Ministry for Foreign Affairs

Speech delivered by Diana Janse, State Secretary to Minister for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade, at the launch of IDEA's report on EU external democracy action in Brussels on 31 January 2023. Check against delivery.

State Secretary for International Development Cooperation Diana Janse will be in Brussels on 31 January to participate in a meeting on the EU’s external democracy action. During the conference, the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA), will launch a report commissioned by Sweden ahead of its Presidency of the Council of the EU.

Today, 26 January, the Government has decided to provide further support to Ukraine. This support aims to improve nuclear safety and electricity supply in Ukraine by funding the work of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). The support amounts to a total of SEK 20 million in 2023.

After a meeting of the new National Security Council on 24 January, Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, Minister for Foreign Affairs Tobias Billström and Minister for Defence Pål Jonson held a press conference on the NATO accession process and Swedish security.

The strategy will apply to the period 2022–2026 and provide a total of SEK 4.3 billion for activities implemented by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida).

This compilation contains a selection of the acts and ordinances – both new and amended – that enter into force in the second half of 2022 or in early 2023.

Sweden and the rest of the EU have expressed clear support for the Iranian people, especially women and girls, who are peacefully demonstrating for their human rights. Sweden has individually, and together with the other EU Member States, condemned the violence that the Iranian authorities have used against demonstrators. Sweden has also called for those responsible for the death of Mahsa Jina Amini to be held accountable. Moreover, the EU has repeatedly imposed tougher sanctions against responsible individuals and entities, and the UN Human Rights Council has held a special session in response to the violence and human rights violations.

Sweden strongly condemns the executions that have been carried out in Iran in relation to the ongoing protests. Sweden and other EU Member States are always opposed to the death penalty, at all times and under all circumstances.

The Swedish Foreign Service is reorganising to meet the challenges posed by international developments and to implement the priorities set out in the Statement of Government Policy. The aim is to create an effective organisation that makes the best use of available resources. The Ministry for Foreign Affairs will be reorganised into six departments, each of which will be headed by a senior official. The heads of these new departments were appointed on Thursday 22 December and will take office on 1 January 2023.

Speech by Minister for Foreign Affairs Tobias Billström, held at the Swedish Institute of International Affairs 21 December 2022. Check against delivery.

The International Coordination and Response Group for the victims of Flight PS752 today issued the following joint statement:

The Government has presented Sida’s appropriation directions for 2023. The agency’s mandate includes reform and reconstruction support to Ukraine, a strong role for the business sector in development cooperation, advancement of work on migration issues and increased climate aid.

On 21–22 December, Minister for Foreign Affairs Tobias Billström is visiting Türkiye’s capital, Ankara, for talks with his Turkish counterpart Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu

Sweden supports the export of Ukrainian grain through the Black Sea Grain Initiative and Grain from Ukraine. These initiatives aim to alleviate the global hunger crisis and the risk of famine that have been exacerbated by Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, and to support the Ukrainian economy and agricultural sector.

The Government is increasing its support to Ukraine by SEK 600 million through a new mechanism under the World Bank. It aims to maintain access to energy, heating and health care, and to support agriculture and the education system.

The text of the following statement was released by the Governments of the United States of America, Australia, Canada, Chile, Iceland, New Zealand, Republic of Korea, Sweden, and the United Kingdom.

Remarks by Minister for Foreign Affairs of Sweden Tobias Billström, held at the Atlantic Council 7 December 2022. Check against delivery.

Minister for Foreign Affairs Tobias Billström is visiting Washington DC on 6–8 December for a meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken. Discussions will focus on Sweden's Presidency of the Council of the EU, Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine, China and NATO.

Disinformation is being spread online and on social media about how Swedish social services work to ensure the wellbeing of children. This article aims to give an overview of how the Swedish social services work. The text is in Arabic.