Sweden donates to IOM to accelerate migrant repatriation

Sweden's government said Tuesday it was pledging 100 million kronor ($10.3 million) to the International Organization for Migration (IOM) to repatriate migrants and to curb illegal immigration from Iraq, Somalia, Uzbekistan, and Tunisia.

Following a large influx of asylum seekers in Sweden during the 2015 migrant crisis, successive left- and right-wing governments have tightened asylum rules.

Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson's centre-right minority government has introduced ever harsher curbs since coming to power in 2022, propped up by the anti-immigration Sweden Democrats.

The funds "will be used, among other things, to increase repatriation from Sweden and the EU and to combat irregular migration from Iraq, Somalia, Uzbekistan, and Tunisia," the government said in a statement.

Part of the funds would also be used to "improve the conditions for return to Syria and to combat human trafficking in Ukraine," it added.

"Supporting Ukraine is one of the government's main priorities. The money will be used, among other things, to counter and provide assistance to those who have been trafficked during Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine," Minister Migration Johan Forssell said.

The IOM supports Assisted Voluntary Return (AVR) programs in more than 100 countries.

The UN body "does not facilitate or implement deportations", it stressed in a statement on Monday.

"Our involvement begins only after an individual gives informed consent to receive assistance," it said.