France judged one of the hardest countries in the world for foreigners to settle in

That is understandable. A lot of people like to be a part of an exclusive group and keeping foreigners from learning their language is a good way of remaining exclusive and preventing undesired mixing. I wouldn't hold this against the Swedes if I were you. Think about it this way, it is their country and you moved there by choice, not because they forced you to go there. Thus you just have to deal with the Swedish quirks. You can't expect them to change their culture and behaviour and habits to revolve around you. When you move to foreign country, you try to cause the natives as little discomfort as you can and if that means not integrating into a social group because the locals don't want you to, you comply with that and don't force yourself upon them. Don't cause trouble and don't give the locals any kind of grief.

If the Swedes don't want certain people to learn their language, it is because they want to hold social events that foreigners can't participate in. The language is a good way to wall out people you don't want in your social group. Remember that belonging to a social group is a privilege, not a right or entitlement.

/r/europe Thread Parent Link - thelocal.fr