Ministry for Foreign Affairs

The Equal Rights Coalition (ERC) is pleased to join governments and civil society around the world to commemorate the International Day against Homophobia, Biphobia, Intersexphobia and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT).

On Wednesday May 11, Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson received UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson at Harpsund for discussions aimed at further deepening their countries’ bilateral security and defence policy cooperation.

On 16 March 2022, the Government decided to set up a working group to deliberate on the changed security environment following Russia’s aggression against Ukraine. Minister for Foreign Affairs Ann Linde led the deliberations. Minister for Defence Peter Hultqvist also took part.

On 16 March this year, the Government initiated discussion with the parties of the Riksdag concerning the changed security situation following Russia’s aggression against Ukraine. The result of these discussions will be presented at a press briefing on Friday 13 May.

10 May 2022 (check against delivery) Speech by State Secretary Jenny Ohlsson.

On 11 May, Minister for Foreign Trade and Nordic Affairs Anna Hallberg will travel to Berlin with the aim of strengthening the good trade and investment relations between Sweden and Germany. During her visit, Ms Hallberg will meet with Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Action Robert Habeck. She will also meet with representatives of German business organisations and Swedish businesses active in Germany.

On 5 may more than SEK 60 billion in support was announced at a donor conference for Ukraine in Warsaw co-organised by Sweden and Poland together with the EU.

The objective of Sweden’s international development cooperation is to create conditions to improve the lives of people living in poverty and oppression. Swedish development cooperation is based on the principles of aid and development effectiveness, the 2030 Agenda, the Addis Ababa Action Agenda and the Paris Agreement.

Minister for Foreign Affairs of Sweden Ann Linde and Mélanie Joly, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Canada, issued the following joint statement:

As Sweden assumes responsibility for the many people – primarily women and children – fleeing Ukraine, the increased associated costs can be counted as Official Development Assistance (ODA) in line with OECD DAC guidelines. This is due to Ukraine’s classification as an ODA recipient. Like most other countries that provide development assistance, Sweden deducts asylum costs from development assistance. The Government has prioritised fully safeguarding humanitarian assistance and particularly ODA to the poorest countries. Even after deductions for refugee costs, Sweden remains one of the world’s largest donor countries.

In view of the serious humanitarian situation in Ukraine following Russia’s invasion, the Prime Minister of Sweden and the Prime Minister of Poland are hosting an international donors’ conference on 5 May in Warsaw. The donors’ conference aims to mobilise continued financial support for the humanitarian response to the Ukrainian people. The conference will discuss how Ukraine can be supported in addressing both the immediate and long-term consequences of the war.

On 17–18 May 2022, Finland’s President Sauli Niinistö and his wife Jenni Haukio will pay a State Visit to Sweden at the invitation of His Majesty The King. The President will be accompanied by a delegation of government and business representatives.

On 20–23 April, Minister for Finance Mikael Damberg and Minister for International Development Cooperation Matilda Ernkrans will attend the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) and the World Bank Group’s Spring Meetings in Washington DC. The Spring Meetings will focus on the economic impact of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and what the rest of the world should do to support Ukraine and address the impact.

Russia’s violent aggression against Ukraine is the worst in Europe since the Second World War. Minister for Foreign Affairs Ann Linde announced that Sweden will increase its support to the International Criminal Court by SEK 5 million.

The strategy applies during the period 2022–2026, and provides SEK 4 625 million for activities implemented by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) and SEK 45 million for activities implemented by the Folke Bernadotte Academy (FBA).

The humanitarian situation in the world is acute and the situation of the most vulnerable continues to worsen at an alarming rate. To enable the UN to rapidly deliver support and meet the increasing humanitarian needs, Sweden is now making additional payments of SEK 69 million to the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) and SEK 35 million to the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR).

Statement by the Foreign Ministers of Albania, Andorra, Australia, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Canada, Estonia, Germany, Iceland, Kosovo, Malawi, Mongolia, New Zealand, Sweden, Tonga and the United Kingdom.

The Government’s Music Export Prize for extraordinary services to Swedish music exports in 2021 goes to ABBA. The Special Prize for long-standing contributions to Swedish music exports goes to Håkan Hardenberger, while the Honourable Mention for achievements of particular importance to the internationalisation of Swedish music was awarded to Export Music Sweden.

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.