International

On 1 January 2021, Sweden will take over the Chairmanship of the OSCE for a period of 12 months. The assignment is a manifestation of Sweden taking responsibility for the OSCE, and also of multilateralism, peace and the upholding of the European security order.

We regret the announcement by the US Government of its intention to withdraw from the Open Skies Treaty, although we share their concerns about implementation of the Treaty clauses by Russia.

Minister for Defence Peter Hultqvist met his colleagues in the Northern Group security and defence policy forum on 20 May. On the agenda was the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on national and allied military capabilities and preparedness.

On 17 March, the Government decided to temporarily ban non-essential travel to Sweden from all countries except European Union Member States, the United Kingdom, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Switzerland. The entry ban was introduced following a call by the European Council and European Commission with the aim of mitigating the effects of the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus and reducing the outbreak of COVID-19. The ban has been in effect since 19 March and, following a recommendation by the Commission, has now been extended again until 15 June.

Heads of State, Government, and leaders from United Nations agencies, International Financial Institutions, civil society, private sector and research and learning are mobilizing around a call for the prioritization of water, sanitation and hygiene in the response to COVID-19. Their joint statement:

In light of the continued uncertainty regarding international travel due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the MFA has extended the advice against non-essential travel from Sweden to all countries that was decided on 14 March 2020 until 15 July 2020. For countries or areas to which the MFA had advised against travel before 14 March 2020, these decisions still apply. The decision to extend the advice against non-essential travel from Sweden to all countries was taken on 13 May 2020. With this extension, the advice against travel applies until 15 July 2020.

Stockholm, 12 May 2020. Check against delivery.

Here you can read about measures, advice and restrictions that concern older people, people with health conditions, risk groups and health and social care staff. This is the third article in a series about the work of the Ministry of Health and Social Affairs in response to the COVID-19 virus.

The Government decided today to refer a proposal to the Council on Legislation on provisions concerning the rights of UK nationals that supplement those contained in the Withdrawal Agreement between the United Kingdom and the European Union. The proposals concern the rights of certain UK nationals to enter, reside and work in Sweden.