Hillevi Engström

2014

Press release 21 August 2014 Ministry for Foreign Affairs Sweden to provide SEK 35 million in humanitarian assistance to Ukraine The Government decided today to provide SEK 35 million in humanitarian assistance to Ukraine. This will go to food, medicine, blankets, etc.

"At least 200 000 people in Luhansk are without water and electricity, and the mobile network is also down. Food, medicine and fuel are in short supply. The humanitarian situation is likely to deteriorate further if the conflict continues and the weather gets colder. As a major humanitarian donor, it is Sweden's responsibility to help the people of Ukraine," says Minister for International Development Cooperation Hillevi Engström.

The support will primarily be channelled through the UN and the International Red Cross, and is a response to the call for help from the Ukrainian authorities and the UN. Ukraine's Government will also need help to strengthen its authorities and institutions to better equipped if the crisis deepens and is protracted.

"There is a war going on in eastern Ukraine, and we can't carry on as though nothing has happened. I wish all our support was about closer ties between Ukraine and the EU but now there are people who need immediate international help," says Ms Engström.

The UN and Ukrainian authorities estimate that the current need amounts to approximately SEK 230 million. The funds available for Crimea under the Strategy for Eastern Europe, the Western Balkans and Turkey will now be used for humanitarian assistance instead.

Contact Sebastian Tham Press Secretary to Hillevi Engström +46 72 212 74 72 email to Sebastian Tham Press release 24 July 2014 Ministry for Foreign Affairs SEK 1.35 billion to new Development Cooperation Strategy for Uganda The Government today adopted a new development cooperation strategy for Uganda for 2014-2018. Sweden's total support is estimated at SEK 1.35 billion (approx. 200 MUSD).

The aim is to improve child and maternal health, including sexual and reproductive health and rights, sustainable growth and employment. The Government also wants to help strengthen respect for human rights.

Swedish development cooperation with Uganda will change. The focus will continue to be on reducing poverty, reducing infant mortality and improving maternal health. But by broadening our cooperation, especially with civil society and the private sector, the prospects for making a difference in meeting the most crucial challenges in Uganda are increased.

The new areas of cooperation include innovation, employment issues and strengthened collaboration with the business sector and the research community.

"Sweden wants to help create better conditions in Uganda for sustainable economic growth and development. This is why Swedish aid to Uganda will remain substantial. Sweden continues to support human rights and freedom from violence", says Minister for International Development Cooperation Hillevi Engström.

Contact Sebastian Tham Press Secretary to Hillevi Engström +46 72 212 74 72 email to Sebastian Tham Press release 14 July 2014 Ministry for Foreign Affairs Informal ministerial meeting in Florence, 14-15 July Minister for International Development Cooperation, Hillevi Engström, will travel to Florence, where EU development cooperation ministers will gather for an informal meeting on 15 July.

Time and place The agenda for the meeting includes the EU's role in shaping the post-2015 global development goals and the private sector's role in development.

"It is important that the EU enters into discussions and plays an active role when a new global development agenda is being negotiated. Sweden's high priority issues include human rights and democracy, gender equality, sexual and reproductive health and rights, freedom from violence and climate change," says Minister for International Development Cooperation Hillevi Engström.

In recent years, the role of the private sector in development has been gaining increasing attention in the policy debate. This has resulted in a European Commission communication and Council conclusions on this issue.

"Sweden is convinced that the business sector is an engine for growth, innovation, investment and, not least, for the creation of new and better jobs," says Ms Engström.

Contact Sebastian Tham Press Secretary to Hillevi Engström +46 72 212 74 72 email to Sebastian Tham Press release 08 July 2014 Ministry for Foreign Affairs Swedish Support to the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia Sweden, through the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency, Sida, has confirmed its continued support to the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia, ECCC, by making available a contribution of SEK 30 million (approximately USD 4,5 million) to the international component of the ECCC for the period 2014- 2015.

The mandate of the ECCC is to bring the senior and most responsible leaders of the Khmer Rouge to trial for crimes committed during the period of Democratic Kampuchea. It is designed to provide fair and open trials in conformity with international standards. The ECCC provides a significant contribution towards justice, accountability and reconciliation in the Cambodian society.

"The Swedish contribution to the ECCC will assist in the pursuit of justice for the victims of the Khmer Rouge regime. It is a manifestation of Sweden's strong commitment to the respect for human rights, international criminal justice and the principle of rule of law", says Hillevi Engström, Swedish Minister for International Development Cooperation.

With the new contribution, the total Swedish support to the ECCC for the period 2012-2015 amounts to SEK 68 million (approximately USD 10 million).

Contact Sebastian Tham Press Secretary to Hillevi Engström +46 72 212 74 72 email to Sebastian Tham Press release 11 June 2014 Ministry for Foreign Affairs Minister for International Development Cooperation to attend London anti- violence summit

On 12 and 13 June, Minister for International Development Cooperation Hillevi Engström will be in London to take part in the Global Summit to End Sexual Violence in Conflict. Ms Engström will speak at a seminar to highlight the various ways individuals are exposed to sexual violence and she will share Swedish experiences and ways of working on these issues in development cooperation.

In addition to Ms Engström, the Swedish delegation will consist of representatives of Sida, the Folke Bernadotte Academy and the Nordic Centre for Gender in Military Operations.

Representatives of civil society, international organisations, public bodies, governments and the business sector will also attend the summit. The summit marks the second anniversary of the launch of the Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict (PSVI) initiative by William Hague, UK Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, and Angelina Jolie, Special Envoy for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees. The aim is to strengthen international efforts to combat conflict-related sexual violence by, for example, increasing the number of people who are sentenced for sexual offences.

Contact Sebastian Tham Press Secretary to Hillevi Engström +46 72 212 74 72 email to Sebastian Tham Press release 14 May 2014 Ministry for Foreign Affairs Press invitation: Stockholm Internet Forum This year's Stockholm Internet Forum (SIF14) will take place at the Brewery Conference Centre (Münchenbryggeriet) on 27-28 May. Some 450 participants from 90 countries will meet to discuss the theme 'The internet: privacy, transparency, surveillance and control'.

Time and place 27-28 May Brewery Conference Centre (Münchenbryggeriet)

Freedom and security on the internet is one of the major global issues of the future and one of the highest priorities of Swedish foreign policy.

SIF is a unique forum for in-depth discussions on how freedom and openness on the internet promote human rights and development in the world. Decision-makers, civil society, businesses, academia and the technical community will be represented. Half of the participants will be from low-and middle-income countries - often from places where internet freedom is restricted and efforts to promote it can be downright dangerous. The many participants will include: Jillian York from the Electronic Frontier Foundation, Shahzad Ahmad from the Pakistani internet freedom organisation Bytes4All, Anja Kovacs from the Internet Democracy Project in New Delhi, and OSCE media representative Dunja Mijatovic. See the link below for the complete list of participants.

SIF is arranged by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Sida and .SE. All panel sessions will be broadcast live on stockholminternetforum.se. Those not attending in person can put questions to the panels via Twitter using the hashtag #SIF14.

Minister for Foreign Affairs Carl Bildt will host the conference, but Minister for International Development Cooperation Hillevi Engström and Minister for Information Technology Anna-Karin Hatt will also attend.

The whole event will be open to the media. Apply for accreditation via the link below. The deadline for accreditation is 25 May.

The programme for the Stockholm Internet Forum contains both panel sessions and a section arranged by participants called Unconference - a concept in which the participants themselves propose ideas for sessions that are then voted on. The ideas that receive the most votes are then implemented by the participants themselves during the SIF conference.

Agenda Participants Accreditation

Contact Erik Wirkensjö Desk Officer +46 8 405 51 13 Email to Erik Wirkensjö Press release 09 May 2014 Ministry for Foreign Affairs Ministry of Justice Ban Ki-moon to deliver opening address at Stockholm meeting on migration and development On 14-16 May more than 450 delegates from 140 countries will gather in Stockholm to discuss migration and development.

Minister for Migration and Asylum Policy Tobias Billström and Minister for International Development Cooperation Hillevi Engström will host the meeting. H.R.H. Crown Princess Victoria, Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt and UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon will be speaking at the opening session. External links Online media accreditation The meeting is taking place under the Swedish Chairmanship of the Global Forum on Migration and application Development (GFMD). Key issues to be discussed include the ways in which migration can boost revenues, greater investment in education and health, entrepreneurship and job creation.

While in Sweden, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon will also meet Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt for talks.

Media representatives are invited to attend the plenary sessions. Special media accreditation is required. The deadline for accreditation is 10 am on Monday 12 May. Press release 14 April 2014 Ministry for Foreign Affairs Engström to Mexico City for meeting of Global Partnership for Effective Development Cooperation Today Minister for International Development Cooperation Hillevi Engström is travelling to Mexico City to attend a high-level meeting on how global development cooperation can become more effective and how the business sector, for example, can be better involved. The meeting is taking place on 15-16 April and will gather some 1 500 political leaders, parliamentarians and representatives of civil society and the business sector.

Ms Engström will participate in a focus session on increased transparency through open data and how further progress can be made towards transparency. She will also take part in the meeting of the OECD Development Assistance Committee on gender equality, where the purpose is to strengthen commitments on increased transparency in development financing aimed at women.

The Global Partnership for Effective Development Cooperation is a network of actors that in one way or another are involved in efforts for sustainable development. It was established in 2011 in response to the need for a forum to promote more effective development cooperation. The meeting in Mexico is its first high-level meeting.

Contact Sebastian Tham Press Secretary to Hillevi Engström +46 72 212 74 72 email to Sebastian Tham Press release 04 April 2014 Ministry for Foreign Affairs International Parliamentarians' Conference on the Implementation of the ICPD Programme of Action, 23-25 April The Ministry for Foreign Affairs - together with the Swedish Riksdag, the United Nations Population Fund and the European Parliamentary Forum on Population and Development - is hosting the International Parliamentarians' Conference on the Implementation of the ICPD Programme of Action in Stockholm on 23-25 April 2014. Minister for International Development Cooperation Hillevi Engström is one of the keynote speakers during the opening day of the conference.

Time and place Related Wednesday 23 April, 09.00-16.00 Hillevi Engström: "Freedom The Swedish Riksdag and Stockholm City Convention Centre from Violence for Development" This conference in Stockholm, the sixth in a row, aims to follow up the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) Programme of Action that was adopted in Cairo in 1994. The 1994 Cairo Programme of Action establishes women's need for, and right to, good maternity care, sex education, access to contraceptives, gender equality, as well as safe abortions, where legal. At least 400 people, including ministers, parliamentarians and representatives of civil society from around 100 countries, are expected to attend the conference.

Media representatives are welcome to attend the first day of the conference. Special media accreditation from the Ministry for Foreign Affairs International Press Centre is required. This also applies to media with Riksdag accreditation. The deadline to apply for accreditation is Friday 18 April 2014.

Application for media accreditation IPCI:s homepage and media advisory

Contact Sebastian Tham Press Secretary to Hillevi Engström +46 72 212 74 72 email to Sebastian Tham For accreditation: Ursula Åhlén International Press Centre +46 (0)76 764 89 40 [email protected] 2013

Press release 12 December 2013 Ministry for Foreign Affairs Engström to Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels Minister for International Development Cooperation Hillevi Engström has travelled to Brussels where EU development cooperation ministers are meeting on 12 December.

The agenda of the meeting includes the continued role of the EU in UN work on a new global development agenda. Other discussion points include EU policy for coherence and global development, the implementation of the EU's updated development policy and developments in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Great Lakes region.

Contact Sebastian Tham Press Secretary to Hillevi Engström +46 72 212 74 72 email to Sebastian Tham Press release 25 November 2013 Ministry for Foreign Affairs SEK 70 million to UN Women on International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women Today is the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. It serves as a reminder of the enormous suffering that men's violence against women causes.

UN Women works to realise the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women and to combat violence against women and girls. The organisation's efforts have contributed to 30 countries adopting laws and strategies to reduce violence against women and girls.

"In some countries, up to 7 out of 10 women have been victims of physical, sexual, mental or other types of violence during their lifetime. The Government takes this problem very seriously and has therefore decided to allocate an additional SEK 70 million to UN Women," says Minister for International Development Cooperation Hillevi Engström.

"Sweden will continue to be at the international forefront in the work to improve the situation of women and girls in the world's most vulnerable countries and thereby contribute to combating poverty," Ms Engström concludes. The Government contributed over SEK 55 million kronor to UN Women earlier in 2013.

Contact Sebastian Tham Press Secretary to Hillevi Engström +46 72 212 74 72 email to Sebastian Tham Press release 19 November 2013 Ministry for Foreign Affairs Enhanced cooperation between the US and Sweden on aid

Today, Tuesday 19 November, Minister for International Development Cooperation Hillevi Engström was receiving the head of USAID, Rajiv Shah. The agenda includes a bilateral meeting. The visit was another step in the increasingly close cooperation between Sweden and the United States concerning development issues, particularly new and innovative forms of aid.

After the meeting, Ms Engström took part in a joint press conference with Rajiv Shah, Charlotte Petri Gornitzka, Director-General of the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), and Niklas Gustavsson, Executive Vice President of Volvo Group. At the press conference, a joint Swedish-US initiative on innovation was announced. In addition, Sida, USAID and Volvo have presented a new three-party cooperation scheme aimed at creating jobs in African countries.

Contact Sebastian Tham Press Secretary to Hillevi Engström +46 72 212 74 72 email to Sebastian Tham Press release 21 October 2013 Ministry for Foreign Affairs Sweden to make pledge at E5P Donor Conference On 21 October, the fund for Eastern Europe Energy Efficiency and Environment Partnership (E5P) will be expanded to include Moldova, Georgia and Armenia. At the E5P Donor Conference today, Sweden intends to make a further SEK 55 million pledge to the Fund.

The E5P is a fund to promote energy efficiency and environmental investments in the Eastern Partnership countries. Until now, the fund only covered Ukraine, as the pilot country. On 21 October, it will be expanded to include Moldova, Georgia and Armenia.

The E5P was initiated by Sweden during its EU Presidency in 2009. Sweden is a major donor, alongside the EU. At the Donor Conference for the E5P on 21 October, Sweden intends to make a further SEK 55 million pledge. Today's pledge will bring the total Swedish contribution to over EUR 30 million for these four countries.

Together with a number of countries, the total pledged support before today's Donor Conference amounts to over EUR 90 million.

Later today, Minister for Foreign Affairs Carl Bildt will begin a visit to three of these countries - Moldova, Ukraine and Georgia - together with his Polish counterpart, Radoslaw Sikorski.

- Efficient use of energy is a major challenge in Eastern Europe. The E5P will improve the environment and at the same time make the countries of Eastern Europe more competitive, efficient and more capable of diversifying their energy supplies, says Minister for International Development Cooperation Hillevi Engström.

The E5P is a multi-donor fund merging contributions from the European Union and a group consisting of more than ten nations. The contributions are used as grants to support municipal investment projects implemented by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the European Investment Bank, the International Finance Corporation, the Nordic Investment Bank, the Nordic Environment Finance Corporation and the World Bank.

The E5P focuses on financing energy efficiency and environment investments in Eastern Europe and conducting policy discussions on reforms within the energy sector. The key objectives of the fund are improvement of energy efficiency, significant reduction of CO2 and other greenhouse gas emissions, enhanced economic competitiveness and affordability of assets maintenance.

- If the Fund continues to be successful, we are ready to consider further contributions, continues Ms Engström.

Contact Erik Zsiga Press Secretary to Carl Bildt +46 72 573 91 30 email to Erik Zsiga Sebastian Tham Press Secretary to Hillevi Engström +46 72 212 74 72 email to Sebastian Tham Press release 08 October 2013 Ministry for Foreign Affairs Hillevi Engström to visit UN in New York Minister for International Development Cooperation Hillevi Engström will visit the UN in New York on 9-10 October.

One of the purposes of the visit is to meet some of the heads of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) to find out more about how the UN works on development issues.

Ms Engström will also have the opportunity to meet staff working on the evaluation and internal audit of the UNDP. This is part of Sweden's efforts to strengthen the systems for results-based management and accountability.

- I am looking forward to going to New York and forming my own view of how the UN works and what the challenges are, says Ms Engström.

- It is important that every krona paid in tax that goes to development assistance is used in the best way. I will be very clear in that satisfactory systems for results-based management and accountability continue to play a key role in development assistance, she concludes.

Contact Sebastian Tham Press Secretary to Hillevi Engström +46 72 212 74 72 email to Sebastian Tham Press release 07 October 2013 Ministry for Foreign Affairs Sebastian Tham new Press Secretary to Minister for International Development Cooperation Hillevi Engström

Sebastian Tham has today taken up his post as new Press Secretary to Minister for International Development Cooperation Hillevi Engström. Mr Tham was most recently a press secretary at the Moderate Party Office at Stockholm County Council. He has previously worked on EU policy matters at the Moderate Party Parliamentary Secretariat.

Contact Sebastian Tham Press Secretary to Hillevi Engström +46 72 212 74 72 email to Sebastian Tham Press release 04 October 2013 Ministry for Foreign Affairs New State Secretary at Ministry for Foreign Affairs

The Government today appointed Tanja Rasmusson as State Secretary to the Minister for International Development Cooperation at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs. Ms Rasmusson holds a degree in law and previously served as political adviser at the Ministry of Justice. She has also been Chief of Staff at the Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of Employment. Ms Rasmusson's most recent position was political adviser to the Minister for Foreign Affairs.

Contact Sebastian Tham Press Secretary to Hillevi Engström +46 72 212 74 72 email to Sebastian Tham Press release 04 October 2013 Ministry for Foreign Affairs Swedish aid receives good rating in review The aid policy reforms carried out in recent years have been successful. This is confirmed by the OECD Development Assistance Committee (DAC) in a new review of Swedish aid.

The aid policy reforms carried out in recent years have been successful. This is confirmed by the OECD Development Assistance Committee (DAC) in a new review of Swedish aid. Swedish aid receives a good rating in a review by the OECD Development Assistance Committee (DAC), whose regular review is being presented today. With its high aid levels, Sweden is one of few countries that comfortably exceeds the goal of 0.7 per cent of the country's GNI going to aid.

"We should be proud of Swedish development assistance. I am particularly pleased about the good rating the review gives us for the reforms carried out over the past few years. The review shows that we are on the right track, which we should continue to pursue. This applies not least to our focus on results. But at the same time, there is more to be done. The DAC regular peer review provides an opportunity to reflect on how we can continue to improve aid," says Minister for International Development Cooperation Hillevi Engström.

According to the DAC, Sweden has come a long way in its development towards clearer control of aid. At the same time, the review notes that there is potential for improvement. Efforts have been made to focus Swedish aid, but it is still too broad. In its report, the DAC points out that increased focus of aid to fewer countries and fewer thematic areas would enhance the impact of Swedish aid.

Every DAC member state is reviewed every fourth or fifth year. The aim is to develop aid and promote mutual learning. Sweden was last reviewed in 2009. This year's review of Sweden was carried out by Belgium and the UK, together with the DAC secretariat. The reviewers visited Sweden in March and conducted interviews with people from the Government Offices, the Riksdag, Sida and civil society organisations. During the spring, the reviewers also made field visits to Sweden's embassies in Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Contact Sebastian Tham Press Secretary to Hillevi Engström +46 72 212 74 72 email to Sebastian Tham Press release 30 September 2013 Ministry for Foreign Affairs Hillevi Engström promises additional support for Syrian refugees Heads of UN humanitarian agencies and representatives of the international community are meeting in Geneva today at the invitation of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees for a conference on the humanitarian crisis in Syria.

The meeting will focus on discussing how to support Syria's neighbours in receiving the enormous flows of refugees resulting from the conflict. Together, Lebanon, Jordan, Turkey and Iraq have so far received two million refugees from Syria, including one million children.

Minister for International Development Cooperation Hillevi Engström announced a new decision to channel SEK 40 million of Sweden's core support to the UN Refugee Agency UNHCR to measures to improve the untenable situation in which Syrian refugees find themselves. The money will be used to secure protection and assistance for refugees and host communities in need of urgent help.

Since the crisis began, Sweden has contributed SEK 625 million, including today's additional contribution, to operations to manage the humanitarian crisis in Syria and the countries in its vicinity. Around SEK 325 million of this has been disbursed this year. In addition, Sweden provides extensive core support to various UN humanitarian bodies and the International Red Cross Movement.

Contact Sebastian Tham Press Secretary to Hillevi Engström +46 72 212 74 72 email to Sebastian Tham Press release 27 September 2013 Ministry for Foreign Affairs Hillevi Engström to Geneva for Syria meeting On 30 September, the United Nations refugee body UNHCR will host a high-level conference to discuss the humanitarian crisis in Syria, with a focus on the large flows of refugees received by Syria's neighbours.

The purpose of the conference is to shed light on the challenges facing Syria's neighbours as a result of their receiving more than two million refugees, and to seek additional support from the international community for people affected by the crisis. Government ministers from Lebanon, Jordan, Turkey and Iraq will be attending the conference, as will the heads of several UN bodies and representatives of numerous countries. Sweden will be represented by the new Minister for International Development Cooperation, Hillevi Engström.

"Syria's neighbours have shown tremendous generosity in receiving people who have fled the crisis, to the point that these countries' own welfare systems are now on their knees. We call on the neighbouring countries to continue to show solidarity with the hundreds of thousands of women, children and men who are fleeing the crisis. However, the international community must also take its responsibility for supporting these countries in receiving refugees so that their generosity does not lead to serious crises in the host communities as well," says Ms Engström.

Sweden's contributions Since the crisis began, Sweden has contributed SEK 585 million to operations to manage the humanitarian crisis in Syria and the countries in its vicinity, some SEK 285 million of which has been disbursed this year. In addition, Sweden provides extensive core support to various UN humanitarian bodies and the International Red Cross Movement.

Contact Sebastian Tham Press Secretary to Hillevi Engström +46 72 212 74 72 email to Sebastian Tham Press release 23 August 2013 Ministry of Employment Nordic employment minister meeting in Övertorneå Nordic representatives will gather on 26-27 August for the Nordic Council of Ministers for Labour (MR-A) in Övertorneå to discuss the current labour market situation in the Nordic countries. Minister for Employment Hillevi Engström will host the meeting.

The Council meeting will focus on current issues and challenges that characterise the Nordic labour market, including more paths to jobs for young people and border barriers. There will also be a discussion on employment training programmes.

In connection with the meeting, there will be a visit to the Arctic Region Foundation of Vocational Training, which arranges vocational training for the Finnish, Norwegian and Swedish labour markets. The Foundation is an interesting example of the removal of border barriers.

Time and place Time: Tuesday 27 August at 11.50 Place: Arctic Region Foundation of Vocational Training, Skolvägen 12, Övertorneå

Media representatives are welcome to participate in the visit to the Arctic Region Foundation of Vocational Training. A Q&A session will follow the visit. Please notify Niklas Gillström if you plan to attend. Press credentials are required.

President of the Nordic Council of Ministers Sweden holds the Presidency of the Nordic Council of Ministers in 2013. Sweden is therefore hosting several meetings and conferences during the year within the framework of Council cooperation. The Nordic countries face a great challenge in creating more paths to jobs for young people. The situation of young people is therefore an overall theme in the area of working life during the Swedish Presidency.

Contact Niklas Gillström Press secretary to Hillevi Engström +46 8 405 42 83 +46 725 20 66 33 email to Niklas Gillström Press release 14 May 2013 Prime Minister's Office Ministry of Employment Nordic prime ministers and employment ministers to meet in Stockholm On 15-16 May, Nordic prime ministers Fredrik Reinfeldt, Jyrki Katainen, Jens Stoltenberg and Helle Thorning- Schmidt, and Iceland's ambassador to Sweden Gunnar Gunnarsson, will meet in Stockholm for an informal meeting of Nordic prime ministers. In connection with this meeting, the employment ministers of the Nordic countries and the autonomous territories will also meet to discuss the challenges involved in getting more young people into work. The meetings will take place within the framework of Sweden's Presidency of the Nordic Council of Ministers.

At their traditional informal summer meeting, the prime ministers will discuss current issues of mutual interest. On 16 May, they will join the Nordic employment ministers for the job summit on young people and employment, which will take place at Fryshuset in Stockholm. The invited delegates also include Related representatives of the social partners, business representatives, young people from the Nordic countries, experts and others with experience of young people's situation in the labour market. www.government.se

The delegates will discuss how to prevent young people's exclusion, focusing in particular on those groups furthest from the labour market such as those with little education, people born abroad and the long-term unemployed. In connection with the job summit, various programmes from different Nordic countries that have made it easier for young people to establish themselves in the labour market will be highlighted and discussed at a job forum.

The Job summit on Thursday will be webcasted.

Programme points:

Wednesday 15 May 13.50 Prime ministers from the Nordic countries visit display flat in the Active House Place: Högviltsgatan 5, Hjorthagen, Norra Djurgårdsstaden, Stockholm Photo opportunity

14.15 Presentation by Mayor of Stockholm Sten Nordin Place: Gasklocka 1, Norra Djurgårdsstaden

14.30 Joint family photo Place: Quay 638, Frihamnen terminal

14.35 The prime ministers are available to the media Place: Quay 638, Frihamnen terminal (photo opportunity)

Please send confirmation to [email protected] by 16.00 on 14 May if you intend to take part in the visit to Norra Djurgårdsstaden

Thursday 16 May Job summit at Fryshuset in Stockholm

08.00 The media centre opens

09.00 Opening address by Minister for Employment Hillevi Engström 09.15 Address by Minister for Finance Anders Borg

09.45 Panel discussion with the Nordic prime ministers

10.50 Press briefing with the Nordic prime ministers

11.15 Panel discussion with the Nordic employment ministers

More information about the job seminar and the Job Forum for Young People is available at: www.regeringen.se/flerungaiarbete

Contact Markus Friberg Press Secretary to Fredrik Reinfeldt +46 8 405 48 72 +46 70 261 30 84 email to Markus Friberg Daniel Valiollahi Press Secretary to Fredrik Reinfeldt +46 8 405 37 80 +46 72 225 45 47 email to Daniel Valiollahi Niklas Gillström Press secretary to Hillevi Engström +46 8 405 42 83 +46 725 20 66 33 email to Niklas Gillström Jan Janonius Press Service Ministry for Foreign Affairs email: [email protected] +46 8 405 91 42 Press release 23 April 2013 Prime Minister's Office Prime Minister's Office Informal meeting of Nordic prime ministers and job summit in Stockholm On 15-16 May the Nordic prime ministers will meet in Stockholm for an informal meeting. In connection with this meeting, the employment ministers of the Nordic countries and the autonomous territories will also meet to discuss the challenges involved in getting more young people into work. The meetings will take place within the framework of Sweden's Presidency of the Nordic Council of Ministers.

At their traditional informal summer meeting, the prime ministers will discuss current issues of mutual interest. Following the conclusion of their meeting, they will be joining the Nordic employment ministers for the job summit on young people and employment on 16 May. The invited delegates also include External links representatives of the social partners, business representatives, young people from the Nordic countries, experts and others with experience of young people's situation in the labour market. More information about the summit Media accreditation (by may The delegates will discuss how to prevent young people's exclusion, focusing in particular on those groups 8th latest) furthest from the labour market such as those with little education, people born abroad and the long-term unemployed. In connection with the job summit, the Job Forum for Young People will highlight and discuss various programmes that have made it easier for young people to establish themselves in the labour market.

Programme points (preliminary)

15 May 13.30-14.30 Prime Ministers visit Norra Djurgårdsstaden (photo op)

14.30 Prime Ministers available for media interviews, Norra Djurgårdsstaden

14.45 Informal meeting of prime ministers begins

16 May 09.00 Opening address by Minister for Employment Hillevi Engström

10.15 Address by Minister for Finance Anders Borg

10.45 Panel discussion with the Nordic employment ministers

13.40 Panel discussion with the Nordic prime ministers

14.20 Press briefing with the Nordic prime ministers

More information about the summit will be published regularly on www.regeringen.se/flerungaiarbete

Media accreditation is required and can be obtained via http://delegia.se/flerungaiarbete/media by 8 May.

During the trip Ms Engström will meet Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations Bill Shorten to exchange experiences concerning the labour market and employment services.

Ms Engström will also visit Job Services Australia, a non-profit employment service, and the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations to study the development and design of Australia's labour market policy.

Contact Niklas Gillström Press secretary to Hillevi Engström +46 8 405 42 83 +46 725 20 66 33 email to Niklas Gillström 2012

Press release 25 January 2012 Ministry of Employment The Government nominates Mona Sahlin to the post of ILO Director-General in Geneva Sweden has nominated Ms Mona Sahlin as candidate for the post of Director-General of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) in Geneva. The Government has decided to nominate Ms Sahlin at the proposal of the Minister for Employment and following consultation with the Minister for Foreign Affairs, all party leaders and Swedish employee and employer organisations, who strongly support the candidature.

The current Director-General, Chilean Juan Somavía, will resign on 30 September 2012. Since the ILO was founded in 1919, all its directors-general have been men. External links The Government's assessment is that Ms Sahlin has a particularly solid and broad knowledge of the issues of International Labour importance to the activities of the ILO. Given her background as Deputy Prime Minister, leader of the Social Organization Democratic Party, minister in various periods with responsibility for labour market and working life issues, gender equality issues, democracy and integration, small businesses, energy issues and industrial policy, the Government considers that Ms Sahlin is extraordinarily well qualified to succeed Mr Somavía. In addition, Ms Sahlin has thorough experience of parliamentary work and very close cooperation with labour market partners and civil society organisations.

In 1997-1998, Ms Sahlin was Chair of the European Year against Racism and of the closing conference. As Chair of the Council for Employment and Social Policy, Ms Sahlin made a major contribution to Sweden's successful Presidency of the EU in 2001. Ms Sahlin is a vice-president of Socialist International and has an extensive international network.

About the ILO The ILO is the UN agency responsible for employment and working life issues comprising 183 Member States. The ILO's position in the UN system is unique. It has a tripartite structure that governs all of the organisation's activities. Member States are represented by their governments, employers and employees. Supported by international standards and through technical assistance to Member States and extensive research and information activities, the ILO is responsible for promoting employment, good working conditions, respect for employee rights, gender equality in working life and social security at global level.

Contact Cherine Khalil Press Secretary to Hillevi Engström 2011

Press release 08 December 2011 Ministry of Employment Minister for Employment Hillevi Engström to visit job centres in London On Friday 9 December, Minister for Employment Hillevi Engström will visit job centres in London. Ms Engström will visit one public and two private job centres.

The aim of the visit is to gather information about how the system of private job centres works in the United Kingdom, and to gain an insight into how job centres work with groups that are very much detached from the labour market.

Contact Cherine Khalil Press Secretary to Hillevi Engström Press release 21 October 2011 Ministry of Employment Minister for Employment Hillevi Engström to visit China Minister for Employment Hillevi Engström will be in China on 23-28 October for visits to Beijing, Shanghai and Suzhou.

This trip will be Ms Engström's first visit to China and is taking place at the invitation of China's Minister of Human Resources and Social Security Yin Weimin. The two ministers will meet in Beijing to discuss common challenges in the areas of employment, labour legislation, working environment and corporate social responsibility (CSR).

Ms Engström will also visit a number of companies with a Swedish connection, including Assa Abloy, Ericsson and Mercuri Urval, and a factory of an H&M supplier, to discuss CSR, working environment, labour legislation and skills provision.

In Beijing, Ms Engström will meet Swedish students studying in China, and she will visit the International Organisation for Migration for a meeting about international cooperation between the EU and China on migration issues.

In Shanghai, Ms Engström will visit a public employment service to gain an insight into its practical work concerning matching, vocational education and training, and unemployment insurance. Moreover, there will be a visit to the Swedish Institute's Eco Chic exhibition, followed by talks with Swedish experts on sustainability in the fashion industry and a meeting with Chinese media to talk about sustainability in the areas of environment, labour legislation and working environment.

Media accreditation Media representatives are welcome to take part in parts of the programme. Please contact Press Secretary Cherine Khalil for accreditation.

Contact Cherine Khalil Press Secretary to Hillevi Engström 2010

Press release 05 October 2010 Prime Minister's Office Sweden's new government Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt has appointed the following government ministers today, 5 October 2010

Ministers and their press contacts are listed below. For new ministers, the press contact given is temporary and applies until further notice.

Prime Minister: Fredrik Reinfeldt Roberta Alenius +46 70 270 72 17

Markus Nordström +46 70 238 67 30

Minister for EU Affairs: Birgitta Ohlsson Jenny Sonesson +46 70 308 44 06

Minister for Justice: Beatrice Ask Martin Valfridsson +46 70 274 10 22

Minister for Migration and Asylum Policy: Tobias Billström Markus Friberg +46 702 61 30 84

Minister for Foreign Affairs: Carl Bildt Irena Busic +46 70 271 02 55

Minister for International Development Cooperation: Gunilla Carlsson Peter Larsson +46 70 283 95 97

Minister for Trade: Ewa Björling Monica Ohlsson +46 70 296 18 99

Minister for Defence: Sten Tolgfors Mikael Östlund +46 70 297 43 28

Minister for Health and Social Affairs: Göran Hägglund Petra Kjellarsson +46 70 646 21 12 Minister for Children and the Elderly: Maria Larsson Niclas Thorselius +46 70 509 50 65

Minister for Public Administration and Housing: Stefan Attefall Martin Kits +46 70 535 07 87

Minister for Social Security: Ulf Kristersson Niclas Bengtsson +46 70 353 78 22

Minister for Finance: Anders Borg Daniel Valiollahi +46 72 225 45 47

Minister for Financial Markets: Peter Norman Anna Charlotta Johansson +46 70 356 30 32

Minister for Education and Deputy Prime Minister: Jan Björklund Camilla Hansson +46 70 206 99 09

Minister for Gender Equality (Deputy Minister for Education): Nyamko Sabuni Yoav Bartal +46 70 357 51 94

Minister for Rural Affairs: Eskil Erlandsson Anna-Karin Nyman +46 70 519 01 59

Minister for the Environment: Andreas Carlgren Lennart Bodén +46 70 950 22 45

Minister for Enterprise and Energy: Maud Olofsson Håkan Lind +46 70 269 11 98

Minister for Information Technology and Regional Affairs (Deputy Minister for Enterprise): Anna-Karin Hatt Frank Nilsson +46 70 690 24 33

Minister for Communications: Catharina Elmsäter-Svärd Markus Sjöqvist +46 76 107 20 36

Minister for Culture and Sport: Lena Adelsohn Liljeroth Sara Bengtsson +46 70 358 77 91 Minister for Employment: Hillevi Engström Sebastian Carlsson +46 73 769 22 77

Minister for Integration (Deputy Minister for Employment): Erik Ullenhag Anna Neuman +46 70 301 47 90

Contact Roberta Alenius Presschef hos Fredrik Reinfeldt +46 8 405 49 04 Markus Nordström Press Secretary to Fredrik Reinfeldt +46 8 405 48 72 +46 70 238 67 30 email to Markus Nordström