Europe

Sweden
Last reviewed: 27 June 2008

Country information

See entire profile

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

Immigration

Sweden has traditionally taken a generous approach to asylum seekers, which has helped to contribute to a growing immigrant population. The main source of post war immigration was Greece and Italy. Refugees from the former Yugoslavia followed in the 1990s, followed again by Kurds (Iraqis), Iranians and Somalis. Many immigrants live in large suburbs outside Stockholm, Gothenburg and Malmö and their existence can go unnoticed by the casual visitor. Unemployment is high among the more recent immigrants, many of whom struggle to learn Swedish and can feel excluded from mainstream society.

Sweden's relation's with the international community

Swedish security policy is based on the premise that national security is best served by staying free of alliances in peacetime in order to remain neutral in the event of war. Sweden participates actively in the United Nations - including as a member of the Security Council in 1997 and 1998. It has given substantial support for peacekeeping operations, such as the Nordic Battalion in Bosnia. Sweden is a member of NATO's Partnership for Peace and the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council. In 2006, the government reached its goal of giving one percent of the GDP to Foreign Aid, surpassing the EU target of 0.7%.

Sweden has close relations and historical links with its Nordic neighbours, and co-operates with them formally in economic and social matters through the Nordic Council of Ministers, and informally in political matters through direct consultation.

Sweden also values its relations with the Baltic States, where historical and cultural links are strong. Since the Baltic States regained their independence, Sweden has given considerable aid and technical assistance, and has promoted their accession to the EU. Sweden is a member of the Council of Baltic Sea States.

Sweden's relations with the UK

The current British Ambassador to Sweden is Andrew Mitchell. Staffan Carlsson is the Swedish Ambassador to the UK.

Bilateral relations

The British Community in Sweden is approximately 15,000 strong. The Swedish community in London is approximately 40,000 (no figure available for the whole of the UK)

Cultural relations with the UK

British Council: Sweden
The Swedish Institute

Recent Visits

Inward

Europe Minister Cecilia Malmstrom visited the UK on 27 March 2008
Environment Minister Andreas Carlgren met Hilary Benn and Phil Woolas in London on 10 March 2008
PM Fredrik Reinfeldt met PM Brown (and Opposition Leader David Cameron) in London on 26 February 2008
Migration Minister Tobias Billström met his opposite number on 11-12 December 2007
Minister for Integration and Gender Equality Nyamko Sabuni met her opposite number on 28-29 November 2007
Opposition leader, Mona Sahlin, Social Democrats, met Gordon Brown on 15 November 2007
Foreign Minister Carl Bildt met Foreign Secretary David Miliband on 10 October 2007
Foreign Minister Carl Bildt met Foreign Secretary Beckett on 15 March 2007
Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt met Prime Minister Blair in London on 6 March 2007
Minister for Finance Anders Borg met with Chancellor Brown on 7 February 2007
Prime Minister Göran Persson met Tony Blair in London on 21 June and 8 December 2005 and 14 March 2006.
Finance Minister Pär Nuder met with Chancellor Gordon Brown in London on 26 January 2005
Speaker of Swedish Parliament Björn von Sydow visited on 10-11 October 2004

Outward

Foreign Secretary David Miliband visited Sweden on 17 March 2008 and met his opposite number Carl Bildt
Visit by Parmjit Dhanda (DCLG Minister) on Fire Emergency and Countering Radicalisation 12 - 13 March 2008
Cabinet Office Minister Ed Miliband visited Stockholm and Malmö on 12-14 February 2008
Home Office Minister Vernon Coaker, Deputy Minister for Women Barbara Follett and Solicitor-General Vera Baird, visited Stockholm on 10-11 January 2008
David Lammy, Minister for Skills (PUS), visited Stockholm 17-18 September 2007
As Climate Change Minister, David Miliband, attended the Midnight Sun Dialogue on Climate Change at Riksgränsen in June 2007
Minister for Science and Innovation Malcolm Wicks visited Stockholm 31 May-1 June 2007
Lord Greville Janner visited Sweden on 29 May 2007
Prince Michael of Kent visited Sweden on 16-18 March 2007
As Minister for Europe, Douglas Alexander visited Stockholm on 13 March 2006
The Chancellor Gordon Brown visited Gotland in July 2005
As Secretary of State for Defence, Dr John Reid visited Sweden on 20 June 2005
As Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Margaret Beckett visited Stockholm on 15-16 June 2005
The Duke of York visited Sweden on 7 September 2004
As Minister for Europe, Dennis MacShane visited on 3-4 March 2004
As Foreign Secretary, Jack Straw attended Anna Lindh's memorial service on 19 September 2003
Tony Blair visited Stockholm on 5 September 2002