Sweden in the EU

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.

The COVID-19 virus is primarily a risk to human life and health. But it has also had serious consequences for jobs and the economy, both globally and in Sweden. Economic recovery following the COVID-19 crisis was the theme when Prime Minister Stefan Löfven met his EU colleagues via a videoconference on 23 April.

The Government has adopted a bill to enable Sweden to implement the EU’s revised Posting of Workers Directive. The Government proposes a range of legislative amendments that will create more equal conditions for posted workers and domestic workers.

Opinion piece by Minister for Foreign Affairs Ann Linde, Minister for International Development Cooperation Peter Eriksson and Minister for Foreign Trade and Nordic Affairs Anna Hallberg. Published in Svenska Dagbladet on 20 April 2020.

After the European Commission approved the Government’s state aid notification on Wednesday, the Government could today adopt an ordinance on a discount for fixed rental costs in vulnerable sectors as a way to mitigate the financial consequences of the virus outbreak. The new aid is based on an agreement between the Government, the Centre Party and the Liberal Party.