Press Releases

April 28, 2009
EU to open free trade negotiations with Canada
The EU Member States took a decision at the Council meeting in Brussels today to give the European Commission a mandate to open negotiations on a free trade agreement with Canada.
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New green cars to be exempted from vehicle tax
Green cars will be exempted from vehicle tax for five years, while vehicle tax will be raised by SEK 5 per gram of carbon dioxide a car emits. The vehicle tax on heavy goods vehicles and large buses will be lowered and the energy tax on diesel raised by SEK 0.40 per litre by 2013. These are some of the proposed economic policy instruments that the Government will present in its energy and climate bill.
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February 5, 2009
Sweden and Finland reject customs duties on mobile phones
Six Swedish and Finnish ministers have sent a joint letter to the European Commission today strongly criticising plans to change the classification of mobile telephones in a way that in practice would mean a dramatic rise in customs duties on them.
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December 4, 2008
Sweden signs convention banning cluster munitions
Sweden has today in Oslo signed the convention banning cluster munitions. More than 100 countries will be signing the convention, the result of a Norwegian initiative, on 3-4 December. Sweden is being represented by its Ambassador in Oslo, Michael Sahlin, who signed the convention on behalf of Sweden.
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November 13, 2008
Sweden increases support to Afghanistan
The Government will make three important decisions today which in various ways will strengthen and improve Sweden's support to Afghanistan. The decisions concern both our military contribution to the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) and the design of a new strategy for our development assistance to Afghanistan.
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November 11, 2008
Sweden prepared to provide SEK 40 million in aid to eastern Congo
The humanitarian situation has further deteriorated in eastern Congo. Sweden is prepared to quickly provide humanitarian aid amounting to some SEK 40 million, of which SEK 10 million is intended for the UNHCR's work with refugees in the region.
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October 23, 2008
Sweden provides SEK 400 million in support for Georgia
An International Donor's Conference for Georgia is being held by the European Commission and the World Bank in Brussels on 22 October. At the Conference Sweden will announce SEK 400 million in support for Georgia.
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October 20, 2008
The Swedish Government proposes plan to secure the stability of the financial system
The Government will today refer a stabilisation plan for Sweden to the Council on Legislation. The plan includes measures to secure financial stability in Sweden and to deal with the negative effects of the global financial crisis. The proposal includes the creation of a guarantee scheme to restore confidence in the markets and thereby reduce borrowing costs for households and businesses.
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September 22, 2008
The budget for 2009: Putting Sweden to work - safeguarding welfare
Today the Government presents the 2009 Budget Bill, containing SEK 32 billion in reforms that will mitigate the effects of a weaker economic environment, permanently raise the level of employment and strengthen welfare. By these initiatives, the Government is acting both to meet current problems and prepare Sweden for the future.
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September 18, 2008
Sweden to send civilian observers and logistics support to Georgia
The Government decided today that Sweden will contribute personnel and equipment to the EU civilian observer mission in Georgia
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September 15, 2008
The OSCE and the Council of Europe: need for assessment of human rights situation in Georgia
Foreign Minister Alexander Stubb of Finland and Foreign Minister Carl Bildt of Sweden met today in Brussels as chairs of the OSCE and the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe respectively, together with the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Terry Davis, and the Director of the Office of the Secretary General of the OSCE, Paul Fritch.
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September 15, 2008
Sweden proposes rapidly negotiated climate trade agreement
On Sunday 14 September, the EU trade ministers met in Brussels for their regular six-monthly policy dinner. Sweden's Minister for Trade, Ewa Björling, who was one of the evening's main speakers, sought in her address to gain support for a new, rapidly negotiated free trade agreement for climate- and environment-riendly goods, services and technologies - in the form of an Environmental Technology Agreement (ETA.)
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September 11, 2008
Commemoration of the 60th anniversary of the murder of Folke Bernadotte
Folke Bernadotte was shot in Jerusalem on 17 September 1948. He was the first mediator ever to be sent by Sweden and the UN to the newly established state of Israel and Palestine in an attempt to mediate in the conflict that had arisen about the establishment of the new state.
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August 28, 2008
Major investment in Swedish research
In connection with this autumn's Budget Bill, the Alliance Government will present a new proposal for meeting the challenges facing Sweden. This will entail strengthening employment policy, enhancing Sweden's future growth potential and improving welfare.
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May 5, 2008
Carl Bildt to Strasbourg When Sweden Chairs the Council of Europe
Sweden will take the helm of the Council of Europe from May until November.
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April 3, 2008
Sweden to host international UN conference on Iraq
Today Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt and Minister for Foreign Affairs Carl Bildt met UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and made it clear that Sweden will host the first follow-up meeting for the International Compact with Iraq (ICI).
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