Sweden in the EU

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

On 22 February, Minister for Gender Equality and Housing Märta Stenevi took part in an informal video conference between EU employment, social affairs and gender equality ministers. Ms Stenevi participated in a discussion on the link between gender equality and the EU’s post-pandemic recovery.

On 24 February, Minister for Foreign Affairs Ann Linde presented the 2021 Statement of Foreign Policy in the Riksdag. Check against delivery.

At Sweden’s initiative, several EU Member States gathered to discuss the Minimum Wage Directive. The meeting resulted in several Member States joining together to send a letter to the EU Presidency. In the letter, the ministers object to the way the issue has been handled, and suggest that a legally binding directive is not the right approach.

The Government today decided that foreign nationals will have to present a negative test result for ongoing COVID-19 infection upon entry into Sweden, regardless of where they are arriving from. The aim is to reduce the risk of spreading the new variants of the COVID-19 virus that have been detected in a number of countries.

The Swedish Government decided today on certain amendments to the ban on entering Sweden from the United Kingdom, Norway and Denmark. The amendments include an exemption from the entry ban for people who are to receive certain types of care in Sweden.

Vaccine coordination was the main topic on the agenda when Prime Minister Stefan Löfven met other EU leaders via a video conference on Thursday afternoon. They also discussed the production and distribution of vaccines and cooperation with countries outside the EU.