Johan Forssell

Today, Monday 20 March, the Swedish Presidency of the Council of the EU and the European Commission hosted an International Donors’ Conference in support of the people affected by the earthquakes in Türkiye and Syria. At the Conference, Sweden presented its total support of approximately EUR 45 million. Pledges made at the Conference totalled approximately EUR 7 billion.

On Monday 20 March, Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson and Minister for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Johan Forssell will attend the international donors’ conference in Brussels. The Swedish Presidency of the Council of the EU initiated the donors’ conference to help the people in Türkiye and Syria affected by the earthquakes.

On 20–21 March, the Swedish Presidency of the Council of the EU and the European Commission will co-host the European Humanitarian Forum in Brussels. The Forum brings together decision-makers and key actors from the humanitarian community with the aim of strengthening the EU’s role as a humanitarian actor. The Forum will be chaired by Minister for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Johan Forssell.

Minister for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Johan Forssell received Egyptian Minister of Trade and Industry Ahmed Samir Saleh in Stockholm on 14 March. During the visit, the ministers participated in a Swedish-Egyptian business forum together with business representatives.

Earthquakes: The European Commission and the Swedish Council Presidency will host an International Donors’ Conference in support of the people in Türkiye and Syria on 20 March in Brussels.

On 14 March, Minister for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Johan Forssell will present the Government’s Music Export Prize for 2022. The nominees include internationally renowned Swedish artists and songwriters.

(New version) Sweden has pledged an additional EUR 6.8 million to the response in Syria, where the earthquakes have exacerbated an already dire humanitarian crisis. On 12 February, 300 family tents were transported to Türkiye. To date, Sweden has contributed approximately EUR 10.1 million in support for those affected by the earthquakes in Türkiye and Syria.

This support is intended to strengthen the two countries’ efforts to meet the humanitarian needs of women and girls and promote their opportunities and rights in both the short and the long term. The support will be channelled through the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and UN Women.

The Government has decided to donate 722 000 doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine to the COVAX global vaccine initiative. Sweden has thereby donated more than 15 million doses and contributed more than SEK 2 billion to global vaccination efforts against COVID-19.

On 27 February, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Nations hosted a high-level pledging event for the humanitarian crisis in Yemen. Minister for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Johan Forssell, UN Secretary-General António Guterres and Head of the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs Ignazio Cassis hosted the event, which raised almost USD 1.2 billion for life-saving assistance. Sweden pledged more than USD 25 million.

As part of the Government’s clear prioritisation of Ukraine, yet another extensive Swedish support package is being allocated to the country. The support focuses on humanitarian operations and Ukraine’s energy sector.

The Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) is providing approximately EUR 3 million in emergency assistance to those affected by the earthquakes in Türkiye and Syria via four of its humanitarian partner organisations. The aid will go to meeting basic needs such as winter clothing, water and psychosocial support for children. In total, Sweden is now providing approximately EUR 13.6 million to those affected in the two countries.

Minister for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Johan Forssell is visiting Ankara today together with European Commissioner Olivér Várhelyi for joint talks with Turkish representatives. They will discuss the donor conference in support of the earthquake victims in Türkiye and Syria, initiated by Sweden together with the European Commission.

In response to requests – mainly from Türkiye and Syria – for support to foreign disaster-affected or war-torn areas, the Government has tasked the National Board of Health and Welfare with assessing the possibilities of providing assistance. The agency should examine what medical equipment or materials, or other supplies, may be needed to provide care, and can be donated from available stock or Sweden’s regions after all domestic needs have been met. The Government is allocating SEK 45 million for this purpose.

In response to the humanitarian situation following the powerful earthquakes that struck Türkiye and Syria, the Swedish Government has taken a swift decision to provide an additional SEK 30 million in humanitarian support and to contribute experts and equipment. The Government has also authorised the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency to offer support via NATO.

On Tuesday 7 February, Minister for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Johan Forssell and Minister for Civil Defence Carl-Oskar Bohlin will hold a press conference on a new support package to earthquake-stricken Türkiye and Syria.

The Government is taking swift and resolute action in response to the earthquake that hit Türkiye and northern Syria today, through support measures and in its role as holder of the Presidency of the Council of the EU.

On Monday 6 February at 17.00, Minister for Civil Defence Carl-Oskar Bohlin, Minister for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Johan Forssell and Director General for the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency (MSB) Charlotte Petri Gornitzka will hold a joint press conference on Swedens support to Türkiye and Syria.

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.

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.