Sweden intends to expel as many as 80,000 refugees and migrants who arrived in 2015 and whose applications for asylum have been rejected.”We are talking about 60,000 people, but the number could climb to 80,000,” Interior Minister Anders Ygeman was quoted as saying by Swedish media.He added on Wednesday that the government has asked police and authorities in charge of refugees to organise their expulsion.Sweden, which is home to 9.8 million people, is one of the European Union countries that has taken in the largest number of refugees in relation to its population. Sweden received more than 160,000 asylum seekers last year, and about 55 of those are expected to be given asylum.The number of refugee arrivals has dropped dramatically since Sweden enacted systematic photo ID checks on travellers on January 4.
The EU Commission voiced support for Sweden’s announcement, with a spokesperson saying member states have an obligation to return people who lack grounds for asylum.Natasha Bertaud told reporters that the EU should beware of giving an impression that the union has an “open door”, even for people without need for asylum.The planned mass expulsion was announced as Europe struggles to deal with a crisis that has seen tens-of-thousands of refugees arrive on Greek beaches with the passengers – mostly fleeing conflict in Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan – undeterred by cold, wintry conditions and deadly seas.The United Nations says that more than 46,000 people have arrived in Greece so far this year, with more than 170 people killed making the dangerous crossing.
source:ALJAZEERA
