Sweden in the EU

The Government has today adopted an amendment to the temporary ban on entry from third countries that expands the possibilities for participants in international elite competitions to enter Sweden.

On Wednesday, the European Commission presented ‘Fit for 55’, the EU’s new climate package. The package contains the Commission’s proposals for reducing emissions by at least 55 per cent by 2030, compared with 1990 levels. Minister for EU Affairs Hans Dahlgren welcomes the package, which represents a major and important step for the EU’s climate action.

Today, 15 July 2021, the Act containing supplementary provisions on cooperation in criminal matters between the European Union and the United Kingdom enters into force.

Discussions on the situation in Russia and how the EU should manage it, along with LGBTIQ issues, dominated the EU summit on 24–25 June. Prime Minister Stefan Löfven and other EU leaders also addressed the COVID-19 situation and the economic recovery.

When the EU’s heads of state and government meet in Brussels on 24–25 June, they will discuss the economic situation in the EU, migration and a number of foreign policy issues. They will also look at activities related to COVID-19. Prime Minister Stefan Löfven and his colleagues will kick off the summit with a working lunch with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

The Government has decided to extend the entry ban on travel to Sweden from EU/EEA countries. The Swedish regulations are also being adapted to the EU regulation on a COVID certificate. This mainly entails an entry ban on travel to Sweden unless a vaccination certificate, a negative COVID-19 test result, a certificate confirming recovery from COVID-19 or a corresponding certificate can be presented. The extension enters into force on 30 June and remains in effect until 31 August. Entry from Denmark, Finland, Iceland and Norway is still not subject to any entry restrictions.

On Tuesday 22 June 2021, Prime Minister Stefan Löfven will receive Latvian President Egils Levits. They will discuss matters including relations between the two countries, the security situation in the neighbourhood, management of the COVID-19 pandemic and EU matters such as the rule of law.

On Monday 14 June, Prime Minister Stefan Löfven will receive European Commissioner for Environment, Oceans and Fisheries Virginijus Sinkevičius.

The Government has decided on an amendment to the temporary ban on entry into Sweden. The amendment concerns an exemption for residents of a certain specified non-EU country and is in line with the Council of the European Union’s latest recommendation to EU Member States.

Webinar 28 May 2021, organised by the Academy of Finland project ‘Transparency in the EU – From Reaction to Manifesto’ (TrUE), Erik Castrén Institute of International Law and Human Rights and in cooperation with the Open Government in the EU Blog Check against delivery

Special session of the General Assembly, United Nations, New York, 2–4 June 2021 Check against delivery

The Government has decided to maintain the entry ban to Sweden for travel from third countries, i.e. outside the EU/EEA. The entry ban on travel from EU/EEA countries, which involves a ban against entering Sweden unless a negative COVID-19 test result can be presented, will also be extended. However, the Nordic countries will be exempted from the entry restrictions as of 31 May.

Each year Member States submit a national reform programme to the Commission, which reports on implementation of the European Semester, which is a framework for the coordination of economic policies across the European Union, in national policies.

Discussions at the special meeting of the European Council on 24 May were dominated by the events in Belarus involving the forced landing of a passenger plane in Minsk to detain a journalist. The EU leaders also discussed the situation in Russia. On 25 May, discussions mainly centred on EU climate action and vaccine coordination.

Prime Minister Stefan Löfven will meet with other EU leaders at the European Council in Brussels on 24–25 May. Items on the agenda include climate action, vaccine coordination and the situation in Russia. The EU leaders will also discuss the EU’s relations with the UK.

The Government decided today to support the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union in a case before the Court of Justice of the European Union concerning new rules to make the EU budget conditional on respect for the rule of law.

The Government has today presented a bill to the Riksdag containing certain supplementary provisions on law enforcement and police cooperation to the agreement between the EU and the United Kingdom.

The Government has today decided on an amendment to the temporary ban on entry into Sweden. The amendment concerns an exemption for residents of a certain specified non-EU country and is in line with the Council of the European Union’s latest recommendation to EU Member States.

The European Commission will be invited to Kiruna when Sweden holds the Presidency of the Council of the European Union from 1 January–30 June 2023.

The Government today decided on continued border control at the internal border 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.