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EXPLAINED: Everything that changes in Sweden in July 2022

Richard Orange
Richard Orange - [email protected]
EXPLAINED: Everything that changes in Sweden in July 2022
The new Polestar convertible electric sportscar will not be eligible for the bonus. Photo: Polestar/TT

New powers to shut schools, a ban on rowdy people in libraries, and more money for the poorest pensioners: There's a lot changing in Sweden this July. Here are twelve of the big things you should know about.

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Schoolchildren (and most adults) on holiday throughout Sweden 

With schools across Sweden finishing the school year in the last two weeks of June, almost all children in Sweden are on holiday throughout July. Most adults in Sweden also take at least three weeks off in the summer, starting either in the first or second week of July. So if you're not taking time off, be warned: it can be difficult to get any responses from people you work with, either inside your own company, or in other companies in July. 

Almedalen political festival gives boost to election campaign 

The Almedalen political festival on the island of Gotland will take place from July 3rd to July 7th. The festival, started by the Social Democrat prime minister Olof Palme in 1968, is the highlight of the political calendar in Sweden, and is particularly important during an election year. This year, the leaders of all eight of the Sweden's parliamentary parties will participate. 

The Local will also be in Visby, Gotland's capital, for the event to report on the main speeches, and also record a special episode of our Sweden in Focus podcast. 

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CRIME

New terror law comes into force 

A tougher and simpler terror law comes into force in Sweden on July 1st. The new law removes the limitation period for less serious terror crimes, meaning those suspected of crimes can be prosecuted long after they were committed. It increases the maximum sentence for "associating with a terror organisation" from six to seven years in prison, and it doubles the minimum sentence for "financing, publicly encouraging, recruiting for" terrorism increased from six months to one year. 

Tougher punishment for child rape 

The minimum punishment for those found guilty of raping children has been increased by one year, from two years in prison to three. 

The new law also expands the definition of "making children pose sexually" for photographs online so that it encompasses poses where the child is entirely passive. 

Crown witnesses and better witness protection 

From July 1st, Sweden will bring in a crown witness system which will mean those who testify against their accomplices in a crime or criminal network can receive a lower punishment as a reward. The system, announced in a press release in January, is resigned to help "break the culture of silence" in some parts of Swedish society.  

The new law also increases witness protection, with the location of those who testify by video link in court kept secret. 

Libraries and swimming pools can ban rowdy customers 

From July 1st, public libraries and swimming pools will be empowered to impose a ban or tillträdesförbud on visitors who are disruptive and argumentative. The bans need to be based on an assessment of the risk of crime and of serious harassment, as well as the risk for disturbing the public order. A similar power already exists for those running shops. 

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TAX AND BENEFITS 
 
Minimum level for guarantee pension hiked by 1000 kronor 

The basic level for Sweden's so-called guarantee pension will be increased by 1,000 kronor from July 1st, but the extra money will only be paid out to the pensioners affected in August. 

Extra payment for families receiving housing benefit 
 
Families with children who are eligible for housing benefit will receive up to 1,325 kronor extra (€124) each month under a measure brought in as part of the spring budget to help people in Sweden deal with the effects of inflation. About 124,000 households in Sweden are eligible for housing budget. 
 
The extra payment for families with housing allowance will apply until the end of December, and will be set at 25 percent of the housing allowance payment received each month. 
 
Farmers can claim tax rebate on diesel 
 
From July 1st, farmers in Sweden can apply for a tax rebate on all diesel they have used between January 1st and June 30th.  The rebate is part of the support package for agricultural companies the government agreed with the Centre Party in April. 

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ENVIRONMENT

Sweden to ban all extraction of coal, oil and natural gas 

From July 1st, Sweden is banning all extraction of coal, oil, and natural gas on its territory. The decision, announced at the Stockholm +50 conference last month, has been criticised as being purely symbolic, as Sweden does not currently produce any of these fuels. 

Most expensive electric cars lose their "climate bonus" 

Electric cars which cost more than 700,000 kronor will no longer receive the government's climate bonus from July 12th, under changes to the so-called bonus-malus system for cars in Sweden. 

In other changes to the rules, cars fuelled by biogas may also be eligible to receive a bonus, while the bonus payment to companies will be capped to 35 percent of the price difference between the electric car purchased and the the nearest comparable conventional car.

The new rules will also reduce the threshold for CO2 emissions from 60g CO2/km to 50g CO2/km, meaning some petrol and diesel cars which were not penalised previously will now start to be penalised.

EDUCATION

Swedish Schools Inspectorate gains powers to shut down schools 

From July 1st, the The Swedish Schools Inspectorate will be able to force municipalities to shut down schools if they fail to implement its recommendations. 

If a school has received an injunction from the inspectorate as a result of serious failings, and then does not implement the recommendations made in the decision, and has shown a lack of ability or willingness to fulfill its obligations, the inspectorate can order it to be closed. 

IMMIGRATION

New rules on sharing refugees between municipalities come in on July 1st 

New rules come into force on July 1st which will see municipalities required to share responsibility for providing accommodation to an estimated 23,500 Ukrainian refugees. The new guidelines have been drawn up to prevent a repeat of the situation in 2015 and 2016, when some municipalities ended up having to house a disproportionately large share of the refugees arriving in Sweden. The motion was voted through by parliament on June 21st. 

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