Sweden Introduces Border Checks amidst Growing Migrant Crisis

Sweden, known as a haven for refugees, has temporarily reintroduced border checks in a bid to stem a record influx of migrants.

The Nordic country, known for its open-door policies, has informed the European Commission about its intention to reintroduce controls at its internal borders in a move highlighting the strain put on Swedish migration authorities and police by the worst migratin crisis in Europe since WWII.

The border controls were reintroduced for the period November 12-21. They will focus on selected harbours in southern and western Sweden as well as on the Oresund bridge linking the country with Denmark. Police will monitor trains and ferries arriving from mainland Europe and stop anyone without valid travel documents.

"The decision was triggered by the unexpected migratory flow which, in the assessment of the Swedish Government, constitutes a serious threat to internal order and public policy," the European Commission said on its website.

The temporary reintroduction of border checks between EU member states is an exceptional possibility explicitly foreseen in and regulated by the Schengen Borders Code in case of those risks, the Commission added.

Sweden, with population of about 9.5 million, has received more asylum-seekers per capita than any other EU country. The government expects up to 190,000 asylum seekers to arrive in 2015.

One in seven of those arriving in Europe make their way to Sweden,  Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Lofven said on Thursday.

"If you don't have good control of who is coming here - what people are actually entering the county - that is a risk," Lofven said in an interview with BBC's Radio 4 Today programme.