International

Sweden’s government is considering introducing a ban on begging, after similar restrictions have been put in place in other Nordic countries.
     ”Begging on Swedish streets can never solve the major problems of exclusion and poverty in Romania and Bulgaria”, Sweden's minister for public administration Ardalan Shekarabi said on Thursday.
     ”The point of departure for this government is to defend and develop the Swedish [social] model. It’s hardly part of the Swedish model to solve poverty with begging,” he added.
     He spoke in Reykjavik at a meeting with his Nordic colleagues who had gathered to discuss pressing issues for Nordic municipalities.
     Some 4,000 people - mostly Roma people from Romania - are said to be seeking alms in Sweden.