New steps in collaboration on energy between Sweden and South Africa
On the 16th to 17th of March, Sweden and South Africa met in Cape Town under the lead of Deputy President Motlanthe and Deputy Prime Minister Maud Olofsson for the 6th Binational Commission. On top of the agenda for discussions were the climate challenge and bilateral energy collaboration.
Andreas Carlgren attended meeting of environment ministers in Brussels
Minister for the Environment Andreas Carlgren and the other EU environment ministers met in Brussels on Monday 15 March for the first Environment Council to be held under the Spanish Presidency. Climate, biodiversity and mercury issues are on the agenda.
Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt comments on the Riksdag's decision concerning the events in 1915 in the then Ottoman Empire
The motion presented by a number of Members was approved by the Riksdag by a margin of one vote. The decision calls on the Government to recognise the events of 1915 in the then Ottoman Empire as genocide.
"I informed Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Saturday that I regret the decision of the Riksdag, as it paves the way for a politicisation of historical events. I also expressed my concern that this could be used by forces in Turkey that are trying to put a stop to the process of reconciliation with Armenia and the process of reform in Turkey."
Fredrik Reinfeldt and Carl Bildt visited Moscow
On Tuesday 9 March, Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt and Minister for Foreign Affairs Carl Bildt visited Moscow for talks with President Dmitry Medvedev and Prime Minister Vladimir Putin. This was a follow-up to the constructive discussions held in connection with the meeting in Stockholm in November last year.
Swede appointed head of UN Police
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has today announced the appointment of Ann-Marie Orler as the new United Nations Police Adviser. This is the highest ranking police official in the UN system.
New Public Transport Act
The Government has decided to refer a proposal to the Council on Legislation containing suggestions aimed at encouraging more people to choose to use public transport. The new Public Transport Act will regulate both the responsibility of municipalities and county councils for regional public transport in a clearer manner than before, and the demands made on public transport companies.
Addition of 20 new wolves to Sweden
The third pillar of the Government's policy on large carnivores for a robust Swedish wolf population is now being made concrete. Twenty genetically healthy wolves are to be added to the Swedish wolf population over the next five years.
Go-head for 1101 wind turbines to produce up to 12 TWh renewable electricity in Markbygden in Piteå
The Government has decided to permit Markbygden Vind AB to build and run up to 1101 wind turbines of a total height of a maximum of 200 metres in the Markbygden area of Piteå Municipality. Fully built, the wind farm will produce up to 12 TWh of electricity per year, which is four times more than Sweden's present wind power production and equivalent to the average of what two Ringhals nuclear power reactors (R1 +R2) produced in 2005-2008.
Swedish embassy in Baghdad re-inaugurated
At a formal ceremony in the presence of the foreign ministers of Sweden and Iraq, Carl Bildt and Hoshyar Zebari, the Swedish embassy in Baghdad was re-inaugurated on 24 February.
Fees for foreign students to be introduced in autumn term of 2011
Today the Government will present the bill Competing on the basis of quality - tuition fees for foreign students to the Riksdag. The fees will apply to students outside the EU/EEA. Universities and higher education institutions will make their own decisions as to the size of the fee, based on the principle of full cost coverage. In connection with the introduction of fees, the Government proposes that two grant systems be launched.
- More information about the bill Competing on the basis of quality - tuition fees for foreign students
- Press release: Fees for foreign students to be introduced in autumn term of 2011
- Fact sheet: Competing on the basis of quality - tuition fees for foreign students
- FAQ - tuition fees for foreign students
