The Arctic Council's forward-looking meeting began on board the Swedish icebreaker Oden. Photo: Anna Backlund/Ministry for Foreign Affairs
Successful Arctic Council meeting in Luleå
The first Senior Arctic Officials meeting under the Swedish Chairmanship is now concluded. The result: a decision to start five new projects in the Arctic, including a major research project to be led by the Stockholm Resilience Centre and the Stockholm Environment Institute.
Photo: Karin Nylund/MFA
Ewa Björling opens conference on trade with China
On Wednesday 12 October, Minister for Trade Ewa Björling will be speaking at a conference on trade with China organised by Dagens Industri.
"China is obviously an important market for a small and export-oriented country such as Sweden, but of course there are challenges, especially when it comes to human rights. But I'm convinced that our influence has the most impact when there is a lot of contact between our countries," says Dr Björling.
"It is very fascinating to follow India so closely at an historic time when the global economic and political shift towards Asia is accelerating," says Andreas Ershammar. Foto: Julia Servenius
Discussion on India's growing role in the world
The India Forum opens today in Stockholm. Some 60 people from India, the USA, Sweden and the rest of Europe are meeting to discuss the political, economic and social developments in the country, and India's growing global role.
"India is important to Sweden. We need to learn more about India and how other parts of the world view India's role in its own region as well as globally, since it is expected to gain a more prominent role over the next few years," says Andreas Ershammar, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs (MFA) officer responsible for Indian issues.
Minister for Trade Ewa Björling speaks about Swedish music exports at the opening of the Popkomm 2011 conference in Berlin. Photo: Messe Berlin
Ewa Björling on the promotion calender for 2012
At this year's Meeting of Swedish Ambassadors in August, the Minister for Trade announced a decision to create a promotion calender for 2012 to provide increased focus on five chosen creative industries: music, food, film, fashion and literature. In this article, Dr Björling answers questions about the expectations, structure and implementation of the initiative.
Sweden best in the world at supporting poor countries
According to the American think tank Center for Global Development Swedenis best in the world at helping poor countries. Sweden's development cooperation is world-class both in terms of quantity and quality.
Carl Bildt discussed disunity and the EU in Kosovo and Serbia
The situation in northern Kosovo and closer ties with the EU were the focus of the talks Minister for Foreign Affairs Carl Bildt held during his two-day trip to Kosovo and Serbia. At a press conference after the meeting with Kosovo's Prime Minister Hashim Thaci and Foreign Minister Enver Hoxhaj in Kosovo Mr Bildt said:
"The developments we have seen in Kosovo in recent months are serious. Political measures are now needed to try to bridge the disunity we now see and which unfortunately has recently become deeper."
Ewa Björling and El Salvador's foreign minister Hugo Martínez. Photo: Julia Servenius/MFA
Ewa Björling to meet El Salvador's foreign minister Hugo Martínez
El Salvador's Minister of Foreign Affairs Hugo Martínez is visiting Sweden on 8-9 November. In connection with his visit, Minister for Trade Ewa Björling will meet Mr Martínez for bilateral discussions.
"Sweden has a long connection to El Salvador, not least through Sweden's aid commitment which extended over several decades, until 2009. I am very pleased that we can now focus our bilateral relations on promoting increased trade," says Dr Björling, and highlights the new opportunities that the association agreement with the EU will provide.
Ewa Björling and Paraguay's foreign minister Jorge Lara Castro. Photo: Julia Servenius/MFA
Ewa Björling to meet Paraguay's foreign minister Jorge Lara Castro
Paraguay's Minister of Foreign Affairs Jorge Lara Castro is visiting Sweden on 8-9 November. In connection with his visit, Minister for Trade Ewa Björling will meet Mr Lara Castro for bilateral discussions.
The agenda includes a review of the bilateral relations between Sweden and Paraguay, a review of trade between the two countries and a discussion on relevant regional issues.
Arctic Council to meet in Luleå
On 8-9 November, nearly 150 delegates representing the Arctic Council Member States, working groups and indigenous peoples will meet in Luleå. At the meeting, the Council is expected to discuss two major research projects, the Arctic Change Assessment and the Arctic Resilience Report. Among other projects, young people in reindeer husbandry will be on the meeting agenda.
"The preparatory discussions were dealt with during the Arctic week in Stockholm in late September. So in Luleå we are aiming for a dynamic meeting where we can 'press the start button' for the new projects," says Sweden's Arctic Ambassador Gustaf Lind, who will lead the meeting.
One of the research projects will be on how the environment and Arctic communities are reacting to the changes that are occurring in the Arctic, an issue that is one of the top priorities of the Swedish Chairmanship.
Foreign ministers from Sweden, Denmark, Finland and Norway. Photo: Anna Charlotta Johansson/Ministry for Foreign Affairs
Middle East in focus at meeting of Nordic foreign ministers in Copenhagen
The Nordic foreign ministers met in Copenhagen on Wednesday for a meeting in connection with the session of the Nordic Council. The meeting focused on political developments in the Middle East and North Africa, with a particular emphasis on the situation in the Middle East. The foreign ministers made a joint statement that the path to peace for Israel and Palestine is via the negotiating table.
