Sweden in the EU

At the government meeting on 4 June, the Government decided to refer a proposal to the Council on Legislation with the aim of strengthening efforts against foreign direct investments that threaten Swedish security and public order. At the same time, the Inspectorate of Strategic Products (ISP) and the Swedish Defence Research Agency (FOI) have been given assignments to further develop these efforts.

To mitigate the effects of the spread of COVID-19 and reduce the outbreak, a temporary ban on entry to the EU via Sweden is in force. The Government today adopted certain amendments clarifying the ban.

Today the Government decided to extend the temporary entry ban to the EU via Sweden until 15 June. The decision was taken following a recommendation of the European Commission. The aim of the entry ban is, as previously, to mitigate the effects of the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus and reduce the outbreak of COVID-19.

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.

The Stability and Growth Pact is a set of rules for coordinating fiscal policy between EU Member States. The purpose of these rules is to ensure sound public finances. Every April, Member States are to submit stability and convergence programmes. Sweden and other Member States that have not adopted the euro submit convergence programmes, whereas Member States that have adopted the euro submit stability programmes. The programmes are used by the Commission and the Council in their assessment of Member States’ fiscal policies and situations.

In April each year Member States submit a national reform programme to the Commission, which reports on implementation of the Europe 2020 strategy in national policies, undertakings implemented and progress achieved over the past year, as well as a description of planned measures. The reporting shall also reflect the overarching priorities for the European semester, which is a framework for the coordination of economic policies across the European Union.

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.

The Government decided today to reintroduce border controls at internal borders for six months. The decision is based on the Government’s assessment that there is still a serious threat to public policy and internal security in Sweden.