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EU mulls visas for Canadian tourists

Speaking for the European Union presidency, Swedish migration minister Tobias Billström said on Wednesday that the EU supported requiring visas for Canadians travelling to the EU in response to Canada’s decision to impose visa restrictions on Czech nationals.

Published: 15 July 2009 14:54 CEST

“As the presidency of the EU, we are in favour of this reciprocity,” Swedish Migration and Asylum Policy Minister Tobias Billström told AFP.

“But it’s up to the Commission to handle the proposal, because the Commission is responsible for the reciprocity mechanism,” he added.

Canada imposed visas on Czechs to stave off what it said was a steady influx of Roma asylum applicants from the former communist country.

The Czech government reacted to Canada’s decision on Tuesday by introducing visas for Canadian diplomats and recalling its ambassador in Canada for consultations, but it cannot impose visas on all Canadians under EU laws.

Czech authorities were also annoyed that the European Commission did not appear to be in any rush to impose visa requirements on Canadian nationals during the summer holidays.

Eurosceptic Czech President Vaclav Klaus on Wednesday chided the EU over reducing the options of retaliating against Canada for imposing visas on Czechs.

“As you well know, Canada can decide and the Czech Republic cannot. It’s Brussels that has to decide for us,” he added.

At the European parliament in Strasbourg, European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso expressed regret about Canada’s decision to re-introduce visas for Czech nationals.

The Canadian move, which also affected Mexico, is a bid to crack down on an explosion in the number of fraudulent refugee claims.

“We’ll do all necessary efforts to restore the visa free travel,” he told lawmakers.

“The Commission will examine the situation carefully and report on this” in a visa reciprocity report due out in September this year, he said.

He said Czech, Canadian and Commission officials had met already Tuesday in Brussels to discuss the matter.

Billström and Swedish Justice Minister Beatrice Ask will on Thursday and Friday host an informal meeting of EU justice and home affairs ministers in Stockholm.

A solidarity clause within the EU allows all member states to impose visas on Canadian citizens who want to travel to Europe. But the procedure is lengthy, not automatic.

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DISCOVER SWEDEN

Swedish bucket list: Seven train trips you should try this summer

Planning a train trip in Sweden this summer but don't know where to start? Here are our top picks for railway travel across Sweden.

Published: 25 April 2024 15:18 CEST
Updated: 4 May 2024 08:10 CEST
Swedish bucket list: Seven train trips you should try this summer

Inlandsbanan

This 1,300-km route stretches almost the entire length of the country. Although originally built as a freight route, the Inlandsbanan is now aimed at tourists, running only during the summer months.

The train stops for meal and activity breaks, including swimming and fishing in the country’s lakes and berry-picking in the countryside, as well as pausing for photo opportunities – look out for reindeer, elk, lynx and wolves. It’s possible to extend the journey into neighbouring Norway, or choose one of the company’s package tours, with themes such as adventure travel or Sami culture.

Some of the southern parts involve switches to a bus if you do the full journey, but from Mora in the central Dalarna region, it’s a train-only experience. If you’ve only got a short time, the northernmost section (from Östersund to Gällivare) provides the most impressive views.

Travel time and ticket costs vary significantly depending on the route and package you choose, but the full trip is a long one! A 14-day pass starts at 2,545 kronor for over-25-year-olds (but two under-15s can travel for free), while a 6-day trip from Gällivare to Mora starts at 9,295 kronor for an adult including five nights in hotel rooms along the way with breakfast included. More information can be found here.

 

A post shared by Inlandsbanan (@inlandsbanan) on May 29, 2017 at 1:02am PDT

Kiruna – Narvik

Travel time: Between 2hrs 39 and 3hrs 22

A cheaper and faster option for exploring the north is to tackle the final stretch of the epic Stockholm to Narvik (Norway) route, one of the world’s most beautiful train journeys. Depending on the time of year, you might see the northern lights and midnight sun, go dog-sledding or check out the Ice Hotel, and all year round you’ll get views out over mountains and stunning scenery.

You can reach Kiruna from Stockholm on an overnight train, with two services departing each day.

 
Malmö – Copenhagen

Travel time: Approximately 35 minutes

Train is the fastest way to make the journey between these two stylish cities, and you’ll cross the famous Öresund Bridge. The trip should get off to a good start as Malmö’s train station is modern with award-winning architecture and plenty of facilities – and views from rail journeys across the world projected onto the walls while you wait for the train. 

Lidköping – Mariestad (via Kinnekulle)

Travel time: Approximately 50 minutes

This stretch has been voted Sweden’s most scenic train journey, so it’s a beautiful starting point. 

You’ll ride over the Kinnekulle plateau mountain, passing through an area known for its stunning natural beauty and wildlife. Once in Mariestad, there are well-preserved 18th-century buildings to admire, the cathedral to visit, and the option of boat tours or bathing in the vast Lake Vänern.

Huskvarna – Bankeryd

Travel time: Approximately 16 minutes

It’s only a short trip, but if you sit on the east side of the train you’ll get a clear, uninterrupted view of Lake Vättern for the entire journey, making it well worth doing if you’re in the southern region of Jönköping. Find more information and book tickets through SJ or directly with Jönköpings länstrafik.

Ljusdal – Ånge

Travel time: Approximately 1hr

SJ operates this route in the geographical centre of Sweden, taking in charming villages, vast forests and lakes such as Letssjön and Hennan along the way. Ånge is known for being the hometown of a surprisingly high number of Swedish musical acts, and there’s beautiful nature to explore, or you could get the train onwards to Sundsvall or to Trondheim, Norway in the opposite direction.

Torsby – Kil

Travel time: Approximately 1hr 20 minutes

Tågkompaniet operates this stretch, via Värmlandstrafik, which is a single, non-electrified track. It passes through the Fryken chain of three lakes and has been running for over 100 years.

This article was first published in May 2018 and updated in April 2024
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