Parisa Liljestrand

Culture is one of the foundations that connect the Nordic countries. An inclusive cultural scene in the Nordic region promotes democracy, diversity and quality of life. Nordic cultural cooperation therefore plays an important role in efforts to ensure a well-integrated and sustainable Nordic region – today and in the future.

When the Nordic Council holds its 76th Session in Reykjavik on 28–31 October, the focus will be on peace and security in the Arctic and Nordic regions.

Swedish and Finnish ministers will undertake a number of joint visits on the afternoon of 16 September. Media representatives are welcome to take part in the visits. Contact the relevant press contacts for more information, see below. Note that the list is subject to change.

Earlier this year, the Government submitted a communication entitled Strategy for businesses in the cultural and creative industries to the Riksdag. It applies for the period 2024–2033.

Over two days at the beginning of May, Minister for Culture Parisa Liljestrand received her Nordic and Baltic colleagues in Stockholm. The meetings were held within the framework of the Swedish Presidency of the Nordic Council of Ministers, which is the official body for intergovernmental cooperation in the Nordic region.

The Ministry for Foreign Affairs and the Stockholm Centre for Eastern European Studies have organised a conference on Belarus to strengthen dialogue with Belarusian democratic forces in exile.

This year’s Per Anger Prize went to Sithar Chhim, who fights for democracy and respect for human rights in Cambodia. Minister for Culture Parisa Liljestrand presented the award on 25 April during a ceremony at the Living History Forum.

Today, on World Press Freedom Day, the Government announced that it is expanding and deepening our work for press freedom around the world through several key actors. Minister for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Johan Forssell and Minister for Culture Parisa Liljestrand, opinion piece, Expressen, 3 May 2024.

The King and Queen of Denmark will pay a State Visit to Sweden on 6–7 May 2024 at the invitation of His Majesty The King.

The task force for Jewish life in Sweden held its third meeting on Friday 9 February, with its discussions mainly focused on the 2024 theme of education. New representatives of the National Agency for Education and the Swedish National Council of Adult Education joined this meeting. The task force will also continue to address last year’s theme of security in 2024.

Yesterday evening, the Government received the alarming news that two Swedes were killed in a terrorist attack in Brussels. The attack appears to have been aimed at Sweden and Swedish interests. Our thoughts are with the deceased and their relatives.

On 16 October, Minister for Gender Equality Working Life and Deputy Minister for Employment Paulina Brandberg, Minister for Culture Parisa Liljestrand and Minister for Social Affairs and Public Health Jakob Forssmed met with representatives of Jewish civil society. The meeting focused on how events in Israel are affecting Jews in Sweden, current challenges and future efforts to combat antisemitism and support Jewish life.

Published 28 June 2023 Visby, 27 June 2023 Check against delivery.

The second Summit for Democracy is taking place on 29–30 March. Sweden is represented at the virtual summit and several side events by Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, Minister for Foreign Affairs Tobias Billström, Minister for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Johan Forssell and Minister for Culture Parisa Liljestrand.

The 2022 Gollegiella Nordic Sami language prize was awarded to Professor Emeritus Ole Henrik Magga, who has spent his entire career promoting, developing and preserving the Sami languages. Through his life’s work, he has shown the Sami people and the world that the Sami languages are alive and meaningful.

In an address to the IHRA Plenary with the Heads of Delegations, Minister for Culture, Parisa Liljestrand, said: I am proud to see the IHRA delegates gathering in Sweden once again for the Swedish IHRA Presidency’s second time, to take important decisions for the future of the organisation, to share knowledge and new research, to learn from each other and to deepen their cooperation.