Press & information / Press & Information

Press Releases

Under this heading you will find press releases published by the Embassy of Sweden in Washington, DC, as well as the various Swedish government entities.

November 5, 2009
Government Says 'yes' to Nord Stream's Gas Pipeline
The Government of Sweden is to grant a permit to Nord Stream AG to lay two pipelines for transporting natural gas in international waters within the Swedish exclusive economic zone in the Baltic Sea.
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June 9, 2009
Sweden takes on the challenge - Fredrik Reinfeldt on Sweden's priorities for the EU Presidency
Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt at a seminar at CEPS, the Centre for European Policy Studies, in Brussels.
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May 25, 2009
Swedish protest against North Korean nuclear test
North Korean ambassador in Stockholm called to the State Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Frank Belfrage, at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs to receive a Swedish protest against the nuclear test carried out on Monday.
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April 28, 2009
Sweden recalls its Chargé d'Affaires in Sri Lanka for consultations
Sweden will recall its Chargé d'Affaires in Colombo for consultations today.
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April 15, 2009
The 2009 Spring Fiscal Bill - a responsible policy to secure welfare
In conjunction with the 2009 Spring Fiscal Policy Bill, the Government proposes further measures for combating the crisis.
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March 30, 2009
Swedish Development Assistance - Highest in the World
The OECD Development Assistance Committee (DAC): Sweden's aid volume as a proportion of gross national income (GNI) preliminarily amounted to 0.98 per cent in 2008, which is the highest in the world.

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March 26, 2009
Media alert on Living Green
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March 24, 2009
No Bonuses at State-owned Companies
The Swedish government has said it wants to end bonuses and variable compensation for executives at state-owned companies.
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March 23, 2009
New Green Cars to be Exempted From Vehicle Tax
Green cars will be exempted from vehicle tax for five years, while vehicle tax will be raised by SEK 5 per gram of carbon dioxide a car emits.
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March 23, 2009
Trade Conference in House of Sweden

Keynote speaker : DR. PAUL KRUGMAN
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February 18, 2009
Statement of Foreign Policy 2009
Each February, the Minister for Foreign Affairs presents the Government's Statement of Foreign Policy in the Riksdag that sets out the Government's priorities and views on various issues in the rest of the world during the year ahead.
>Statement of Foreign Policy 2009

February 12, 2009
Government Action in Response to the Financial Turmoil and Economic Downturn
In the wake of the financial crisis, we are now seeing a downturn in demand in the global economy - perhaps the greatest decline in 25 years. For a small, open and trade-dependent economy like Sweden's, this has immediate consequences.

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February 10, 2009
Government Presents New Energy Policy
On Thursday February 5, the Government presented a sustainable energy and climate policy for the environment,
competitiveness and long-term stability.
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February 9, 2009
Stoltenberg Report Presented to the Nordic Foreign Ministers
A report on ways of developing deeper cooperation in foreign and security policy among the Nordic countries over the next 10-15 years was presented today at the meeting of Nordic foreign ministers in Oslo.
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January 29, 2009
Sweden to Send Naval Vessels to Somalia
The Government decided today to request the permission of the Riksdag to place Swedish armed forces at the disposal of the EU maritime operation off the coast of Somalia, Operation Atalanta.

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January 27, 2009
Reinfeldt, Bildt and Borg to Davos
Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt, Minister for Foreign Affairs Carl Bildt and Minister for Finance Anders Borg will attend the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland later this week.
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November 12, 2008
Lars Leijonborg Visiting the USA
Minister for Higher Education and Research Lars Leijonborg will be visiting the USA from 10 to 18 November. The trip will begin with a study visit and meetings in Boston and Washington. From 16 to 18 November he will participate in a research conference between the EU and various American actors held in Atlanta.

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October 24, 2008
Sweden Increases Its Contribution to the International Development Association (IDA)
The Government decided today to allocate SEK 6.1 billion to the International Development Association (IDA) over the period 2008-2017. IDA is the part of the World Bank that focuses on the poorest countries. Sweden's increase is now around 33 per cent.
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October 23, 2008

SEK 5 Billion to Boost Research and Innovation
Today the Government's Research and Innovation Bill will be presented. It covers the period 2009-2012 and in terms of additional resources, includes the largest allocation ever. With its SEK 5 billion, it is more than twice as large as its predecessor, and larger than the total sum allocated in the three most recent bills.
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October 20, 2008
The Swedish Government Proposes Plan to Secure the Stability of the Financial System
The Government will today refer a stabilisation plan for Sweden to the Council on Legislation. The plan includes measures to secure financial stability in Sweden and to deal with the negative effects of the global financial crisis. The proposal includes the creation of a guarantee scheme to restore confidence in the markets and thereby reduce borrowing costs for households and businesses.
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October 10, 2008
Two EU Ministers Issue Statement Against Death Penalty
Today is the European Day against the Death Penalty. Europe today is the only region in the world where the death penalty is no longer applied. 

Sweden's Minister for Foreign Affairs, Carl Bildt and Bernard Kouchner, French Minister of Foreign and European Affairs have released a statement on behalf of the EU members on the fifth anti-Death Penalty Day.

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September 22, 2008

The Budget for 2009: Putting Sweden to Work - Safeguarding Welfare
Today the Government presents the 2009 Budget Bill, containing SEK 32 billion in reforms that will mitigate the effects of a weaker economic environment, permanently raise the level of employment and strengthen welfare.
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September 24, 2008
King of Sweden to Initiate Energy Project in Michigan
King Carl XVI will visit Michigan on September 26th and 27th at the invitation of Governor Jennifer Granholm.

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September 3, 2008
House of Sweden Turns Into TV Studio
For three days, November 3, 4 and 5, Sweden's TV4 Morning News and America's Election - special coverage of the U.S. presidential election - will be broadcast directly to the Swedish television audience from House of Sweden in Washington, DC.
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September 1, 2008
Hurricane Gustav Emergency
Rescue procedures and operations are now carried out by American authorities in the Gulf region affected by hurricane Gustav. The area includes five states from the eastern parts of Texas to Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and western Florida.
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August 31, 2008

Information on Hurricane Gustav

Due to hurricane Gustav in the Gulf of Mexico, American authorities have ordered an evacuation from the City of New Orleans from Sunday morning, August  31st.

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August 30, 2008

Emergency announcement

Due to a severe tropical storm in the Gulf of Mexico, American authorities have issued an order of evacuation from the City of New Orleans taking effect Sunday morning at 8:00 a.m., August  31st. Evacuations are presently also being considered from other areas along the Golf coast.

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August 11, 2008
Sweden Demands Cease Fire and Withdrawal of Russian Troops
Russia's Chargé d'Affaires in Sweden, Michail Skupov, was summoned today to the Ministry for Foreign Affairs where he was notified of Sweden's serious view of Russia's conduct in Georgia.

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August 11, 2008
Carl Bildt to Georgia
Statement by Mr. Carl Bildt, Chairman of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, on his visit to Georgia.

"The peaceful solution of conflicts is a general principle of the Council of Europe. Both Georgia and the Russian Federation have committed themselves, when they joined the organisation, to settle all conflicts by peaceful means. This commitment must be respected, and so must the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Georgia.

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August 10, 2008
Sweden Prepared to Provide Support to Victims of the Conflict in Georgia
“I am following the current developments in Georgia with great concern and dismay,” says Minister for International Development Cooperation Gunilla Carlsson.
“A serious humanitarian crisis has arisen, with many thousands of civilians affected and in flight. 

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August 9, 2008
The Situation in Georgia
Statement by Carl Bildt, Chairman of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe.
"I urge the Russian Federation, Georgia and the separatist South Ossetian and Abkhaz administrations to immediately enter into a cease-fire, in order to stop hostilities. I call upon the parties to agree to direct talks and to cooperate in international efforts to achieve a cease-fire. The suffering of the civilian population must be brought to an immediate end.

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June 23, 2008
Andreas Carlgren Visiting USA

Minister for the Environment Andreas Carlgren is visiting Washington DC, USA on Monday and Tuesday June 23 and 24. Mr. Carlgren will discuss the international climate negotiations with the presidential candidates' advisers, senators, members of congress and the current administration.

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June 14, 2008
Minister for Trade Ewa Björling to Visit World's Largest Biotechnology Fair in San Diego

On June 15-18, Minister for Trade Ewa Björling will visit California. Dr Björling's agenda includes inaugurating the Swedish Trade Council's new office in San Francisco, taking part in the world's largest biotechnology fair - BIO2008 - in San Diego and visiting Google's headquarters, the Googleplex.
> Read more

 

June 2, 2008

Minister for Foreign Affairs Carl Bildt to Washington DC

On Tuesday 3 June, Minister for Foreign Affairs Carl Bildt will travel to Washington.

> Read more

 

May 8, 2008

Website for the Iraq Conference on May 29 Now Open
On May 29th, Sweden will host the Iraq Compact Annual Review Conference in Stockholm (ICI). The UN and Iraq, which co-chair the ICI, have invited all the UN Member States and a number of international organizations to take part in this conference. High-level representatives from some 80 countries are expected to come to Stockholm in connection with the conference. Information on the conference is available at
> www.icistockholm.se

 

May 5, 2008
Carl Bildt to Strasbourg When Sweden Chairs the Council of Europe
Sweden will take the helm of the Council of Europe from May until November.
> Read more on the Swedish chairmanship

 

April 24, 2008
Accreditation for Iraq Compact Annual Review Conference in Stockholm on May 29, 2008
Applications for accreditation for the Iraq Compact Annual Review Conference (ICI) in Stockholm are to be made in the link. The closing date for applications is May 21st.
> Read more

 

April 24, 2008
Iraq Compact Annual Review Conference in Stockholm on May 29th
Sweden will host the first Iraq Compact Annual Review Conference in Stockholm on  May 29, 2008.
> Iraq Compact Annual Review Conference

 

April 15, 2008
Responsible Economic Policy for Employment and Growth - Security for the Future
In the 2008 Spring Fiscal Policy Bill, the Alliance Government sets out its economic and budget policy guidelines. To meet the challenges facing Sweden in both the short and long term and to secure our future development, the Government announces measures that will strengthen Sweden´s opportunities for growth and lead to permanently higher employment and GDP.
Read more

 

April 15, 2008
2008 Spring Fiscal Policy Bill
In the 2008 Spring Fiscal Policy Bill, the Government sets out its economic and budget policy guidelines, in the short and long term. This is the chapter 1, Summary, of the 2008 Spring Fiscal Policy Bill. The full text of the bill will be available in English in May.
> Read more

 

April 15, 2008

Sweden's Economy in Figures
Here you will find data on Swedens GDP, central government debt, the central government budget, the expenditure ceiling, taxes, and much more.
> Read more

 

Anders Borg and Gunilla Carlsson to World Bank and IMF meetings in Washington
Minister for Finance Anders Borg and Minister for International Development Cooperation Gunilla Carlsson will be travelling to Washington to take part in the World Bank and IMF Spring Meetings on 12-13 April.
> Read More

 

Sweden to host international UN conference on Iraq
Today Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt and Minister for Foreign Affairs Carl Bildt met UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and made it clear that Sweden will host the first follow-up meeting for the International Compact with Iraq (ICI).
> Read more