Cooperation for peace and poverty reduction

Sweden's foreign, development, trade and security policies will work together so as to be better able to contribute both to poverty reduction and to sustainable peace and stability in countries with a history of war, conflict and underdevelopment.

The Government attaches great importance to breaking down the barriers that have previously marked Swedish foreign policy. In today's complex world, it has proved counter-productive to conduct traditional foreign and security policy, trade policy and aid policy as separate pillars. The implementation of the global development policy, under which the Government works in practical ways to promote consistency between different policy areas, is intended to contribute to fair and sustainable development. The Government intends to present a communication to the Riksdag describing further measures that will be taken to strengthen the connection between different policy areas.

This awareness is also in evidence in the European Union, which in the Lisbon Treaty clearly underlines the need for consistency and for an integrated foreign policy.