Brexit and the EU’s future relationship with the UK

The Government decided today [15 April] to refer a proposal to the Council on Legislation containing certain supplementary provisions on law enforcement and judicial cooperation in criminal matters to the agreement between the EU and the United Kingdom.

The Government has decided to extend the general entry ban for foreign citizens who cannot present a negative COVID-19 test result on arrival in Sweden until 31 May 2021. A temporary ban on non-essential travel to the EU via Sweden, introduced following a call from the European Council and the European Commission, has been in effect since March 2020. Since February it also includes a requirement of a negative COVID-19 test result for entry into Sweden. The ban includes certain exemptions. To travel to Sweden from countries outside the EU/ EEA, you must be covered by at least one of the exemptions from the entry ban and also be able to present a negative COVID-19 test or be exempt from the test requirement. A separate entry ban with a testing requirement for entry from EEA states and certain other states has also been in force since February. To travel to Sweden from EEA states and certain other states, you must be able to present a negative COVID-19 test or be exempt from the test requirement.

The Swedish Government welcomes the fact that EU and UK negotiators have now agreed a draft agreement on the future relationship between the EU and the UK.

Since March, a temporary ban on entry to the EU via Sweden has been in force. The Government today decided to extend the entry ban until 31 March 2021. At the same time, the Government has adopted a new exemption from the entry ban due to Brexit.

The climate, COVID-19 and the long-term EU budget were among the issues in focus when Prime Minister Stefan Löfven met with his head of state and government colleagues at the European Council in Brussels on 10–11 December. The EU leaders also considered a number of foreign policy issues and the EU’s future relationship with the UK.

Prime Minister Stefan Löfven will meet his head of state and government colleagues at the European Council in Brussels on 10-11 December. The EU leaders’ agenda includes climate targets, coordination of the COVID-19 response and foreign policy issues. They will also discuss the EU’s long-term budget and the EU’s future relations with the UK.

UK nationals living in Sweden on 31 December 2020 will need to apply to the Swedish Migration Agency for residence status under provisions entering into force today, 1 December 2020.

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.

The European Union’s future relations with the United Kingdom and climate targets for 2030 were on the agenda when Prime Minister Stefan Löfven met the other EU leaders in Brussels on 15–16 October. The heads of state and government also discussed EU-Africa relations and the COVID-19 situation in the EU.