Judicial system

The Government has proposed that participation in – or financing participation in – a terrorist organisation should be a punishable offence. This would further strengthen the criminal law framework to counter the threat posed by terrorism.

On 26 January, the Swedish Government decided to extend the previously-adopted entry restrictions requiring all travellers from China to be able to present a negative test result for ongoing COVID-19 infection upon arrival in Sweden, regardless of their vaccination status.

In Sweden, freedom of expression and demonstration are protected by the Constitution. Freedom of expression is one of the foundations of the Swedish state. Freedom of expression, freedom of information,  freedom to demonstrate and freedom of assembly are therefore central rights in our democracy. The individual’s right to freedom of religion is also strongly protected by the Constitution.

On 26–27 January, Minister for Justice Gunnar Strömmer and Minister for Migration Maria Malmer Stenergard will lead the first informal ministerial meeting of the Presidency in Sweden. The agenda includes EU migration policy, the fight against organised crime and Russia’s aggression against Ukraine.

The Government decided today to refer a proposal to the Council on Legislation aimed at giving the Swedish Police Authority more effective tools to prevent terrorist content being spread online. The legislative proposal complements an EU regulation in this area.

The Government decided today to introduce temporary entry restrictions on travel from China. This means that travellers from China need to present a negative COVID-19 test result to enter Sweden. The test requirement applies as of 7 January.

A constitutional amendment that enters into force on 1 January 2023 will allow limitations on freedom of association for groups engaged in terrorism. This means that Sweden will be able to combat terrorism in new and broader ways.

The Government is stepping up its efforts to combat honour-related violence and oppression, and has therefore commissioned an ongoing inquiry to draft proposals for legislation to criminalise virginity testing, virginity certification and hymen reconstruction surgery.

The remit has been tasked with reviewing the criminal law regulations regarding racist and similar symbols and, if necessary, proposing amendments.

The Inquiry's remit was to propose how basic training and education to become a police officer could be redesigned as a fit-for-purpose higher education programme.

The number of children who are wrongfully removed or are retained in a country other than the country where the child is resident has increased in recent years. This booklet aims to give you as a parent in this situation some practical support by offering information about what you yourself can do as a parent, what help you can get and where you can turn. At the same time, it contains information about what help is not available to you. This information is also important to keep your expectations realistic.

This fact sheet contains a brief presentation of the Swedish law-making process.

Preparations ahead of the European Council meeting were influenced by the attacks in Paris when the General Affairs Council met in Brussels on 17 November. State Secretary Hans Dahlgren represented Sweden.