Ministry for Foreign Affairs

Minister for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Benjamin Dousa will present the Government’s Music Export Prize for 2024 on 17 June. The nominees include internationally successful Swedish artists and songwriters.

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.

The humanitarian situation in Gaza is dire. Children are particularly vulnerable and severely affected under the current circumstances. In light of this, the Swedish Government has decided to allocate SEK 10 million to Save the Children’s efforts in Gaza.

On 3 June, during a regional visit to the South Caucasus, the Nordic-Baltic Political Directors and representatives held meetings with the Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan, President of Armenia Vahagn Khachaturyan, Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan and members of the Standing Committee on Foreign Relations of the National Assembly of Armenia.

On 3–4 June, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and Head of the UNHCR Filippo Grandi is visiting Stockholm for talks with Minister for Foreign Affairs Maria Malmer Stenergard, Minister for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Benjamin Dousa, and Minister for Migration Johan Forssell.

“International law in our neighbourhood at a time of security policy change” A speech by Minister for Foreign Affairs Maria Malmer Stenergard on International Law Day hosted by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs on 27 May 2025. Check against delivery.

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 2 June, Lithuania will host the Vilnius Summit to discuss support to Ukraine and key issues ahead of the NATO Summit in The Hague on 24–25 June.

Today, the Government has called for nominations for a new annual award to highlight non-governmental Swedish civilian projects for Sweden. Every year, a Swedish organisation and an individual or a group of individuals who have voluntarily undertaken extraordinary projects for Ukraine will receive this award. The recipient will also receive funds to continue their efforts.

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

The Ministry for Foreign Affairs has today, 27 May, summoned the Israeli Ambassador in Stockholm.

Last week, the European Commission presented a strategy to reboot the Single Market. This new strategy contains more than 50 proposals with the aim to make it easier for businesses to trade in the Single Market, with an emphasis on dismantling barriers, creating jobs and stimulating growth.

On 26–27 May, Minister for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Benjamin Dousa is travelling to Cairo. He is accompanying a business delegation to promote Swedish exports and increased trade with Egypt. Mr Dousa will also meet with humanitarian organisations to discuss issues such as the acute and unacceptable situation in Gaza.

On Thursday 22 May, Minister for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Benjamin Dousa hosted a business seminar on Moldova. The event in Stockholm aimed to give Swedish businesses deep insight into Moldova’s economic and political development and investment opportunities.

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.

Speech by Minister for Foreign Affairs Maria Malmer Stenergard at Sotckholm China Forum, 22 may 2025. Check against delivery.

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.

A new Swedish initiative to get Ukrainian products in Swedish shops has been presented by representatives of the Swedish Food Retailers Federation, together with Minister for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Benjamin Dousa. The initiative aims to provide Swedish consumers’ increased access to Ukrainian products and opportunities to support Ukraine at the grocery store.