Sweden is the first European Union country to grant permanent residency permits to Syrian refugees, reports Dagens Nyheter on September 3.

“In the light of the worsening situation in Syria, we have complied with international law, which stipulates that permanent [residency] permits should be granted if it appears that the conflict will continue indefinitely,” explained the Director-General of the Swedish Migration Board, Anders Danielsson, in a radio interview quoted by the daily.

The decision will mean that 8,000 Syrian refugees, who are currently in Sweden, will be able to stay on indefinitely, and that they will also be granted family reunion rights, reports Dagens Nyheter. To date, some two million Syrians have fled the war in their country.

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