Ministry of Enterprise and Innovation

The extreme drought of recent months has had an impact on the Swedish agricultural sector. The Government is following developments closely and continues, alongside government agencies and other actors, to seek solutions to the challenges emerging so as to alleviate the situation for farmers now and in the future.

The prolonged heat and drought have impacted many sectors of society. There have been numerous forest fires, the agricultural sector has been severely affected by the drought and groundwater levels have dropped. The extreme temperatures can also cause health problems, especially among older people and the sick. The Government is following developments closely and taking the necessary decisions. The Government Offices is in continuous contact with the responsible government agencies.

The Esrange Space Centre should remain a strategic resource for national and international research, and the Government and the Swedish Space Corporation (SSC) are therefore investing SEK 80 million in a new test facility at the centre in Kiruna.

The Government has adopted a national plan for infrastructure for the period 2018–2029. It is a total investment of SEK 700 billion and the largest railway investment in modern times. The plan covers major investments in both new construction and restoration and modernisation of existing infrastructure. The decision also covers significant investments in maritime transport infrastructure and roads. This is made possible due to the Government investing SEK 100 billion more than in the previous plan period.

Minister for Infrastructure Tomas Eneroth chaired the meeting in Gothenburg on 18–19 June 2018, where EU transport ministers met to discuss connected and automated driving on the roads.

Swedish and French Ministers Tomas Eneroth and Elisabeth Borne agree to take decisive steps in Gothenburg to implement the French-Swedish Strategic Partnership for innovation and green solutions in the transport sector.

Minister for Infrastructure Tomas Eneroth has invited the EU transport ministers to discuss connected and automated driving on the roads. The meeting will take place in Gothenburg on 18–19 June 2018.

The Government today granted permission for the delineation of the course proposed by Nord Stream 2 AG for the laying of two pipelines on the continental shelf in the Swedish Exclusive Economic zone in the Baltic Sea.

The Nordic and Baltic regions are to expand their cooperation to maintain their position as Europe’s leading region in the area of digital development. The countries decided today to reinforce their cooperation on artificial intelligence (AI). Sweden will lead this cooperation.

The Government’s Inquiry Chair Jonas Bjelfvenstam presented on March 7 2018, his final report ‘The path to automated driving – market introduction’ (SOU 2018:16) to the Minister for Infrastructure Tomas Eneroth. The Inquiry proposes regulatory changes necessary to begin using and developing automated vehicles on roads over the next few years.