Enterprise and industry

A ban on extracting coal, oil and natural gas in Sweden will enter into force in Sweden on 1 July this year. It will be an important step in the process of transitioning to a fossil-free society. This was announced by Minister for climate and the environment Annika Strandhäll on World Environment Day, on June 5th.

SAS has announced that the company would like to convert debt corresponding to approximately SEK 20 billion into equity in the company. Against that background, the Swedish government has proposed in an additional amending budget that will be adopted today that the Riksdag authorises the Swedish government to convert the Swedish government’s existing state hybrid and the Swedish government’s outstanding loan facilities to shares in SAS. The measures require approval by the Riksdag and the European Commission.

This year, Sweden will host World Environment Day – 50 years after it was launched in Stockholm. Minister for Climate and the Environment Annika Strandhäll will open World Environment Day on 5 June, together with Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Inger Andersen. The opening will take place at the National Museum of Science and Technology and will include a discussion with young people about their vision for the future. Media representatives are welcome to follow the event onsite.

In this strategy, the Government identifies a number of strategic areas. These are: better regulation, jobs and skills, knowledge and innovation, accessibility and marketing. Each area is viewed from four horizontal perspectives: sustainability, digitisation, place-based development and collaboration.

Close to one hundred participants representing countries, industries and international organisations are meeting in Stockholm today under the LeadIT initiative to discuss the climate transition of heavy industry. Sweden, India and the World Economic Forum are hosting the meeting, which calls for decisions and action so that industry can assume international leadership in the climate transition. Two additional countries have now joined the initiative: Japan and South Africa.

Today, Minister for Education Anna Ekström is meeting the UK’s Minister for Science, Research and Innovation, George Freeman, and Minister for Technology, Innovation and Life Sciences, Lord Kamall. In connection with their meeting in London, they will sign a memorandum of understanding in the area of life sciences. The memorandum builds on a long tradition of Swedish-UK cooperation and is intended to promote joint progress on policy development, technical standards, industry engagement, research, development and implementation of new technologies and treatments.

The Government has decided to further enhance agencies’ collaboration to combat organised crime. To this end, the Swedish Work Environment Authority, the Swedish Companies Registration Office, the Swedish Board of Student Finance and the Health and Social Care Inspectorate will be subject to an obligation to provide information.

The decision to grant Jokkmokk Iron Mines AB an exploitation concession for Kallak K no 1 is accompanied by several extensive conditions that the company must comply with. On this page you can read more about these conditions, what a concession means, and how reindeer grazing land is affected by a mine.

The Government has decided to grant Swedish registered company Jokkmokk Iron Mines AB an exploitation concession for Kallak K no 1. The Government has set extensive and unique conditions that the company must comply with order to prevent disruptions to reindeer husbandry. Compliance with these conditions is a prerequisite for the exploitation concession and for any future permits.

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.

In light of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the following sanctions, the Government is now strengthening preparedness for the Swedish business sector and foreign trade through close dialogue with relevant actors. The economic effects on Sweden are currently limited, but the situation concerning increased energy and oil prices, as well as the turbulent capital market, may deteriorate. There may be quite extensive and serious consequences for the world economy, which is why the Government is closely monitoring developments and is prepared to act depending on how events unfold.

In the proposal referred to the Council on Legislation for consideration, the Government proposes amendments to the Swedish Environmental Code and the Mineral Act that entail a ban on the extraction of coal, lignite, crude oil, shale oil and natural gas similar to the ban on uranium extraction. The Government also presents proposals aimed at tightening regulatory framework for the extraction of alum shale.

Sweden’s seventh international Office of Science and Innovation was established at the Embassy of Sweden in London on 1 January 2022. The Office will develop and strengthen collaboration between the UK and Sweden on issues linked to the Government’s life sciences strategy, its export and investment strategy, the Research and Innovation Bill, and the Government’s strategic partnership programmes.

On 23 December, more infection control measures will be introduced in accordance with the Government’s action plan for introducing infection control measures. This is due to the increased community transmission of COVID-19 and the increased burden on health and medical care services.

The Government has introduced further COVID-19 infection control measures due to increased transmission rates and somewhat growing pressure on health care services. The Government also wants to reintroduce further support and compensation to reduce community transmission. Furthermore, the Government is presenting a plan for business support that may be reintroduced if stricter social restrictions need to be reimposed. Vaccinations remain the key to reducing the risk of infection, disease and death, and to avoiding the introduction of further measures.

To further accelerate the electrification of the transport sector, the Swedish National Road and Transport Research Institute (VTI) was commissioned by the Government to help build knowledge in this area. This need has been clearly highlighted in the work of the Government’s strategic innovation partnership programme Climate neutral industry.

The State is a significant company owner in Sweden. The portfolio of state-owned enterprises contains 46 fully and partially owned enterprises, of which two are listed. The State has a substantial responsibility to be an active and professional owner. The Government’s overall objective is for the enterprises to create value and, where applicable, to ensure that the specifically adopted public policy assignments are performed well.

As a result of the Government’s innovation partnership programme Climate neutral industry, the National Board of Trade Sweden was recently tasked with establishing an advisory body with key skills to promote innovative and climate-focused standardisation, and Vinnova has been commissioned to support this work.

Joint non-paper by the Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, the Netherlands, Slovakia, Spain and Sweden (2021-04-28).

The government has previously presented a plan for how the advice and restrictions introduced in response to the COVID-19 pandemic are to be adapted and removed. At a press conference on 7 September, the government announced that restrictions on attendance numbers at public gatherings and events are planned to be removed as of 29 September 2021.