Sweden in the EU

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.

On 29 March 2021 the Swedish newspaper Dagens Nyheter published an opinion piece by Minister for EU Affairs Hans Dahlgren. In the article Hans Dahlgren writes about the ongoing discussion within the EU regarding strategic autonomy – which in simple terms is about attempting to reduce Europe’s dependence on the rest of the world.

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.

At midnight last night, the extension of the general entry ban entered into force. The requirement to present a negative COVID-19 test result remains in place for entry from all countries. At the same time, the separate entry restrictions on travel from Denmark and Norway were also lifted. The requirement to present a negative COVID-19 test result also applies for entry from these countries. The entry ban has been extended until 31 May.

Vaccines and COVID-19 coordination were the main items on the agenda when Prime Minister Stefan Löfven met with other EU leaders at a video conference on 25 March. The single market and digital transformation were also on the agenda. The conference ended with a meeting with US President Joe Biden.

Coordination of the COVID-19 response is the main topic when Prime Minister Stefan Löfven meets his head of state and government colleagues during a two-day video conference on 25–26 March. On Thursday evening, the EU leaders will also have a meeting with US President Joe Biden. On Friday, they will discuss issues related to the single market and digital transformation, and hold a Euro Summit.

The Government decided today to extend the general entry ban, and that the requirement of a negative COVID-19 test will remain in effect for entry from all countries. At the same time, the separate entry restrictions on travel from Denmark and Norway will be lifted. The entry ban has been extended until 31 May. The amendments apply from 31 March.

Together with nine other EU Member States, Sweden – through Minister for Energy and Digital Development Anders Ygeman – has signalled that it does not support the proposal to introduce additional requirements on bioenergy in the EU taxonomy. The countries presented their position in a joint letter to the European Commission.

To mitigate the economic impact of the increasing number of COVID-19 cases, the Government has proposed that the State aid in support of certain commercial tenants receiving a rent rebate – introduced in spring 2020 – be reintroduced for a three-month period, January–March 2021. Today, the Government notified the support to the European Commission for approval. The Government intends to adopt the legal framework as soon as the support is approved by the Commission.

Prime Minister Stefan Löfven will meet the other EU heads of state and government during a two-day video summit on 25–26 February. The EU leaders will discuss COVID-19 and vaccine coordination on Thursday. On Friday, they will discuss foreign and security policy and relations with the EU’s Southern Neighbourhood