Global mercury agreement goal for UN process - Andreas Carlgren to deliver opening address
Minister for the Environment Andreas Carlgren delivered the opening address as representative of Sweden/the Nordic countries when they jointly host the first negotiating session on a global mercury convention in Stockholm, on 7-11 June. A new global convention that regulates both the use and emissions of mercury is expected to be ready in 2013.
- Press release: Global mercury agreement goal for UN process to start on 7 June - Andreas Carlgren to deliver opening address
- Speech: Opening Speech by the Minister for the Environment Andreas Carlgren at The first session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee on Mercury
- Mercury - a global challenge
Speaker and Prime Minister presented gift to Crown Princess Victoria and Mr Daniel Westling
At the pre-wedding reception at the Royal Palace of Stockholm, Speaker of the Riksdag Per Westerberg and Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt presented the joint gift of the Riksdag and the Government to H.R.H. Crown Princess Victoria and Mr Daniel Westling.
International conference on development economics
On 31 May-2 June, Minister for Finance Anders Borg and Minister for International Development Cooperation Gunilla Carlsson will host the World Bank Annual Conference on Development Economics (ABCDE). The conference is jointly organised by the World Bank, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Finance. The conference will gather the most prominent researchers in the area of development economics, bringing them together with decision and policy makers from all around the world. This year's participants include several Nobel laureates, among them Elinor Ostrom, Joseph Stiglitz, Eric Maskin, James Mirrlees and Robert Solow. The research issues to be discussed include some of the most urgent global challenges: environment and climate, development issues in light of the economic crisis, weak states and human and social development.
- Press release: Economic heavyweights come to Stockholm to discuss development challenges in a post-crisis world
- Press release: World Bank Senior Vice President Justin Yifu Lin, Minister for Finance Anders Borg and Minister for International Development Cooperation Gunilla Carlsson opens the ABCDE
- ABCDE Sweden - Development Challenges in a Post-Crisis World at World Worldbank's website
Ewa Björling to attend Competitiveness Council in Brussels
On Tuesday 25 May, Minister for Trade Ewa Björling will take part in the EU Competiveness Council in Brussels. Several items concerning the EU internal market are on the agenda.
Nordic Globalisation Forum and prime ministers meeting on 20-21 May
The Nordic Prime Ministers and leading experts from the research world and the business sector met in Helsinki on 20 May for the Nordic Globalisation Forum. The issues discussed centred around the Nordic countries as a low-energy society and laboratory for green technology.
At today's informal summer meeting, it was agreed that a working group will follow up ideas from the Globalisation Forum that can be transformed into concrete cooperation. At the next prime ministers meeting in November, the Nordic energy ministers will also report on how cooperation in the Nordic electricity market can be made more effective. The agenda for the prime ministers meeting also included the global economic situation and the follow-up to the international climate negotiations.
To view this content, JavaScript must be enabled, and you need Adobe Flash Player.
Get the latest Flash Player.How does the Swedish labour market work?
The current Swedish Long-term Survey is making a broad study of how the Swedish labour market works and how it can be improved. Several of the researchers who are now writing reports for the Long-term Survey presented their preliminary results at a conference in May 2010.
New ambassadors to Afghanistan and Romania
Today, 20 May, the Government appointed the Secretary-General of the Swedish Committee for Afghanistan, Torbjörn Pettersson, as Sweden's Ambassador to Afghanistan. At the same time, Ambassador Krister Bringéus was appointed Senior Civilian Representative in Mazar-e Sharif to increase the overall political presence in northern Afghanistan. The Government also appointed Anders Bengtcén as Sweden's Ambassador in Romania.
His Majesty the King and Deputy Prime Minister Maud Olofsson to visit China
His Majesty the King and Deputy Prime Minister Maud Olofsson will be in China from 19 to 24 May for a visit to Beijing and Shanghai. The aim of the trip is to strengthen cooperation with China on innovation, environmental technology and issues concerning small businesses and corporate social responsibility, and to mark 60 years of diplomatic relations between Sweden and China.
Sweden to contribute SEK 1 billion to climate fund
The formal negotiations on contributions to the Global Environment Facility (GEF) for the period 2010-2014 were concluded in Paris, and donors agreed to add USD 4.25 billion to the fund, which is an increase of 52% compared to the last replenishment. Sweden pledged a contribution of over SEK 1 billion to the GEF, encompassing both Sweden's traditional portion and an extra contribution for climate initiatives.
Report on the Swedish EU Presidency
Sweden took over the Presidency of the Council of the European Union during the second half of 2009. This report is based on a Government Communication submitted to the Swedish Riksdag. It describes the Government Offices' preparations for the Presidency, how it was managed and the most important results.
