Statement of Foreign Policy 2009

This year's Statement of Foreign Policy is informed by the upcoming Swedish Presidency of the European Union in the second half of 2009. It is based on the fact that many current challenges are global in nature and that solutions must therefore also be found through international cooperation, not least within the EU framework. Sweden seeks to contribute to sustainable globalisation, both at national and international level. The Government wants to promote cooperation, openness and free trade. The main challenges for Sweden and the EU in the area of foreign policy are:

• putting in place a global climate policy
• promoting international law, democracy and human rights
• developing the EU as a global actor
• creating an EU Baltic Sea strategy
• contributing to the continued enlargement of the EU
• dealing with ongoing and unexpected crises
• strengthening transatlantic cooperation

The Statement of Foreign Policy also takes account of the fact that quality, effectiveness and coherence are important starting points for Swedish development cooperation and for more effective and efficient EU development assistance policy. Sweden will also work for continued reform of the UN and for more intense international cooperation against weapons of mass destruction. Finally, the Minister for Foreign Affairs states that Sweden's security policy remains firmly in place and that there is a will for deeper Nordic cooperation in the area of security and defence policy.