MPs visit Sweden to learn from its experiences with refugees
The Chairman of the Parliament's European Union Affairs Committee (EUAC) Kalle Palling (Reform Party) and Deputy Chairman Jaak Madison (EKRE) made a two-day visit to Sweden to learn about the Swedish migration policy.
Both found that Estonia should learn from the experiences of its neighbor in receiving refugees and in working with them.
"It is important for us to learn from those who have the most experience in shaping refugee policy, and Sweden is definitely one of those," Palling said. He added: "At the meeting with Urban Ahlin [Speaker of the Swedish Paliament – ed.] both parties recognized that the current national approaches are sure to change. Those who have not been active in the refugee policy must become more active, while countries like Sweden, who have been very open, must assume a slightly more conservative attitude."
"The purpose of the visit was to see how one of our neighbors has been coping with mass immigration, and to look at the problems this has caused," Madison said. "In the future, an efficient cooperation between the Baltic states and the Nordic countries will play a crucial role."
On Wednesday, Palling and Madison met the Speaker of the Swedish Parliament Ahlin and the Swedish EUAC to discuss the European migration crisis and the Swedish migration policy. Ahlin encouraged Estonia to receive those who seek help. Around 160,000 asylum seekers are estimated to reach Sweden this year.
Palling and Madison also paid a visit to a school that has been specifically set up for immigrants in Stockholm.
Editor: M. Oll