Sweden in the EU

After two years of negotiations, EU Member States have agreed on a proposal for a revised pharmaceutical legislation in Europe. The process has met many obstacles along the way and the countries’ positions have been far apart on many fundamental issues, not least in regard to data protection issues and incentives for the development of priority antimicrobials.

Minister for Climate and the Environment Romina Pourmokhtari is participating in the UN’s third Ocean Conference, UNOC-3, in Nice. At the Conference, a declaration is expected to be adopted on the implementation of measures to protect and preserve oceans.

Opinion piece by Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, Minister for Foreign Affairs Maria Malmer Stenergard, Minister for Energy, Business and Industry Ebba Busch and Minister for Education Johan Pehrson, Svenska Dagbladet, 23 May 2025.

On 21–23 May, Minister for Social Services Camilla Waltersson Grönvall and Minister for Older People and Social Security Anna Tenje visited Lviv, Ukraine. While in Ukraine, Ms Waltersson Grönvall and Ms Tenje took part in the Ministerial Social Policy Summit, which Sweden co-hosted together with Ukraine, Moldova and Lithuania. Ministers from several EU countries were also in attendance.

Minister for Foreign Affairs Maria Malmer Stenergard gave a speech on 27 May on the occasion of Africa Day. Check against delivery

We are deeply concerned by recent legislative and constitutional amendments infringing on the fundamental rights of LGBTIQ+ persons which were adopted by the Hungarian Parliament on 18 March and 14 April 2025 following other anti-LGBTIQ+ legislation already introduced in previous years.

The Government has decided to submit a detailed opinion on the French proposal to ban the sale and possession of white snus. The proposal is far-reaching and involves banning all products containing white snus in France, which would be a restriction of free movement in the EU Single Market.

Sweden faces considerable problems with volatile electricity prices for households and businesses and imbalances in the electricity system. To deal with this, the fossil-free base load needs to be expanded. In March 2025, the Government adopted the Financing and risk sharing in new nuclear power Government Bill, which included proposals for state aid to companies that want to invest in nuclear reactors. The Riksdag has now decided to adopt the Government’s proposal.

On May 16, Sweden signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) concerning the protection of critical undersea infrastructure in the Baltic Sea. The MoU was concluded with the Baltic Sea countries within the EU, along with Norway, Iceland and the EU.

On 20 May, EU defence ministers will meet in Brussels within the framework of the EU Foreign Affairs Council. The meeting will focus on continued EU support to Ukraine and strengthening EU defence readiness and preparedness. Minister for Defence Pål Jonson will represent Sweden at the meeting.

Debate article by Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, Minister for Foreign Affairs Maria Malmer Stenergard and EU Minister Jessica Rosencrantz in Dagens Industri, 8 May 2025. Originally in Swedish.

On Tuesday 22 April, Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson hosted a bilateral meeting with Lithuania’s Prime Minister Gintautas Paluckas at Sager House. The meeting was followed by a joint press conference at Rosenbad.

Sudan: Statement by the High Representative on behalf of the European Union marking two years of war.

Speech by Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson at high-level event on EU capital markets in Stockholm, 3 April 2025. Check against delivery.

Integrating and further developing the European capital market is a priority for the European Union and for Sweden, as it could provide households with better returns on their savings and businesses with a more diversified set of sources for funding. Sweden has what is seen by many as a well-functioning and deep capital market. That was not always the case, and this article seeks to provide an assessment of the Swedish journey with the purpose of contributing to the ongoing European discussion. While there is no claim to portray the full story and all relevant aspects, the article seeks to outline some of the components that have been of great importance in bringing the Swedish capital market to the point where it is today.

Statement by Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson in response to US tariffs, Wednesday 2 April 2025.

US President Donald Trump has announced that a new package of American tariffs will include Sweden and every other country in the EU. The new tariffs were presented on 2 April and will take effect immediately.

Minister for Foreign Affairs Maria Malmer Stenergard received Tunisian Minister of Foreign Affairs Mohamed Ali Nafti in Stockholm on 1 April. The purpose of the visit was to deepen cooperation, primarily in terms of trade, but also to discuss regional and global issues and challenges. Mr Ali Nafti was accompanied by a business delegation.

On 1–3 April, Minister for Defence Pål Jonson will visit Poland. On 1 April, Mr Jonson will participate in a formal ceremony for the Swedish contribution to Air Policing. On 2 April, Mr Jonson will take part in a high-level conference on the White Paper on the future of European defence, and on 2–3 April, Mr Jonson will represent Sweden at the informal meeting of EU defence ministers.