Key facts
- A British man has been detained in Stockholm and faces deportation from Sweden.
- His wife, Lily, is appealing for intervention from UK politician Andy Burnham.
- The case is part of a wider controversy over Sweden's strict post-Brexit residency application rules.
- Sweden's Migration Minister Johan Forssell defends the country's adherence to the EU-UK withdrawal agreement.
- Sweden has a significantly higher refusal rate for post-Brexit residency applications from Britons compared to other EU states.
A British man, identified only as Charles, has been detained by Swedish police and faces deportation, sparking outrage and pleas for intervention from his wife, Lily, and other British citizens facing similar circumstances. Charles and Lily, who have been fighting deportation for five years after his post-Brexit residency application was rejected, were summoned to a police station where he was informed of his impending removal from Sweden.
Lily, a lawyer, expressed shame and disbelief at her husband's detention, comparing Sweden's actions unfavorably to other countries and questioning the adherence to human rights. She highlighted that their case is still under court appeal, a fact she claims authorities disregarded. She has appealed to UK politician Andy Burnham to engage with the Swedish government to prevent further suffering for British families in Sweden.
The situation underscores a growing controversy surrounding Sweden's stringent application of post-Brexit residency rules. Sweden, along with 12 other EU member states, requires formal applications for extended residency rights, a process that has led to a high rejection rate for Britons. Official statistics indicate that Sweden's refusal rate for these applications is three times higher than the EU average, accounting for 12% of all EU refusals despite UK nationals comprising only 1.55% of beneficiaries in EU member states.
Notable cases include a 78-year-old widow who has lived in Sweden for 21 years and a 74-year-old man with dementia who has resided there for 24 years. Another British man was deported in January despite moving to Sweden at age 10 and being married to a Swedish woman. The Swedish Migration Minister, Johan Forssell, has defended the country's actions, stating that Sweden is complying with the EU-UK withdrawal agreement and that the Migration Agency is following established rules, while also noting that permits have been granted for those with 'reasonable grounds' for late applications. The UK government has formally raised concerns about Sweden's high refusal rate through the EU-UK specialised committee.