Ministry for Foreign Affairs
The Ministry for Foreign Affairs and Sweden's missions abroad are responsible for Sweden’s foreign, development cooperation and trade policy.
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News from Ministry for Foreign Affairs
Swedish Foreign Minister Ann Linde inaugurates the 2021 Swedish Chairpersonship of the OSCE
On the 14 January, the Minister for foreign affairs Ann Linde presents the 2021 Swedish Chairpersonship’s priorities to the Permanent Council of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, the OSCE. Her presentation is livestreamed at 10:00 (CET). Watch live via osce.org/live
Webinar: Human rights and democracy in the global fight against COVID-19
Join Nordic ministers and leading human rights defenders in a webinar: Human rights and democracy – key in the global fight against COVID-19.
Ban on entry into Sweden from the United Kingdom and Denmark
The Government has decided to severely restrict possibilities to travel from the United Kingdom and Denmark to Sweden.
Since March, a temporary ban on entry to the EU via Sweden has been in force. The Government has decided to extend the entry ban until 31 March 2021.

Government communication on the feminist foreign policy
Five years of Sweden’s feminist foreign policy show that it generates results. This is outlined in the Government communication on the policy which was presented by the Government to the Riksdag in September 2019. The feminist foreign policy has, among other things, contributed to support for female members of parliament and entrepreneurs, fewer cases of maternal mortality and unplanned pregnancies, and more resources for gender equality and women’s and girl’s rights. Sweden has also contributed toward mobilising and financing for sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR).

Sweden in the UN Security Council
After being elected by a wide margin to the United Nations Security Council, Sweden was a non-permanent member of the Council for the 2017–2018 term. As a principled member of the United Nations Security Council, Sweden took its cue from the foundation stones of international law, human rights, gender equality and a humanitarian perspective. The Swedish working method was characterised by listening, creativity, active diplomacy and an ambition to achieve results.

Feminist foreign policy
Gender equality is a fundamental aim of Swedish foreign policy. Ensuring that women and girls enjoy fundamental human rights is an obligation within our international commitments and prerequisite to achieving Sweden’s broader foreign policy goals – peace, security and sustainable development.

Drive for Democracy
Strengthened engagement for democracy was announced in the 2019 Statement of Foreign Policy and in the Swedish Foreign Service’s strategic vision for the electoral period. Sweden will stand up for democratic principles and support democracy in all contexts. On 21 November 2019, the Drive for Democracy was presented to the Riksdag Committee on Foreign Affairs by Minister for Foreign Affairs Ann Linde and Minister for International Development Cooperation Peter Eriksson.
Content from the Ministry for Foreign Affairs
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Advice against travel to Estonia, Ireland and Latvia extended
The Ministry for Foreign Affairs decided today to extend the advice against non-essential travel to Estonia, Ireland and Latvia until 16 December.
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Sweden supports programme for climate transition of energy-intensive industries in developing countries
At a summit on the climate transition of energy-intensive industries, Minister for Environment and Climate Isabella Lövin announced that Sweden intends to contribute a total of SEK 300 million to a new and innovative industry transition programme within the World Bank’s climate finance mechanism, the Climate Investment Funds (CIF).
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Changes to Sweden’s presence in Cambodia
The Government decided today that the Embassy of Sweden in Phnom Penh will be closed by the end of 2021. Sweden has good relations with Cambodia. These will now continue in new ways.
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Sweden increases it support to combat violence against women and children
In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, men’s violence against women and violence in close relationships is increasing. Sweden therefore intends to contribute SEK 122 million to efforts to eliminate men’s violence against women and violence in close relationships, combat violence against children and strengthen sexual and reproductive health and rights.
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Statement by Sweden’s Foreign Minister Ann Linde at the opening session of the 2020 OSCE Mediterranean Conference
Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, dear colleagues, First of all, I want to direct myself to all our colleagues and friends in Vienna, after last night’s terrorist attacks. I hope you are all well and safely at home. Our thoughts are with the victims and their families. We must all stand united against attacks on our open society.
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Prime Minister met Svetlana Tikhanovskaya
Prime Minister Stefan Löfven received Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, the exiled leader of the Belarusian opposition, yesterday, 18 November.
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Advice against travel to Estonia, Ireland and Latvia extended
The Ministry for Foreign Affairs decided today to extend the advice against non-essential travel to Estonia, Ireland and Latvia until 2 December.
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Necessary preparations ahead of UK withdrawal from EU customs union
The United Kingdom’s transition period ends at the end of this year and will then have fully withdrawn from the EU. It is still unclear what trade conditions will apply, but trading with the UK will in any case be more difficult. Preparations ahead of next year by both public authorities and businesses in Sweden are of central importance, say Hans Dahlgren and Anna Hallberg during a digital visit to Swedish Customs.
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Sweden's strategy for the Arctic region 2020
Sweden’s strategy for the Arctic region presents the Government’s objectives and main priorities relating to the Arctic region, and sets out the political direction of further work on the Arctic in six thematic areas: international collaboration; security and stability; climate and the environment; polar research; sustainable economic development and business sector interests; and securing good living conditions.
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The Government is investing SEK 140 million to mitigate the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on sexual and reproductive health, with a focus on Africa
The COVID-19 pandemic has had major negative impacts on sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) worldwide, and at the same time many donors have reduced their aid. Sweden is therefore providing SEK 40 million to Sida’s Strategy for SRHR in sub-Saharan Africa and SEK 100 million to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.