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Sep 2 2009

Taking on the Challenges - Sweden's Presidency of the EU

On 31 July 2009, Ambassador Peter Tejler, presented the priorities for Sweden's EU Presidency at an event hosted by SAIIA (South African Institute of International Affiars) in Pretoria.

The meeting was attended by SA Government officials, academics, media, the diplomatic corps and public participants.

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Oct 22 2009 Declaration by the Presidency on behalf of the European Union on the situation in Zimbabwe
The European Union is concerned over the situation in Zimbabwe, including insufficient developments with regard to respect for human rights and democracy, unresolved nomination and appointment issues and continued politically motivated harassment of MDC members. Following mediation by the SADC, the Zanu-PF, MDC-T and MDC-M parties agreed to cooperate in a government and in the implementation of the Global Political Agreement (GPA). However, elements within Zanu-PF have consistently failed to accept real power-sharing and to demonstrate a willingness to assist in the implementation of the reforms to which they have committed.
Oct 19 2009 Cultural encounters at the University of Pretoria International Students Day
Together with Swedish exchange students at the University of Pretoria, the Embassy of Sweden took part in the annual international student day on 16 October 2009 by hosting one of the stalls.
Oct 19 2009 South African Premiere of Dead Man Walking
In association with Sweden’s Malmö Opera and with support from the Swedish Embassy in Pretoria, Cape Town’s October opera feast opened on Friday 16 October with the cutting-edge opera Dead Man Walking. The opera tells of a nun’s heart-wrenching interactions with a death-row inmate. Throughout, the stakes are of life-and-death, it's a compelling story of redemption and human anguish.
Oct 15 2009 Follow the Presidency’s largest meeting online
Many exciting and interesting international figures will take part in the European Development Days in Stockholm. The largest meeting of the Swedish Presidency will also be open to the public, and will address development issues in a broad perspective. The meeting is being jointly organised with the European Commission.
Oct 8 2009 Strong voices in support of Lisbon Treaty in European Parliament
The European Parliament was crowded on Wednesday afternoon when Fredrik Reinfeldt addressed the MEP’s and answered their questions on how the Presidency will continue to lead the EU in institutional matters.
Oct 8 2009 Peter Tejler now also Ambassador to Namibia
Ambassador Peter Tejler presented his credentials to the President of Namibia, Hifikepunye Pohamba in company of colleagues from Malaysia, Colombia, Italy, Poland, Japan and Ukraine on 1 October at the New State House in Windhoek.
Sep 21 2009 The Budget for 2010: Working Sweden Out of the Crisis
The Budget Bill for 2010 contains further assertive measures to tackle the recession following the financial crisis. A total of SEK 32 billion is being put into new measures for 2010 and SEK 24 billion for 2011.
Sep 21 2009 Statement of Government Policy
The Statement of Government Policy was presented by the Swedish Prime Minister, Mr Fredrik Reinfeldt, at the Swedish Riksdag on September 15, 2009.
Sep 21 2009 Successful Swedish visit to South Africa
Climate, the situation in Zimbabwe and trade issues were in focus when the Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt met with the President of South Africa, Jacob Zuma, in South Africa, 10 – 11 September.
Sep 21 2009 The embassy is closed on September 24
The Embassy of Sweden in Pretoria is closed on Thursday, June 5 due to South African public holiday
Sep 9 2009 Sweden, Europe and SA: Common challenges and possibilities
Lecture at the University of Witwatersrand in Johannesburg on 10 September 2009.
Sep 3 2009 The Embassy will be closed on 10 September
The Embassy will be closed between 9h00 and 12h00 on Thursday 10 September 2009 due to the visit of the Swedish Prime Minister, Fredrik Reinfeldt.
Sep 2 2009 Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt to chair EU-South Africa Summit
On Thursday, 10 September, Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt will travel to South Africa to chair two summits with South Africa. On 10 September, Mr Reinfeldt will hold bilateral talks with South African President Jacob Zuma. The following day, 11 September, Fredrik Reinfeldt, as representative of the Presidency of the European Union, will chair the EU summit with South Africa.
Aug 19 2009 SymbioCity in Johannesburg, 10 September 2009
In mid-September the EU-South African Summit will take place in South Africa. In conjunction with this, the Embassy of Sweden and the Swedish Trade Council will host a SymbioCity event focusing on climate change and sustainable solutions from Sweden.
Jul 22 2009 Mining & Tunnelling Conference in Gabarone, Botswana, 26 – 27th May 2009
The Swedish Trade Council (STC) organised a two-day Mining Conference that brought together Mining partners from Sweden, Namibia and Botswana. Presentations and discussions proved fruitful as they centred on the latest technologies, training programmes from Sweden and other expertise from all countries. Also prominent during discussions were the skills needs experienced by the mining sector in the region, specifically Namibia and Botswana where Swedish knowledge and experience can come to play an important role.
Jul 8 2009 New prices for passports and other document starting 15th of July 2009
On the 4th of June, the Swedish government decided to change prices for passports and several other documents. These price increases are caused by new requirements for biometric information in the documents.
Jun 10 2009 Sweden takes on the challenge - Fredrik Reinfeldt on Sweden's priorities for the EU Presidency
“Managing the financial crisis and unemployment and addressing climate change – these will be the two main priorities of the Swedish Presidency.” So said Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt today at a seminar at CEPS, the Centre for European Policy Studies, in Brussels, where he spoke about the Swedish Presidency.
May 7 2009 The Swedish consulate in Durban has moved
Please note that as of 4th May the Swedish consulate in Durban has moved to 106 Windemere Road, Morningside, Durban 4001.
May 7 2009 EU Film Festival
Enjoy some of the best in contemporary European cinema at the EU Film Festival at Cinema Nouveau in Pretoria, Johannesburg, Durban and Cape Town, starting May 8. Admission is free.
Apr 24 2009 Swedish descendant or Swede abroad?
Do you want to improve your Swedish? Are you also a Swedish descendant or are you living abroad with Swedish parents and are you at least 18 years of age? You can apply for one of the 3 scholarships that Sverigekontakt (The Royal Society for Swedish Culture Abroad) will award for the International Summer Course in Swedish at the Billstroemska Adult Education College on the island of Tjoern (60 kms north of Gothenburg), from July 27 to August 15 2009.
Mar 13 2009 Candidates from South Africa and Namibia nominated to the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award
PRAESA, Biblionef, The First Words in Print, Gsina Mhlope from South Africa and Andree-Jeanne Tötemeyer from Namibia are nominated to the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award. The prize is the world’s largest prize for children’s and young adult literature. On March 24th, at 13.00, the recipient of the 2009 award will be announced.
Feb 27 2009 Police cooperation between Sweden and South Africa
The Swedish National Police Board (SNPB) and the South African Police Service (SAPS) have been working together since 1999 in a number of different areas. The Swedish Police have, for example, provided support to their South African counterpart in areas of gender equality, labour relations and basic training.
Feb 13 2009 Gunilla Carlsson on the occasion of Morgan Tsvangirai being sworn in as Prime Minister
"After months of deadlock caused by the ZANU-PF party and Robert Mugabe's refusal to respect the results of the elections last March, Morgan Tsvangirai has today been sworn in as Prime Minister. It is my hope that the formation of a unity government can be a step towards a solution to the crisis in Zimbabwe," says Gunilla Carlsson in a statement.
Jan 23 2009 New fees for visas and work permits
From February 1, the fee for applying for a single or multi entry visa to visit Sweden has increased to R800.
Dec 19 2008 Nordic ministers: "The misrule of Robert Mugabe must come to an end in Zimbabwe"
The foreign ministers of the Nordic countries; Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden, have issued a joint statement, saying that "The misrule of Robert Mugabe must come to an end and respect for human rights reinstated in Zimbabwe."
Dec 19 2008 The embassy can't issue ordinary passports for the time being
Due to refurbishment of the reception area, the Embassy of Sweden in Pretoria is unable to issue ordinary passports.
Dec 10 2008 Twenty-four new projects strengthen SA-Swedish research cooperation
Twenty-four projects have been approved in this year's round of applications for the South African-Swedish research partnership programme.
Dec 9 2008 Nobel week in Stockholm
This year´s Nobel Prize laureates from Finland, France, Germany, Japan, Mauritius and USA are gathering in Stockholm and Oslo for an intensive week of press conferences, lectures and concerts
Dec 2 2008 New issue of Sweden & South Africa
Read about Sweden's new ambassador to South Africa, the new framework for Swedish-SA cooperation, Pippi Longstocking at the State Theatre and much more in the latest issue of Sweden & South Africa.
Oct 24 2008 Swedish Trade Minister Ewa Björling in South Africa
Sweden's Minister for Trade Dr Ewa Björling at the end of October paid a two-day visit to South Africa - the last stop on an Africa tour which also included Angola, Zambia and Botswana.
Oct 16 2008 Posthumous SA award to Swedish novelist
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, by Swedish author Stieg Larsson, was named winner of the 2008 Exclusive Books Boeke Prize this week.
Oct 10 2008 Swedish ambassador presents letters of credence to SA President
Sweden's new ambassador to South Africa, Peter Tejler, today presented his letters of credence to South Africa's President Kgalema Motlanthe.
Oct 8 2008 Swedish Minister for Trade Ewa Björling to visit South Africa and Botswana
Sweden's Minister for Trade Dr Ewa Björling is visiting South Africa on October 23-24. She will, among other things, participate in a seminar on green trade relations between Sweden and South Africa.
Sep 19 2008 Development of Swedish-SA cooperation strategy in full swing
In mid-September representatives of the Embassy of Sweden in Pretoria, Sida, the Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs, the Swedish Trade Council, the Folke Bernadotte Academy and the National Police Board met a range of South African counterparts to discuss the development of a new strategy for Swedish-South African relations.
Sep 17 2008 Embassy in Pretoria takes over main responsibility for Namibia
On October 15, when the Swedish embassy in Windhoek closed its operations, the embassy in Pretoria took over the main responsibility for Sweden's relations with Namibia.
Sep 12 2008 South African author nominated for Swedish literature prize
South African author Gsina Mhlope is one of the candidates nominated for the 540,000 Euro Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award 2009 for children’s literature.
Sep 12 2008 Swedish government signs UNIFEM campaign
Today the Swedish Minister for International Development Cooperation Gunilla Carlsson and Minister for Integration and Gender Equality Nyamko Sabuni will sign the UNIFEM `Say No to Violence against Women' campaign.
Sep 2 2008 Newsweek names Sweden as green leader
US magazine Newsweek has named Sweden one of the world’s greenest states, using a new Environmental Performance Index to identify international leaders and laggards.
Aug 21 2008 Sweden reverses decision to close embassy in Angola
The Swedish Government today decided to reverse its decision to close down the Swedish Embassy in Luanda, Angola. Instead, a pilot project will be implemented involving a new type of embassy with a limited number of operational tasks.
Aug 6 2008 Swedish ambassador leaves in style
The South African Department for Foreign Affairs said goodbye to Anders Möllander, who is soon leaving his post as Sweden’s ambassador to South Africa, with pomp and circumstance.

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