Ministry for Foreign Affairs

Today, Tuesday 10 September and in connection with the Statement of Government Policy, Mr Kristersson announced changes within the Government: two new ministers and four ministers who are changing ministerial posts.

How many people work at the Government Offices? What was the central government budget like last year? How many acts and ordinances were issued last year? The answer to these and other questions can be found in the Swedish Government Offices Yearbook 2023.

The Government has approved an additional SEK 500 million in support for heating and electricity supply in Ukraine. According to World Bank calculations, the support could help generate electricity for 185 000 people, making this Sweden’s largest contribution yet to Ukrainian energy supply. 

On 3 September, Minister for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Johan Forssell received Türkiye’s Minister of Trade Ömer Bolat. The aim of the visit was to promote dialogue between Sweden and Türkiye within the framework of the Joint Economic and Trade Committee (JETCO).

The Government has approved SEK 2 million in support to the inhabitants of Gammalsvenskby in Ukraine. The village, which was founded by Swedes in 1782, has been under immense pressure since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion. The new support will be used to meet the inhabitants’ immediate needs during the winter. The initiative also means that the village’s children will have the opportunity to attend a summer camp on Gotland next year. The support is a first step in Sweden’s commitment to rebuilding the village’s cultural heritage in the long term.

Statement by the High Representative on behalf of the EU on the polio vaccination campaign in Gaza.

On 2–3 September, Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson will receive the Amir of the State of Qatar, HH Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani, in Stockholm. The visit will focus on developing Sweden and Qatar’s cooperation in areas such as green transition, infrastructure and health care. It will also provide an opportunity to discuss current foreign policy issues.

A full-scale civil war has been ongoing in Sudan since April 2023. The war exacerbates an already serious political, economic and humanitarian crisis. Sudan is among the countries receiving the most support from Sweden in 2024. This support includes development and humanitarian assistance to the people of Sudan. Sweden also supports ongoing diplomatic efforts for a ceasefire.

This compilation contains a selection of acts and ordinances – both new and amended – that enter into force around the second half of 2024.

Afghanistan: Statement of the High Representative on behalf of the EU on latest restrictions imposed by the Taliban on the people.

The European Union remains extremely concerned about the deepening political crisis in Venezuela.

Today, the Government has appointed Ulrik Tideström as special envoy for Ukraine’s reconstruction, business sector and development.

As a result of the disputed election in Venezuela and as part of an upcoming initiative aiming to improve conditions for free elections, the Swedish Government intends to increase its support to freedom of expression, freedom of the press and independent media in Venezuela by SEK 10 million.

On 12–14 August 2024, Minister for Foreign Affairs Tobias Billström and other Nordic foreign ministers are travelling to Nigeria and Ghana within the framework of Sweden’s Presidency of N5 – the informal foreign and security cooperation format between the Nordic countries. The ministers will discuss topics including global security, multilateral cooperation and increased trade and investment.

The European Union continues to follow developments in Venezuela with great concern. Reports from international election observation missions clearly state that the presidential elections on 28th July did not meet international standards of electoral integrity.

The EU has decided to impose sanctions against individuals responsible for violations against human rights in Belarus and oppression of Belarusian civil society and its democratic forces.

The strategy applies in 2022–2026 and provides the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) with a total of SEK 1.2 billion and the Folke Bernadotte Academy (FBA) with SEK 45 million.

The Government has decided that Svenska kraftnät, Sweden’s power grid authority, may provide backup power generators to Ukraine, to support the country’s energy supply.