Press Room

On Thursday 15 August, some 80 volunteers from more than 30 countries are invited to the Ministry for Foreign Affairs to celebrate the impact made by the MFA’s and Wikimedia Sweden’s international initiative, WikiGap. The initiative has gained a foothold in more than 60 countries and has so far resulted in 32 000 new or edited articles about women on Wikipedia. These articles have now been viewed more than 100 million times.

On 15 August at Fashion Week Trade, Minister for Foreign Trade Ann Linde will be taking part in a round-table discussion on feminist trade policy and its relevance for the fashion industry. With more than 700 footwear, clothing, underwear, accessories and childrenswear collections, Fashion Week Trade is Sweden’s largest fashion event, including for fashion buyers.

The Government has decided to nominate Ylva Johansson, Minister for Employment and one of Sweden’s most experienced ministers, as the new Swedish European Commissioner.

On 18 July, Minister for Defence Peter Hultqvist and the United Kingdom’s Secretary of State for Defence Penny Mordaunt signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in London agreeing to examine the possibilities for joint development of future combat aircraft capabilities and combat aircraft systems.

The Government decided today to task the Swedish National Debt Office with issuing green bonds by 2020. These are bonds that are used to fund budget expenditure on sustainable investments and projects. This bond issue will promote the Swedish market for green bonds and is part of the Government’s action to transition to sustainable development.

Salpy Eskidjian Weiderud, Executive Director of the Swedish-led Religious Track of the Cyprus Peace Process (RTCYPP), is today awarded the first-ever International Religious Freedom Award by the US Department of State.

"It is with great sorrow that I have learned about the plane crash outside Umeå. My thoughts go to the victims and their families at this difficult time. The Government is in close contact with the relevant authorities, and it is now important to investigate the cause of the crash," said Prime Minister Stefan Löfven.

The High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) on Sustainable Development begins today. Minister for Social Security Annika Strandhäll will head the Swedish delegation and be at the HLPF in New York on 15–19 July, when the ministerial meeting takes place.