International summit in Örebro on 15-16 November
On Tuesday 15 November and Wednesday 16 November, defence ministers and representatives of 13 countries - Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Iceland, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Germany, the Netherlands, the UK and the USA - are meeting in Örebro to discuss common security issues and increased cooperation on defence.
Sweden currently chairs the Nordic Defence Cooperation (Nordefco) and is thus hosting three different meetings during the two days at Örebro Castle. There will be a Nordic defence minister meeting, a Nordic-Baltic meeting and a meeting of the Northern Group, which comprises most countries in northern Europe bordering the Baltic Sea, the North Sea and the Atlantic. The USA will also participate within the framework of Nordic-Baltic cooperation.
"It is great that Örebro can host the largest meeting of defence ministers in Sweden for a very long time, apart from during the Presidency of the EU. Regional cooperation in our region is very dynamic, which is something other European countries examine when they develop regional cooperation of their own," says Minister for Defence Sten Tolgfors.
On Tuesday 15 November, there will be a Nordic and a Nordic-Baltic meeting of defence ministers, as well as a dinner followed by a meeting of the Nordic-Baltic countries and the USA. In addition to Minister for Defence Sten Tolgfors, also participating in the three meetings are Norwegian defence minister Grete Faremo, Finnish defence minister Stefan Wallin, Danish defence minister Nick Haekkerup, Estonian defence minister Mart Laar, Latvian defence minister Artis Pabriks, and Lithuanian defence minister Rasa Jukneviciene. Iceland is being represented by Ambassador Gunnar Gunnarsson. From the USA, Assistant Secretary of Defence Alexander Vershbow is participating.
Among the issues that the Nordic ministers will discuss are increased defence cooperation and the possibility of increasing the capability and efficiency of armed forces through pooling and sharing. The possibility of increased Nordic cooperation in Afghanistan and veteran soldier issues will also be discussed.
The Nordic-Baltic meeting will continue to deal with enhanced cooperation on defence and veteran issues, discuss the opportunities of the armed forces to support civilian crisis management, and new threats and challenges that relate to IT security and energy security. In the meeting between the Nordic-Baltic countries and the USA, the security situation in Europe and defence reforms will be discussed.
On Wednesday 16 November, the ministers in the Northern Group will meet, during which Polish State Secretary Zbigniew Wlosowicz, UK Secretary of State for Defence Philip Hammond, Netherlands Minister of Defence Hans Hillen, and State Secretary Christian Schmidt of Germany will also participate. Topics for discussion include defence and security policy developments and issues related to how increased defence capability can be delivered via increased cooperation.
How will the Swedish Presidency take the EU defence policy further?
One of the EU objectives is to work for international peace and security. Consequently, the EU is cooperating in various ways in this area, including the capacity to implement joint operations, both military and civilian.
The Swedish Presidency will continue to develop the EU crisis management capability.
To learn more about the priorities of the Swedish Presidency, click on the link below.
How will the Swedish Presidency take the EU defence policy further?
One of the EU objectives is to work for international peace and security. Consequently, the EU is cooperating in various ways in this area, including the capacity to implement joint operations, both military and civilian.
The Swedish Presidency will continue to develop the EU crisis management capability.
To learn more about the priorities of the Swedish Presidency, click on the link below.
A functional defence - with a substantially strengthened defence capability
Sweden's defence must be well-prepared to be able to defend this country and to contribute to stability in the surrounding world. This requires a defence system that is adapted to today's threats and to the rapid sequences of events in which conflicts can arise and be determined. It requires a functional, available and flexible defence. For this reason, the Government is now setting a new direction for the Swedish defence system with a substantially strengthened defence capability.
New supreme commander appointed today
Lieutenant General Sverker Göranson of the Armed Forces was today appointed new Supreme Commander by the Government. He will take up his new position on the 25th of March.
Sweden strengthens its presence in Afghanistan
The Government wants to strengthen Swedish military presence through transport aircraft, ambulance helicopters and more training and coordination groups known as OMLT teams. The Swedish armed force in ISAF is expected to number about 500 people in 2009, compared with the current maximum of 390.
Sweden nominates the Supreme Commander General Håkan Syrén as next Chairman of the EU Military Committee
Sweden has nominated the current Supreme Commander, General Håkan Syrén, as its candidate for the chairmanship of the EU Military Committee (EUMC) after General Henri Bentégeat. The election of the next chairman will take place at the EUMC Chief of Defence meeting in Brussels on 29 October 2008 and the new chairman will take up the office in November 2009.
The EUMC is the EU's highest military body within the Council and consists of the Chiefs of Defence of the Member States or their permanent representatives in Brussels. The defence chiefs meet twice a year, while their permanent representatives meet at least once a week. In the Military Committee the Member States cooperate in the field of conflict prevention, crisis management and capability development. The EUMC provides military advice.
The Chairman of the EUMC is a four star flag officer and the highest-ranking military officer in the EU. The appointment is for three years.
CEUMC represents the common view of the highest military representatives of the EU Member States in the political process in Brussels. CEUMC maintains close contact with the commanders of the EU military crisis management operations and with his NATO counterpart.
The main motives for the nomination of General Syrén are:
" The European Union has a special position in Swedish foreign and security policy and Sweden takes a proactive role in developing the EU as a global actor.
" Sweden contributes to a strong and active European Security and Defence Policy, which can complement the United Nations in promoting peace globally.
" Thanks to his vast experience and competence, General Syrén is well prepared for assuming the role as chairman of the EU Military Committee. He has carried out a thorough transformation of the Swedish Armed Forces and is strongly committed to the development of international defence cooperation. He also has an extensive international network.
Peace of the grave at the Estonia must be respected
In all essential respects, the two studies conducted by the SSPA and HSVA consortia in the spring confirm the sinking sequence established by the international Joint Accident Investigation Commission.
Despite differences of method and approach, the new studies have arrived at very similar results and confirm the course of events that the Joint Accident Investigation Commission (JAIC) found caused the Estonia to sink. The JAIC investigation and the two new studies differ only marginally. According to the experts´ assessment, the probability that they have described the course and causes of the sinking correctly is very high.
There are now three mutually independent studies that give essentially the same picture of the causes that led to the accident.
The two new studies, which have been able to use new techniques, have focused on the sinking sequence. The work has been done by teams of international experts using model studies, computer simulations and witness accounts.
One of the studies, from the SSPA Consortium, proposes that new dives be made to achieve an even higher degree of certainty. A slightly higher degree of certainty, however, must be weighed against the peace of the grave at the Estonia. The peace of the grave is an international agreement between Sweden, Finland and Estonia that has also been signed by other countries, including Denmark, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Russia. The peace of the grave is also laid down in Swedish law. Ultimately, respect for the peace of the grave is a matter of respect for the victims and their families.
The Estonia was built 28 years ago. Maritime safety regulations have been considerably improved since then. Further dives would therefore not provide better data for increased maritime safety.
In view of this, the Government does not intend to propose any new dives.
Minister for Defence Sten Tolgfors comments on Defence Commission report
"The Defence Commission confirms every single part of the defence policy line pursued by the Government as expressed in speeches and articles from the Sälen meeting onwards, a line that focuses on renewal. It also confirms that 2008 may be the year in which the greatest renewal of defence policy in a decade takes place.
"A flexible operational defence, suitable for use at home and abroad.The key is availability. Recruitment on a voluntary basis, with an element of professional full time soldiers. Broad and deepened Nordic cooperation, joint Baltic surveillance, participation in NATO´s air situation picture and collaboration with NATO in international operations. Choice of which capabilities to maintain and which to do without, a structure and organisation that is more effective and efficient. Civil-military collaboration, a long-term and sustainable approach and a focus on international operations. A doubling of the level of ambition for international operations. Emphasis on better financial management and respect for civilian expertise in the Swedish Armed Forces. A new, more effective and efficient equipment supply process, with purchase of off-the-shelf equipment as the main option, support for the European Defence Agency (EDA), pooling of equipment with other countries and support for the Strategic Airlift Capability (SAC). All this combined with a reformed agency structure and transfer of resources from peripheral activities to operational advantage.
Sweden makes bid to supply 48 Gripen aircraft to Norway
Today Sweden presented a bid to the Norwegian Ministry of Defence offering joint development, and sale to Norway, of 48 Gripen aircraft. The bid also includes support equipment, support systems and coordinated training, maintenance and support, which would have major advantages for both Sweden and Norway.
