18 months instead of ten days. In the future, researchers and students from countries outside the EU might be able to stay this long to look for work and establish themselves in Sweden after their studies have been completed. European parliamentarian Cecilia Wikström (Liberal) hopes the new EU directive can be introduced throughout the EU by Christmas. 'Sweden and the EU have to get to grips with this in order to retain talented people and encourage them to stay in Europe,' Cecilia Wikström said when she, together with Chalmers president Karin Markides, invited people to come and discuss the topic at the university recently.