Ministry of Justice

The OECD Working Group on Bribery has since 2012 repeatedly urged Sweden to reform its laws to ensure the investigation and prosecution of companies that bribe foreign public officials to obtain advantages in international business. Sweden’s legal provisions to hold companies liable for foreign bribery do not fully meet the requirements of the OECD Convention on Combating Bribery of Foreign Public Officials in International Business Transactions.

On Wednesday 12 June, Minister for Justice and Migration Morgan Johansson will hold a press briefing with Drago Kos, Chair of the OECD Working Group on Bribery.

Between Monday 10 June and Wednesday 12 June, Minister for Home Affairs Mikael Damberg will visit Washington DC. The purpose of the visit is to discuss issues within the framework of positive cooperation between the United States and Sweden in the area of law enforcement.

Today, Sweden hosted a meeting of experts at senior official level, with participants from eleven EU countries, including Sweden, Germany, France, the UK and the Netherlands, and representatives of the EU and the UN. During the meeting in Stockholm today, the senior officials discussed matters related to accountability for crimes committed in the conflicts in Syria and Iraq.

On Monday 3 June, civil servants from Sweden, Germany, France, the UK, the Netherlands and other countries and organisations will take part in an expert meeting to discuss the possibility of establishing a tribunal or some other legal mechanism to prosecute people who fought for the terrorist group ISIS on the ground in Syria and Iraq. Minister for Home Affairs Mikael Damberg will be available for comment in connection with the meeting.

The remit has been tasked with reviewing the criminal law regulations regarding racist and similar symbols and, if necessary, proposing amendments.

All actors in society need to make a combined effort to support the police in its work to safeguard people’s freedom and security according to Minister for Home Affairs Mikael Damberg.

In a proposal referred to the Council on Legislation for consideration, the Government proposes that it should be made a punishable offence to participate in the activities of a terrorist organisation. It also proposes making it a punishable offence to collaborate with a terrorist organisation, for example by selling weapons, vehicles or other similar equipment to such an organisation.

The Government has decided to reinstate internal border control for three months. The decision is based on the Government’s assessment that there is still a threat to public policy and internal security.

The Government today appointed 31 state secretaries at the Government Offices. Former state secretaries have been dismissed from their positions. Most of the state secretaries have previously held corresponding positions at the Government Offices.

In a memorandum, proposals are presented that aim to counter the most serious consequences of a no-deal Brexit for United Kingdom nationals currently living and working in Sweden. The proposals will only become relevant should the UK leave the European Union without an agreement on transition regulations being in place.

The Government has decided to reinstate internal border control for three months. The decision is based on the Government’s assessment that there is still a threat to public policy and internal security.

Prime Minister Stefan Löfven and Minister for Justice and Home Affairs Morgan Johansson met police in Västra Frölunda today to learn about their work following the car fires in western Sweden on 13 August. Chairman of the Municipal Executive Board of the City of Gothenburg Ann-Sofie Hermansson was also at the meeting.

The EU Member States have agreed to assist each other when crisis or disaster strikes. Sweden has requested this assistance, activating the Civil Protection Mechanism, and is receiving help from several countries to fight the forest fires currently raging in Sweden. Assistance mobilisation has been coordinated through the European Commission’s Emergency Response Coordination Centre (ERCC).

Rescue services, government agencies and local authorities are engaged in intensive efforts in response to the forest fires raging around the country, the widespread drought and the ongoing heat wave. More information about these efforts is available below. Crisis preparedness is part of the remit of every government agency and authority.

The prolonged heat and drought have impacted many sectors of society. There have been numerous forest fires, the agricultural sector has been severely affected by the drought and groundwater levels have dropped. The extreme temperatures can also cause health problems, especially among older people and the sick. The Government is following developments closely and taking the necessary decisions. The Government Offices is in continuous contact with the responsible government agencies.

On Monday 6 August, Minister for Justice and Home Affairs Morgan Johansson visited Färila in Hälsingland, Sweden, together with European Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management Christos Stylianides.

On 26 July, the Government decided to allow the the Civil Contingencies Agency (MSB) to request international assistance from countries not included in the EU's Civil Protection Mechanism to fight the ongoing forest fires in Sweden.

The Government has decided to task an inquiry chair with reviewing how to prevent recognition of foreign polygamous marriages in Sweden.

The Government has decided to prolong internal border controls for an additional six months, up to and including 11 November 2018. The decision was taken in accordance with EU legislation and the Government's assessment that there is still a threat to public order and domestic security.