A/HRC/41/44/Add.1 Monitoring and evaluation of international development cooperation 49. The Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency, along with the Expert Group for Aid Studies, 52 is mandated to analyse and evaluate Swedish international development assistance, evaluate and carry out studies about Swedish development cooperation, and both institutions report to the Ministry for Foreign Affairs. 53 Through the evaluation process of its initiatives and programmes, and based on the results achieved, the Government, along with the Agency, may adapt international cooperation development and humanitarian assistance to respond effectively to current global challenges and the reality on the ground. For the sake of transparency and accountability, the Government regularly publishes the results of its cooperation development initiatives on the website Openaid.se in order to be open to public control and ideas from other sources. 54 50. The international leadership position of Sweden, in remaining one of the few countries to contribute as extensively, actively and efficiently to human rights-based international solidarity for many years, is commendable. V. International solidarity with migrants and refugees 51. Sweden has a long tradition as a welcoming society for refugees, asylum seekers and migrants. Some interlocutors informed the Independent Expert during his visit that 22.2 per cent of Swedes had a foreign background and close to 18 per cent of the Swedish population had been born abroad. 55 At the regional and international levels, Sweden remains deeply involved in the discussions and debates concerning migration challenges and solutions. For instance, the Government had robustly defended the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration and the global compact on refugees, especially during negotiations. Sweden has constantly stressed the need for greater global responsibility, sharing and collaboration and enhanced governance in these areas. 56 The Swedish authorities have also been very active in European Union negotiations on a revised common asylum system, advocating for a human rights and solidarity-based approach to ensure protection for asylum seekers, migrants and refugees and to achieve a more equal distribution of people between member States. 57 Sweden has long been a key partner for other countries in the area of human rights-based international solidarity, both within and outside the European Union, providing capacity-building training on immigration issues, such as in Serbia or Tunisia.58 A. Migration policy since 2015 and its impact on international solidarity 52. According to the Government, the peak of asylum and refugee applications during 2015 stretched the ability of Sweden to welcome newcomers and respond to their needs. The country’s welcoming asylum policy attracted thousands of people fleeing war, oppression and poverty and triggered several challenges for the State at the national and local levels. The authorities then introduced temporary identity checks and border controls. In addition, and to respond to the sudden large increase in asylum applications, the authorities decided to introduce a package of temporary measures in November 2015 to contain the migration flux, resulting in the amendment of the Aliens Act regulating immigration. 59 As of 20 July 2016, national immigration legislation reverted to the less 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 The Expert Group for Aid Studies collaborates with researchers and other experts to improve Swedish aid in the long-term. See http://eba.se/en/#sthash.PqeytTmf.dpbs. See www.sida.se/English/how-we-work/evaluation/. See www.sida.se/English/how-we-work/Reporting-and-results/. Information shared by relevant authorities in Malmö. Ministry of Justice, “Sweden’s migration and asylum policy”, fact sheet (February 2018), p. 2. Ibid. Information shared by relevant authorities. See www.government.se/articles/2015/11/government-proposes-measures-to-create-respite-forswedish-refugee-reception/. 13