Sweden in the EU

Today, Minister for Foreign Affairs Ann Linde will present the Government’s Statement of Foreign Policy in the Riksdag. This year’s Statement of Foreign Policy is Ms Linde’s third as Minister for Foreign Affairs.

The Government decided to lift the entry ban to Sweden from the Nordic countries and other EU and EEA countries at an extraordinary government meeting today. The decision will come into effect on 9 February.

Minister for Employment and Gender Equality Eva Nordmark took part in a digital meeting with other EU gender equality ministers on Monday 31 January. At the meeting, Ms Nordmark presented the priorities of the Swedish Presidency of the Council of the EU in 2023 in this area.

The Government has today decided to extend the temporary ban on entry to Sweden until 28 February 2022 for travellers from EU/EEA countries, and until 31 March 2022 for travellers from countries outside the EU/EEA. Today’s decision also entails amendments to the exemptions from the entry ban for residents of Argentina, Australia and Canada.

On Wednesday 26 January, Minister for EU Affairs Hans Dahlgren presented the 2022 Statement of Government Policy in the Parliamentary Debate on EU Policy. The Statement, outlining how work on the Government’s priorities will be pursued at EU level, was followed by a debate on EU policy in the Riksdag.

The Minister for EU Affairs Hans Dahlgren, the Riksdag, 26 January 2022. Check against delivery.

The Government today decided to revert to the entry restrictions that applied prior to 28 December 2021. This means that the specific requirement for a negative COVID-19 result from a test conducted within 48 hours of arrival no longer applies. This decision is based on a request from the Public Health Agency of Sweden. The list of countries with approved vaccine certificates has also been expanded. The amendments will enter into force on 21 January.

Minister for Defence Peter Hultqvist took part in the informal meeting of EU defence ministers in Brest, France on 12–13 January. The meeting was dominated by the serious security policy situation, with focus on the situation in and around Ukraine. In addition, the influence of state and non-state actors in areas of operation such as Mali was discussed, along with the continued work on the EU Strategic Compass. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell took part in the meeting. UN Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix also took part via video link.

At the EU’s General Affairs Council meeting on 14 December, the ministers for EU affairs approved the overall political direction for the French, Czech and Swedish Presidencies of the Council – known as the 18-month programme. The trio Presidency took over in January 2022, and Sweden will lead the work of the Council between 1 January and 30 June 2023.

The Presidency of the Council rotates between EU Member States every six months. During a six-month period, the Presidency will drive forward the Council’s work on EU legislation, ensure continuity of the EU agenda and ensure that legislative processes are carried out in an orderly manner and that Member States cooperate. The two main tasks of the Presidency are to plan and chair the meetings of the Council and its preparatory bodies and to represent the Council in its relations with other EU institutions.

The Government decided today to amend the entry ban to Sweden. The amendments mean that all travellers must be able to present a negative test result for ongoing COVID-19 infection upon arrival to Sweden, regardless of the country they travel from. The decision is based on the increasing spread of infection and a request from the Public Health Agency of Sweden. The amendments will enter into force on 28 December.

The Government today decided to amend the ban on entry into Sweden. The amendments mean that all travellers in the EU/EEA are subject to the same requirements for entry into Sweden. The decision was made due to the increasing spread of infection and based on a request from the Public Health Agency of Sweden. The list of countries with approved vaccine certificates has also been updated. The amendments come into effect on 21 December.

The leaders of the EU Member States and the Eastern Partnership countries will meet for the sixth Eastern Partnership summit in Brussels on 15 December. Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson will represent Sweden.

The leaders of the EU Member States and the Eastern Partnership countries will meet for the sixth Eastern Partnership summit in Brussels on 15 December. Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson will represent Sweden.

Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson will take part in the European Council meeting in Brussels on Thursday 16 December.

The Government has today adopted amendments to the temporary ban on entry into Sweden. The amendments mean that travellers who can present a vaccine certificate issued in El Salvador will be exempt from the entry ban and the COVID-19 test requirement. The decision also entails amendments to the exemption for people who travel from Jordan.

The Government has adopted amendments to the temporary ban on entry into Sweden. The amendments mean that travellers who can present a vaccine certificate issued in Togo will be exempt from the entry ban and the COVID-19 test requirement. The decision today also entails amendments to the exemption for people who travel from Namibia.

The Government has today decided to extend the temporary ban on entry to Sweden from countries within the EU/EEA due to the continued uncertainty concerning transmission of COVID-19. The Government has also adopted amendments to the ban on entry to Sweden from countries outside the EU/EEA concerning exemptions for people who live in or can present vaccination certificates issued in certain specified countries. These amendments are in line with the updated recommendations and decisions at EU level.

On 15–16 November, Minister for Defence Peter Hultqvist took part in the EU Foreign Affairs Council (FAC). The Ministers discussed EU training missions and met with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg at a ministerial lunch. In a joint meeting with the Ministers for Foreign Affairs on 15 November the first draft of the EU Strategic Compass was discussed.

The Govern­ment today adopted amend­ments to the tempo­rary ban on entry into Sweden. The amend­ments primarily mean that additio­nal people who can present a vaccine certificate issued in Armenia are exempted from the entry ban and test require­ment.