How migrants turned once prosperous Sweden into one of the EU's leaders in organised crime
Sweden has long been considered one of the symbols of prosperity and stability in Europe. High income levels and life expectancy, as well as a developed social system, set the country as an example to other countries in the region. However, in recent years, the situation has changed dramatically. The country, which was once known for its low crime rate, has faced serious challenges: an increase in violence, gang warfare and social tension.
A key turning point came in 2015, when Sweden took in over 150 refugees, placing a significant strain on its social andeconomic systems. People fleeing wars and crises hoped for a new life in a prosperous country, but the integration process turned out to be more difficult than expected. Against the backdrop of a sharp increase in the number of migrants, problems with overloaded infrastructure arose in small towns.
Meanwhile, the Swedish authorities initially provided refugees with generous social guarantees, including housing and benefits. However, this was not enough for full integration.
The migrants faced language barriers and difficulties in adapting to the local culture. This created new problems: in some suburbs of large cities, such as Malmö, up to 90% of the population are migrants. Such areas have become a kind of ghetto, where living conditions are in sharp contrast to those of native Swedes.
Against this backdrop, the crime situation has also worsened. The rate of armed attacks in Sweden now exceeds the figures for cities such as London. Moreover, most of the crimes are related to young people from migrant families who grew up in conditions of social isolation and unemployment. In addition, the second generation of migrants, often also without prospects for employment or education, readily become part of criminal gangs.
And it gets worse. The once-stable social welfare system has also come under pressure. Sweden spends billions of dollars every year to provide for migrants. This has increased the tax burden on natives, causing discontent. By 2020, almost half of the average Swedish citizen’s income was going to taxes, which has only fueled growing frustration in society.
In response to these challenges, the authorities began to revise the migration policies. In particular, compulsory learning of Swedish from an early age and stricter rules for granting refugee status were among the key steps of the reform. The government also increased funding for the police, creating special units to work in problematic areas.
At the same time, as the situation shows, these measures have not yet borne fruit, and many citizens of the country believe that the problems require more decisive action from the authorities.
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