Peter Kullgren

On 2–3 June, ministers, decision-makers and experts from Europe will convene in Stockholm for FOREST EUROPE’s tenth Ministerial Conference, hosted by Minister for Rural Affairs Peter Kullgren. The Conference also represents the highlight of Sweden’s chairmanship of FOREST EUROPE in 2025–2026.

Sweden is this year’s chair of the For Forest+ group. In this context, Minister for Rural Affairs Peter Kullgren hosted a meeting of the group’s members on 31 March, during which the group welcomed Germany as a new member. With the addition of Germany, For Forest+ now consists of eight EU Member States that collectively account for around 60 per cent of the forests of the 27 EU Member States (EU27).

The Government has adopted a new 10-year strategy to combat antimicrobial resistance (AMR). The strategy will guide and reinforce Sweden’s work in this area and contribute to global goals of reducing mortality.

(New version) Security in Sweden’s neighbourhood has deteriorated dramatically in recent years. The Government is therefore carrying out the most sweeping modernisation of Sweden’s total defence since the end of the Cold War. In the Budget Bill for 2026, the Tidö Parties propose a new package for stronger civil defence. Funding will go towards better stockpiling of health care products, renovating Sweden’s protective shelters, building up new food contingency reserves and improving preparedness efforts of Sweden’s municipalities and regions. The Government proposes allocating SEK 3 billion to civil defence in 2026, SEK 4.2 billion in 2027 and SEK 4.6 billion in 2028. These proposals total approximately SEK 12 billion in 2026–2028.

Iceland’s President Halla Tómasdóttir is paying a State Visit to Sweden at the invitation of His Majesty the King. The President is accompanied by her spouse Björn Skúlason, Iceland’s Minister for Foreign Affairs Þorgerður Katrín Gunnarsdóttir and Minister for Health Alma Möller, together with a delegation from the business sector.

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.

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.

As of 1 January 2023, two new ministries will be created. One will be responsible for climate and enterprise, and the other for rural affairs and infrastructure. The ministries concerned will remain in their current form until then.