Maria Malmer Stenergard visits Spain
Published
Minister for Foreign Affairs Maria Malmer Stenergard visited Spain on 26 March. She visited the Swedish Honorary Consulate in Torrevieja and met with expatriate Swedes, civil society organisations and political representatives. Ms Malmer Stenergard also attended the Sweden-Ukraine men’s football World Cup qualifier match.
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Minister for Foreign Affairs Maria Malmer Stenergard visits the Swedish Honorary Consulate in Torrevieja.
Photo: Government Offices
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Ms Malmer Stenergard with Honorary Consul Björn Sandström and clerk Caroline Lamenoise.
Photo: Government Offices
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During her visit to the Church of Sweden, Ms Malmer Stenergard met with around 300 Swedes.
Photo: Government Offices
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The men’s World Cup qualifying match between Sweden and Ukraine being played in Valencia. Ms Malmer Stenergard watches the match with Sweden’s Ambassador to Spain Per-Arne Hjelmborn and Ukraine’s Ambassador to Spain Yuliia Sokolovska.
Photo: Government Offices
Voter turnout among Swedes abroad is a key issue for the Government and the Swedish Foreign Service. Spain is Sweden’s top tourist destination with around two million Swedish visitors every year, and more than 100 000 Swedes with permanent homes there who live all or part of the year in the country. Torrevieja has the highest level of Swedish voter turnout in Spain and the fourth highest in terms of foreign voter turnout overall. The Honorary Consulate in Torrevieja is one of 11 Swedish honorary consulates in Spain.
In addition to visiting the Consulate, at the Church of Sweden Ms Malmer Stenergard met with around 300 Swedes who live in the Costa Blanca region, including representatives of organisations such as the Swedish-Spanish Chamber of Commerce.
Consular work, including preparations for Sweden’s parliamentary elections in September, is a priority for the Government and the Foreign Service. Prior to the visit, the Government launched a new initiative to facilitate expatriate Swedes’ participation in the election. Through extended opening hours and voting facilities in seven locations around Spain, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and the Swedish Embassy in Madrid are continuing their efforts to maintain the positive trend of increased voter turnout among Swedes living in Spain.
Ms Malmer Stenergard also met with Deputy Regional President of Valencia José Luis Díez Climent, and attended Sweden’s World Cup qualifying match against Ukraine. The match was played in Valencia due to the war in Ukraine. Spain is one of the EU countries that has received the most Ukrainian refugees.
