyone’s declared annual income, including neighbours, friends, or colleagues. The level of salary transparency in Sweden has caused global interest, promoting fairness in pay negotiations while contributing to low corruption levels. Sweden boasts the world’s oldest legislation on freedom of…

]]> Storm Johannes triggers VMA warning, two fatalities reported https://euroweeklynews.com/2025/12/27/storm-johannes-triggers-vma-warning-two-fatalities-reported/ Sat, 27 Dec 2025 22:21:31 +0000 https://euroweeklynews.com/?p=557086 Storm Johannes has left a trail of disruption across large parts of Sweden, prompting authorities to issue a Viktigt Meddelande till Allmänheten (VMA or important public warning) and strongly advise residents against travelling on roads blocked by fallen trees and, in some cases, downed power lines. Authorities reported that thousands of trees have been blown down…

]]> Passport problems: EU scrutinises Sweden’s citizenship rules https://euroweeklynews.com/2025/12/20/passport-problems-eu-scrutinises-swedens-citizenship-rules/ Sat, 20 Dec 2025 22:57:18 +0000 https://euroweeklynews.com/?p=556662 European Union officials have formally engaged with Swedish authorities after reports emerged that some passports, including those issued by EU member states, were being treated as insufficient proof of identity in citizenship applications. The move has sparked political scrutiny in both Sweden and the EU capital, with questions over whether current Swedish procedures align with EU law on the free…

]]> Embassies shut as Sweden cuts foreign aid https://euroweeklynews.com/2025/12/08/embassies-shut-as-sweden-cuts-foreign-aid/ https://euroweeklynews.com/2025/12/08/embassies-shut-as-sweden-cuts-foreign-aid/#comments Mon, 08 Dec 2025 00:41:02 +0000 https://euroweeklynews.com/?p=555240 Sweden’s withdrawal from long-term development aid represents a structural shift rather than a temporary budget adjustment. For decades, Swedish foreign policy was built around multiyear programmes focused on governance reform, human rights, poverty reduction and civil society development. That model is now being dismantled in favour of shorter, security-driven priorities.

]]> https://euroweeklynews.com/2025/12/08/embassies-shut-as-sweden-cuts-foreign-aid/feed/ 2 Sweden invites tourists to embrace boredom this winter https://euroweeklynews.com/2025/11/26/sweden-invites-tourists-to-embrace-boredom-this-winter/ Wed, 26 Nov 2025 08:00:14 +0000 https://euroweeklynews.com/?p=553886 THE TOURISM department of Sweden is taking an amusing new approach when it comes to enticing holidaymakers to take a trip to their idyllic country: They are inviting visitors to come and get bored. “Treat yourself to a dose of boredom in Sweden,” reads their headline. “It might be just what you need to slow down, clear your mind and make space for curiosity.” With the fast pace of the holiday…

]]> Costa del Sol horror: Swedish mafia uses teen hitmen and orders murders ‘like a pizza’ https://euroweeklynews.com/2025/11/19/costa-del-sol-horror-swedish-mafia-uses-teen-hitmen-and-orders-murders-like-a-pizza/ https://euroweeklynews.com/2025/11/19/costa-del-sol-horror-swedish-mafia-uses-teen-hitmen-and-orders-murders-like-a-pizza/#comments Wed, 19 Nov 2025 13:06:47 +0000 https://euroweeklynews.com/?p=552978 A new horror trend is emerging right on the sunny Costa del Sol: Swedish crime bosses are hiring in teenagers, sometimes barely old enough to drive, as contract killers. These are the so-called “baby hitmen” and are being recruited using encrypted messaging apps. And then they’re deployed across southern Spain, according to police sources. So, you’re now surely asking: why go for minors?

]]> https://euroweeklynews.com/2025/11/19/costa-del-sol-horror-swedish-mafia-uses-teen-hitmen-and-orders-murders-like-a-pizza/feed/ 3 Stockholm bus tragedy: Multiple dead as double-decker ploughs into bus stop https://euroweeklynews.com/2025/11/14/stockholm-bus-tragedy-multiple-dead-as-double-decker-ploughs-into-bus-stop/ https://euroweeklynews.com/2025/11/14/stockholm-bus-tragedy-multiple-dead-as-double-decker-ploughs-into-bus-stop/#comments Fri, 14 Nov 2025 19:34:49 +0000 https://euroweeklynews.com/?p=552190 A tragic bus crash in Stockholm has claimed several lives and left others seriously injured after a double-decker city bus slammed into a crowded bus stop on Valhallavägen in the Östermalm district. The incident occurred at approximately 3.23pm local time on Friday November 14, near the KTH Royal Institute of Technology during afternoon rush hour. Swedish police confirmed the bus driver has…

]]> https://euroweeklynews.com/2025/11/14/stockholm-bus-tragedy-multiple-dead-as-double-decker-ploughs-into-bus-stop/feed/ 1 Sweden’s gang crime numbers are out (and they’re brutal) https://euroweeklynews.com/2025/11/10/swedens-gang-crime-numbers-are-out-and-theyre-brutal/ https://euroweeklynews.com/2025/11/10/swedens-gang-crime-numbers-are-out-and-theyre-brutal/#comments Mon, 10 Nov 2025 10:28:52 +0000 https://euroweeklynews.com/?p=551256 If you thought Sweden’s gang crisis had peaked, think again for a moment. The country’s police have just released their 2025 report and it’s grim reading. There are now an estimated 17,500 active gang criminals across Sweden, plus another 50,000 people linked to organised crime and gang-related violence. That’s practically an entire small city orbiting the country’s criminal networks.

]]> https://euroweeklynews.com/2025/11/10/swedens-gang-crime-numbers-are-out-and-theyre-brutal/feed/ 1 Sweden to lower criminal age to 13 to tackle gang crimewave https://euroweeklynews.com/2025/11/04/sweden-to-lower-criminal-age-to-13-to-tackle-gang-crimewave/ Tue, 04 Nov 2025 08:09:58 +0000 https://euroweeklynews.com/?p=550364 Stockholm is taking a stand faced with youth gangs out of control, driving terror into the community and acting with relative impunity due to their tender ages. The government has proposed radically cutting the age of criminal responsibility from 15 to 13 to target the ruthless recruitment of children as young as preteens into deadly criminal networks. Unveiled this week, the reform would expose…

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