Foreign and security policy

National Statement by Sweden on the Situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Wednesday, 11 January 2017, New York.

Guidelines for strategies are intended for the Government Offices, the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), the Folke Bernadotte Academy (FBA), Swedish missions abroad and, where applicable, also for other government agencies commissioned by the Government to implement strategies for development cooperation.

In this Communication, the Swedish Government provides an account of Sweden’s export control policy with respect to military equipment and dual-use items in 2017. The Communication also contains a report detailing exports of military equipment during the year. In addition, it describes the cooperation in the EU and other international forums on matters relating to strategic export controls on both military equipment and dual-use items.

The objective of Sweden’s international development cooperation is to create opportunities for people living in poverty and under oppression to improve their living conditions. Development cooperation will be based on the principles of aid and development effectiveness, and the new international agreements reached by the international community in 2015: the 2030 Agenda, the Addis Ababa Action Agenda and the Paris Agreement.

On 13–15 November, the President of the Italian Republic, Sergio Mattarella, will pay a State Visit to Sweden at the invitation of HM The King. The President will be accompanied by his daughter Laura Mattarella.

The President of the Republic of Italy Sergio Mattarella will visit Sweden on 13–15 November at the invitation of H.M. The King of Sweden. The President will be accompanied by his daughter, Ms Laura Mattarella.

The objective of Sweden’s international development cooperation is to create opportunities for people who live in poverty and oppression to improve their living conditions. Development cooperation will be based on the principles of aid and development effectiveness, and the new agreements reached by the international community in 2015: the 2030 Agenda, the Addis Ababa Action Agenda and the Paris Agreement.

Sweden has terminated the contract with Egypt on the establishment of the Swedish Institute in Alexandria. However, dialogue activities as such will continue.

This strategy will form the basis of Sweden’s cooperation with the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women). The strategy establishes the priorities and forms of collaboration for Sweden’s membership of, and partnership with, UN Women at global, regional and national level for 2018–2022.

Ambassador Jan Eliasson will represent the Government at the state funeral of Kofi Annan, former Secretary-General of the United Nations, in Accra on 13 September.

On 6 September 2018, Sweden's Ambassador to the UN Olof Skoog made the following statement on behalf of 8 EU member states, ingoing, current and outgoing members of the UN Security Council on the situation in Idlib.

As President of the UN Security Council, Sweden has been responsible for the Security Council’s very broad agenda and led its intensive day-to-day work. The Security Council’s primary purpose is to maintain international peace and security, and Sweden has contributed to these efforts by focusing on results, dialogue and inclusive leadership.

This results strategy covers the period 2014–2020 and comprises a total of SEK 1.9 billion. The aim is to contribute to improving the conditions for people to raise themselves out of poverty, strengthening democracy, respect for human rights and gender equality, and to contribute to sustainable development.

Migration, EU–US relations, and security and defence will be on the agenda when Prime Minister Stefan Löfven meets his European Council colleagues on 28–29 June.

In July, Sweden will once again hold the Presidency of the UN Security Council. This is Sweden’s second and final Presidency during our two-year membership in 2017–2018. Sweden continues to assume its share of the joint responsibility and to discharge the trust that UN Member States have placed in us by electing Sweden to the Security Council.

The Barents cooperation has laid the foundation for far-reaching people-to-people cooperation and high-level political dialogue in the European Arctic. The 25th anniversary of cooperation was marked by a seminar at the Permanent Mission of Sweden to the European Union on 5 June to highlight cooperation in an EU perspective and to look ahead.

According to a new report from the Kvinna till Kvinna Foundation, the space for women’s rights defenders is shrinking in many countries. On 5 June, Sweden’s Permanent Representation to the European Union showcased the report at a meeting with the Kvinna till Kvinna Foundation and other organisations working in the area.

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has today appointed Ulrika Modéer Assistant Secretary-General and Director of the Bureau for External Relations and Advocacy at the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). As part of the UNDP leadership, Ms Modéer will lead the strategic work on financing issues and external communications.