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NATO

Sweden’s Nato membership ‘would reduce risk of military conflict in Europe’

The Swedish government's party security policy working group has concluded that joining the Nato security alliance will increase Sweden's security, setting the stage for a likely application on Monday.

Sweden's Nato membership 'would reduce risk of military conflict in Europe'
Sweden's security policy analysis group announced it report. Photo: Henrik Montgomery/TT

Presenting the results of the analysis (here in English) at a press conference at 11am on Friday, Sweden’s foreign minister, Ann Linde, said that a Swedish Nato membership would “raise the threshold for military conflict in Europe”. 

“The foremost consequence of a future membership in Nato is that Sweden would be a part of Nato’s collective security and as a result have a conflict-dampening effect in Europe,” she said. 

Defence Minister Peter Hultqvist added that Nato membership would make the response of Sweden’s allies more predictable. 

“With a future Swedish Nato membership, the uncertainty which there is currently over what behaviour would be seen in a security crisis or armed attack would be reduced,” he said.  

The group, which was formed on March 16th, shortly before Easter, and met six times, was led by Linde, and included Hultqvist together with appointees from all of Sweden’s eight parliamentary parties. The report, while making strong arguments in favour of Nato membership for Sweden, makes no explicit recommendation that Sweden should apply to join the 30-country alliance. 

Neither Linde nor Hultqvist were willing to state their own positions on whether Sweden should join, arguing that as ministers representing the Social Democrats, they needed to wait until the party officially changes its position to favour membership at a meeting of its ruling committee on Sunday. 

“Of course, it’s the case that after this extremely thorough work, that I’m clear about my own opinion,” Linde said. “But out of respect for our party discussion and for the government’s decision which will come soon, I am choosing not to say what I think for now.” 

Hans Wallmark, foreign policy spokesperson for the pro-Nato Moderate Party, said, however that in his opinion the conclusion of the report was clear. 

“We share the conclusions made yesterday by Finland’s president and prime minister,” he said. “We must now immediately apply for Nato membership. Full stop.” 

The report argues that Russia’s military aggression is not a short-term problem, but instead means a “structural and long-term deterioration in the security situation in Europe”, making it “necessary to make an assessment of how Sweden’s security can be guaranteed in the best way”.  

It also argues that despite the increased military interoperability with Sweden’s partners, there was “no guarantee that Sweden will get help if a serious threat or attack was directed at the country that was not within the boundaries of current cooperation”. 

It argues that a bilateral approach was “not a realistic alternative” and that there was a “lack of political will” within the EU to build a system of mutual defence, while the attack on Ukraine had shown the limits of the help Nato will give to non-member countries. 

“A Swedish Nato membership would raise the threshold for military conflict and as a result have a conflict-preventing effect in northern Europe,” the paper concludes.

“If both Sweden and Finland join Nato, then all of the Nordic and Baltic countries would be covered by an obligation of mutual defence. The uncertainty which there is currently over what behaviour would be seen in a security crisis or armed attack would be reduced.”

The representatives from the Green Party and Left Party, which both oppose Nato membership, refused to back the conclusions of the report, giving their approval only to the first four chapters laying out the changed threat situation. 

In the press conference, Håkan Svenneling, an MP from the Left Party, complained that the report barely mentioned any of the risks that would come with Nato membership.

“You have to look with a microscope to find any of the arguments against Nato membership,” he complained, dismissing the report as “a pamphlet in favour of Swedish Nato membership”. 

The report does, however, push back at one of the key arguments of Nato opponents, arguing that membership of the alliance would not impact on Sweden’s goal of progressive nuclear disarmament. 

“A Nato-membership would not decrease Sweden’s opportunities to pursue our values internationally, including for nuclear disarmament,” the report reads. 

It also concludes that while Russia will express its unhappiness at Sweden and Finland joining Nato, and may respond with non-military measures, it is unlikely to mount a military attack on Sweden.  

Member comments

  1. How on earth could possibly Sweden joining NATO increase the safety of Europe as a whole and of Sweden in particular??? Sweden has been out of Nato fo up to 70 years since Nato itself was created soon after the end of WWII, and never ever Sweden was in danger of an invasion from The Soviet Union, why should it be worried NOW? On the contrary, Russia has EXPLICITELY said that Sweden and Finland joining Nato is seen as an aggresive move, and will be opposed by Russian counter-meaures! Is there any more tangible proof??? Evidently, the new Swedish government is moving along following an agenda that is more and more dictated by the USA, and Nato, more than by their own people’s real interests and safety!

  2. Turkey says it opposes Sweden and Finland and will Veto membership for these two pawns of the United States . HA HA HA .

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WHAT CHANGES IN SWEDEN

Tax deadline and Eurovision tension: What changes in Sweden in May?

Swedish passports are about to become more expensive, but on the other hand the economy could be on the road to recovery depending on what happens on a few crucial dates in May. The Local rounds up the main points you need to know.

Tax deadline and Eurovision tension: What changes in Sweden in May?

Don’t miss: Sweden’s tax deadline

Tax returns were sent out weeks ago, so you may already have declared your taxes. But if you haven’t, May 2nd is the final deadline. 

If you’re unable to file your tax return on time, then you need to apply for a two-week extension by the May 2nd deadline. If the Tax Agency approves your extension, you’ll have until May 16th to submit it. You can apply for this extension online using your digital ID, or call the agency.

If you’ve already submitted your taxes, but you realise you need to make changes, you can do so online until December 18th. In fact, you can make changes to tax returns from up to six years back, but in that case you need to do so by sending a letter to the Tax Agency.

Before you click submit, make sure you’ve not missed out on these essential deductions.

Time to slash the interest rate?

Sweden’s central bank, the Riksbank, will announce its next decision on the country’s so-called policy rate on May 8th. 

This is a crucial announcement as the policy rate is the bank’s main monetary policy tool. It decides which rates the banks of Sweden can deposit in and borrow money from the Riksbank, which in turn affects the banks’ own interest rates on savings, loans and mortgages. 

Sweden’s policy rate is relatively high at the moment, 4.0 percent (the highest since 2008), because of the Riksbank trying to bring down inflation. If bank interest rates are high, it’s expensive to borrow money, which means people spend less and as a result inflation drops.

But now that inflation is on its way down, Riksbank chiefs themselves have said that they think it’s likely that they will cut the policy rate in either May or June, and several economists predict that the cut is going to come sooner rather than later, which would mean in May.

Once the cut comes, you should be able to see a knock-on effect on, for example, the cost of your mortgage, so lenders and home-owners will be keeping a close eye on what happens on May 8th.

Swedish passports set to get 25 percent more expensive

The cost of getting a Swedish passport is set to be hiked by 25 percent on May 1st, from 400 to 500 kronor.

So in other words, if you’re about to get or renew your Swedish passport, get it done now if you can. You often have to wait weeks for an appointment, but it’s sometimes possible to get a last-minute slot if people cancel their appointments. In Stockholm, for example, when The Local looked on Monday morning, there were still a few open slots in Norrtälje before May 1st, but nowhere else in the region.

You don’t have to get a passport in the same region you live in.

The higher fee will apply for all appointments on or after May 1st, even if you booked them before that date.

According to a government press release, the higher fee is necessary to “maintain the level of service” and ensure that the police authority’s revenue from the fees covers the cost, as passport operations are funded by fees.

Controversial Eurovision Song Contest to be held in Malmö

The Eurovision Song Contest – Europe’s by far biggest music competition – is heading to Malmö Arena in southern Sweden in May, with the first semi-final kicking off on May 7th, followed by the second semi-final on May 9th and culminating in the final on May 11th. 

It’s a highly-anticipated event, albeit this year with a mix of joy and trepidation. 

The row over whether Israel should be allowed to participate after its brutal retaliatory attack on Hamas and Gaza has led to protests (at least half a dozen applications have been filed for demonstration permits) and artists pulling out of performing at Eurovision side events.

Swedish broadcaster TV4 reports that ten percent of volunteers have already pulled out, and Moriskan, an event venue that was set to organise Euro Fan Café for Eurovision fans, has also cancelled its participation, despite being in the middle of Eurovision Village. “Our assessment is that we could risk our future if we go through with the event,” its CEO Ozan Sunar told the Sydsvenskan newspaper.

Malmö is home to more than 360,000 people and 186 nationalities, and a large part of the city’s population is of Palestinian origin.

Add to that the fact that security was already likely to be tight at the event, after Sweden last year raised its terror alert to four on a five-point scale.

More than 100,000 people are expected to visit Malmö during Eurovision week, and police reinforcements are being brought in from Denmark and Norway.

Swedish economy set for Swift revival?

We hesitate to write this, but Eurovision may in fact not be Sweden’s most significant music event of the year, or even in the month of May. 

In mid-May, Taylor Swift is coming to Stockholm. The megastar is set to play three gigs at Friends Arena, on May 17th-19th, the only stop she’ll make in Scandinavia as part of The Eras Tour. And we’re not just keeping an eye on this as Swifties, but because of the economy.

“Swiftonomics” has already become a global concept, as cities where she plays tend to see a brief bump in revenue as fans descend on the city, buying hotel tickets and eating in restaurants. She’s expected to have a 417,900,000 kronor impact on the Swedish capital, according to the Stockholm Chamber of Commerce. A similar phenomenon was seen last year, when Beyonce launched her global tour in Stockholm.

Whether this is good or bad depends on your viewpoint. On the one hand, it kicks the economy into action, which could bring a much-wanted GDP boost. On the other hand, it may drive up the inflation rate at a point when Sweden and the Riksbank are hoping for the opposite. 

That said, it has been questioned how much of an effect single events like these actually has on inflation.

Regardless, expect it to be a talking point in the coming month. And if you’re planning a trip to Stockholm for reasons other than Taylor Swift, you may want to consider scheduling your visit for dates other than May 17th-19th to avoid the hordes of fans and marked up hotel prices.

Holidays and other dates

May 1st, a day for celebrating workers’ movements, has been a public holiday in Sweden since 1939. Expect to see rallies organised by left or centre-left parties and organisations, but otherwise not much happens on May 1st in Sweden other than most people having the day off. 

Ascension Day, which this year falls on May 9th, is also a public holiday in Sweden. Known as Kristi himmelfärdsdag in Swedish (or colloquially Kristi flygare – “flying Christ”), it marks the day when Christians believe Jesus ascended into heaven. But as Sweden is a relatively secular country, unless you don’t go to church you’re unlikely to notice anything remarkable – again, other than getting a day off.

Mother’s Day in Sweden falls on the last Sunday of May, this year May 26th. It is not a public holiday.

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