Sweden: Continued control at internal borders

Minister for Home Affairs Mikael Damberg
Photo: Kristian Pohl/Government Offices

The Swedish Government today decided on continued border control at the internal border for six months. Border control will continue until 11 May 2022.

The decision was taken in accordance with common EU legislation and is based on the government’s assessment that there is still a serious threat to public policy and internal security in Sweden.

Minister for Home Affairs Mikael Damberg says “The Swedish Security Service has decided not to change the assessment that the terrorist threat level remains elevated, and we make the assessment that Sweden should also retain internal border controls.

“Border control at internal borders can help detect potential perpetrators who intend to damage Sweden and prevent them from committing serious offences. Shortcomings also persist in the control of the external borders in the Schengen Area.”

A number of other Schengen countries, such as Germany, Austria, Norway and Denmark, have also temporarily reintroduced internal border controls and have announced that they, like Sweden, intend to continue with the controls for as long as a serious threat to public order and internal security remains.

As previously, the Swedish Police Authority decides where and how the border control will be conducted. The control and checks will be adapted to what is necessary to safeguard public order and internal security.

The decision of reintroduced border control at the internal border is not related to the temporary travel ban to Sweden that is in place due to the Covid-19-pandemic situation.

Swedish Government