Ministry for Foreign Affairs

Published 31 March 2021

30 March 2021 (check against delivery)

The COVID-19 pandemic presents an unprecedented global crisis. The worldwide spread of the virus highlights the importance of collaboration and solidarity in tackling global challenges, leaving no one behind. Sweden continues to stand up for international principles and commitments and to support multilateral organisations working to fight the pandemic and its impacts. This is in line with Sweden’s work and ambitions to meet the 2030 Agenda. With a well-considered response, the international community can together lay the foundations for a more sustainable, equitable and gender-equal world that will be better equipped to manage future crises.

The International Coordination and Response Group for the victims of Flight PS752 today issued the following joint statement:

In the final phase of the selection process for the post of Secretary-General of the OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development), which stood between Sweden’s candidate Cecilia Malmström and the candidate from Australia, Mathias Cormann, the latter received the strongest support from the OECD Member countries.

On 8 March, International Women’s Day, a stakeholder meeting was held at which Minister for Gender Equality Märta Stenevi and Minister for Foreign Affairs Ann Linde met with more than 40 civil society organisations to get input for Sweden’s engagement in a global action coalition on economic gender equality.

10 March 2021 (check against delivery).

The aim of the activities within the scope of this strategy is to contribute to strengthening the resilience – the ability to withstand, adapt and recover – of the Syrian population and of vulnerable groups in Syria’s neighbouring countries that are severely affected by the conflict. The strategy will also contribute to strengthening democracy and gender equality, and to greater respect for human rights in Syria and for refugees from Syria in neighbouring countries.

The objective of Sweden’s international development cooperation is to create conditions to improves the lives of people living in poverty and oppression. Sweden’s development cooperation is based on the principles of aid and development effectiveness, the 2030 Agenda, the Addis Ababa Action Agenda and the Paris Agreement. Sweden’s feminist foreign policy will guide the activities.

For decades, Nordic countries have prospered due to the equal participation and inclusion of women and girls in all areas of societal life. For us, ensuring the enjoyment of human rights of all women and girls, in all their diversity, and ending gender-based discrimination in all of its forms, is the right and the smart thing to do because gender equality benefits everyone.

The Chairperson-in-Office of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), Swedish Minister for Foreign Affairs Ann Linde, launched 26 February 2021 a new advisory group of experts on women, peace and security. The group will play an advisory role to strengthen work on the women, peace and security agenda in the OSCE – an important issue for Sweden as Chair of the organisation in 2021.

Today, Minister for Foreign Affairs Ann Linde presented the Government’s Statement of Foreign Policy in the Riksdag. This year’s Statement of Foreign Policy was Ms Linde’s second as Minister for Foreign Affairs.

On 24 February, Minister for Foreign Affairs Ann Linde presented the 2021 Statement of Foreign Policy in the Riksdag. Check against delivery.

A report summary in English regarding the work of Sweden on its third national action plan for the implementation of the United Nations Security Council resolution on women, peace and security is being published today.

This strategy will underpin Swedish cooperation with the World Bank Group (WBG) in 2020–2023. The strategy establishes the priorities of Sweden’s membership of, and partnership with, the WBG and will guide Sweden’s positions both in the work of the governing board and financing negotiations on future replenishment of the International Development Association (IDA), and the monitoring of these.

The Government intends to provide an additional SEK 100 million in grants to COVAX to make COVID-19 vaccines accessible in low and middle income countries. This means that Sweden is doubling its support to the COVAX global vaccine access initiative.

The Government has appointed Janine Alm Ericson as State Secretary to the Minister for International Development Cooperation at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs.

Prime Minister Stefan Löfven today announced a government reshuffle. Two new ministers have been appointed, and two ministers have been given revised areas of responsibility. Minister Isabella Lövin is leaving her post.

Anna Hallberg has launched a trade policy advisory group to discuss how to shape future trade policy in light of the way the pandemic has changed international trade conditions. The members of the group have a wide range of experience from business, public authorities, trade unions, civil society and academia. The aim is to come up with new and different initiatives to enable trade to be an instrument of change.

Today, 26 January, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs decided to extend its advice against all non-essential travel to all countries outside the EU/EEA/Schengen area. The decision remains in effect until 15 April 2021.