Azerbaijan's foreign minister Elmar Mammadyarov, the head of the Nobel museum in Azerbaijan and foreign minister Carl Bildt
Carl Bildt discusses conflict resolution in Azerbaijan and Armenia
Minister for Foreign Affairs Carl Bildt has spent the last two days in Azerbaijan and Armenia to get an up-to-date view of the political situation and recent developments in both countries.
Sweden's Ambassador to the UN, Jan Knutsson.
Freedom of the Internet - 40 countries support Sweden
On Friday, 10 June, Sweden will address the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC). The topic of the address is that human rights must be respected online in the same way as they are offline. The group of countries supporting the address are representative of all different parts of the world.
Policies for young people
Young people in Sweden today can, to a great extent, make their own decisions and shape their own futures. Compared with previous generations, the young people of today have radically different opportunities and prospects to create the life they themselves want to have. This is a fundamentally positive development. But despite all of these opportunities, there are also many young people who do not feel secure or visible. Some are having a hard time at school, or difficulties entering the labour market.
In this newsletter, the Government talks about its policies for young people.
From left: Kurt Lauk, Fredrik Reinfeldt och Angela Merkel. Photo: Jens Schicke
Fredrik Reinfeldt received Ludwig Erhard medal
On Wednesday 25 May, Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt attended the annual conference of the Wirtschaftsrat der CDU (CDU Council of Economic Advisers) in Berlin. He received the Ludwig Erhard gold medal and deliver a speech on Sweden's reform policies for jobs, growth and welfare.
Search and Rescue (SAR) agreement signed at Arctic meeting
Foreign ministers from countries around the North Pole agreed on Thursday on a joint aeronautical and maritime search and rescue capability in the event that a major accident occurs in the region. For the first time, the Arctic Council, which includes the five Nordic countries plus the US, Russia, Canada and representatives of indigenous peoples, has signed an agreement that is legally binding for the organisation's member states.
"The Council must be able to react"
Sweden stands ready to take over the Chairmanship of the Arctic Council when the meeting of foreign ministers concludes in Nuuk, Greenland, this week. Gustav Lind, Sweden's Arctic Ambassador, recently arrived in Nuuk, where preparatory negotiations have now begun ahead of the ministerial meeting.
Environmental issues high on the agenda
The Arctic has unique nature and is very sensitive to environmental impact. The area is severely affected by the ongoing process of climate change. Temperatures have risen twice as quickly in the Arctic as elsewhere on Earth.
State Secretary Karin Johansson at the conference World of Health IT in Budapest. Photo: Patrik Sjöberg
Unique Swedish model for eHealth
Sweden has a unique model for eHealth which is founded upon
national consensus and the close cooperation between different
stakeholders. During the conference World of Health IT (WoHIT) 10-12 May in Budapest, the Ministry and others are demonstrating what the strategy means and are giving practical examples of services for citizens.
Sweden's convergence programme and national reform programme for 2011
On Friday 29 April, the Government submitted Sweden's national reform programme for 2011 and this year's update of Sweden's convergence programme to the European Commission. The reform programme is part of the annual follow-up conducted by all EU Member States to present the policy they intend to pursue to live up to the targets and guidelines of the common EU growth strategy - Europe 2020.
The starting point for Sweden's national reform programme for 2011 is the measures announced in the Budget Bill for 2011 and the 2011 Spring Fiscal Policy Bill. In accordance with the new annual cycle for improved economic policy coordination within the EU - the 'European semester' - Member States are to submit their national reform programme and stability or convergence programme in April each year. The aim is to achieve clearer coordination between macroeconomic stability and economic reforms, and strengthen the link to the national budget processes.
Government newsletter: Health care with the focus on patients
In this week's newsletter the Government talks about the health and medical care system, the main task of which is to offer accessible and effective care that is of good quality and available throughout the country. The Government wants to create the conditions for health care to be based on the needs and wishes of patients. The Government's work to strengthen the position of the patient and to increase freedom of choice, availability and safety continues.
Russian Prime Minister visits Sweden
On Wednesday 27 April, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin visited Sweden. As part of the visit, talks were held with Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt. The agenda included bilateral relations between Sweden and Russia, consequences of the economic crisis, regional issues such as the Baltic Sea region and Arctic Council cooperation, and EU relations with Russia. After the meeting a press conference was held with Vladimir Putin and Fredrik Reinfeldt.
Webcast: Arctic cooperation drawing closer
In mid-May, Sweden takes over the Chairmanship of the Arctic Council. The Council is a forum in which eight countries around the North Pole take decisions on issues such as environmental and climate matters, the rights of indigenous peoples and rescue work. Sweden wants to see active international cooperation and a focus on the crucial issues facing the Arctic region. Here, Ambassador to the Arctic Gustaf Lind explains what can be expected of the Swedish Chairmanship - and how to dress on a trip to Greenland.
