New cooperation strategy for the Middle East and North Africa
Today the Government approved a cooperation strategy for Swedish support to the Middle East and North Africa for the period 2010-2015. Some important components of the strategy are the development of democratic governance and human rights, regional economic cooperation across national borders, and joint use of water resources.
Government appoints new ambassadors
Today the Government appointed several new ambassadors. The appointments are for Ireland, Bulgaria, Dominica, Guyana, San Marino and Mongolia.
Government preparing a national ban on bisphenol A in baby bottles
Thursday, 29 July, the Government decided to instruct the Swedish Chemicals Agency and the National Food Administration to propose how a national ban on bisphenol A in baby bottles and in certain plastic products could be designed.
European stress test shows good results for Swedish banks
The Committee of European Banking Supervisors (CEBS) has in cooperation with the national supervisory authorities conducted a stress test on European banks, among these four Swedish banks. The results confirm previous Swedish stress tests. The Ministry of Finance acknowledges the outcome of the EU-wide stress test and supports this joint effort.
The Swedish Government appoints four new ambassadors and a consul-general
The Government today appointed four new ambassadors and one consul-general. The appointees are as follows:
Carl Magnus Nesser to Baghdad, Håkan Åkesson to Ankara, Carin Wall to Bamako, Jan Nyberg to St Petersburg and Claes Hammar to St John's, Port-au-Prince and Castries.
Sweden to contribute to reinforced EU commitment in Kyrgyzstan
The Government has decided to make staff available to reinforce the EU's commitment in Kyrgyzstan. Helena Vazquez from Sweden has been appointed political adviser to the EU Special Representative (EUSR) for Central Asia, Pierre Morel.
"I am happy that we can contribute Swedish expertise in this concrete way," comments Minister for International Development Cooperation Gunilla Carlsson.
Strategy for Sweden's overall involvement in Afghanistan adopted
The Government today adopted a strategy for Swedish support for international involvement in Afghanistan. In the strategy, the Government establishes objectives for Swedish support and guidelines for how the operations are to contribute to fulfilling the commitments made by the UN Security Council and supported by the EU and the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF).
New objective for outdoor activity policy
8 July the Government decided on the Government Bill 2009/10:238 Future outdoor recreation. The objective of the outdoor activity policy is to support people's opportunities to spend time in nature and engage in outdoor recreation. The right of common access is the basis for this and nature is to be accessible for all.
Report on the "boy crisis" in education
Traditional ideologies on masculinity prevent many boys from succeeding in school. These are some of the findings of the report "Boys and School: A Background Paper on the "Boy Crisis" (SOU 2010:53), authored for DEJA by Professor Michael Kimmel, and published today, on the 8th of July 2010.
Minister for Employment Sven Otto Littorin resigns
At a press conference in Almedalen this morning, Minister for Employment Sven Otto Littorin announced that, due to personal reasons, he is resigning his ministerial post. In light of this, Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt held a press conference in Rosenbad.
"Today, at his request, I accepted Sven Otto Littorin's resignation as minister and head of the Ministry of Employment. He gave me the same motives for his resignation - personal reasons - that he gave the media this morning, using the same words and descriptions. I have great respect for his decision."
"Also, as of today and until further notice, I have appointed Tobias Billström as head of the Ministry of Employment. This does not entail any changes regarding Tobias Billström's responsibilities at the Ministry of Justice," Mr Reinfeldt stated at the press conference.
