SWEDEN

75 COMMON QUESTIONS with answers about Sweden

NordenBladet – What is the Sweden known for?, What is traditional Swedish food?, What is the climate like in Sweden?, Can I see Northern Lights from Stockholm?, How long does it take to become a citizen of Sweden?, What animals are found in Sweden?, Who was the first king of Sweden? – get answers to all your questions!

What is the Sweden known for?
What is Sweden famous for? You probably know all about ABBA, IKEA and meatballs (Svenska Kottbullar). … Swedish food has also hit the big time recently, going far beyond classic dishes like meatballs and pickled herring (though you can still get both at any local supermarket).

What are some popular foods in Sweden?
Meatballs made from meat and herbs tightly rolled together, frequently served with mashed potatoes and pickles. Sliced sausage pieces (usually falukorv) served in a creamy tomato sauce, a cheaper Swedish variation of Beef Stroganoff.

What is traditional Swedish food?
Swedish cuisine is the traditional food of the people of Sweden. … Many traditional dishes employ simple, contrasting flavours, such as the traditional dish of meatballs and brown cream sauce with tart, pungent lingonberry jam (slightly similar in taste to cranberry sauce).

What is in Swedish meatball sauce?
Whisk together the beef stock, heavy cream, flour, soy sauce, black pepper, and rosemary in a large saucepan until smooth. Cook and stir over low heat until thickened, about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Stir in the meatballs, and continue cooking until meatballs are heated through, about 5 more minutes.

What is a Swedish Dala horse?
Over the years the handcarved and painted Dala Horse has become a symbol of authentic Swedish handicraft and one of Sweden’s most popular souvenirs. The name comes from its home province, Dalarna, in central Sweden. Most popular are the red-orange horses from the little village of Nusnäs near Mora.

What is Sweden’s favorite sport?
Sweden is a country with a high interest in sport. It is estimated that about half the population is active in some sport. The most popular sports that Swedes play are handball, football, golf, athletics and gymnastics. Other common games played or competed in are tennis, ice hockey, basketball, table tennis and bandy.

What is the climate like in Sweden?
Sweden’s many lakes and the gulfs of Bothnia give Sweden generally a relatively mild climate. July temperatures in Sweden average 13 to 17°C. February is usually Sweden’s coldest month, with temperatures from – 22 to -3°C. In northern Sweden, winter temperatures often drop to -30°C, sometimes even lower.

How cold is Sweden in the summer?
Stockholm, Sweden has on average the warmest summer of the Nordic countries, with an average maximum temperature of 23 °C (73 °F) in July; Copenhagen, Oslo and Helsinki have an average July maximum temperature of 22 °C (72 °F).

What is the weather like in Sweden in June?
June is also one of the warmest months, the abundance of sunshine helping to keep things warm. The average temperature is 16°C—only July and August are warmer, but only by a degree or two. June afternoons heat up to 21°C on average, which is absolutely delightful.

How hot does it get in Sweden?
Between June and August you can expect temperatures to regularly top 20°C (68°F) and it can get as hot as 30°C (86°F), with occasional rainy weather. Summer temperatures in the southern cities of Sweden average out around 18°C and winter temperatures around -2°C.

What is the coldest month in Sweden?
Stockholm: Annual Weather Averages. July is the hottest month in Stockholm with an average temperature of 64°F (18°C) and the coldest is January at 27°F (-3°C) with the most daily sunshine hours at 12 in June. The wettest month is July with an average of 72mm of rain.

Is it always cold in Sweden?
The air is relatively humid here, making warm days feel warmer and cold days colder. However, even in winter months, snow is rare near any southern coast. Stretching from Stockholm in the east to southern Norway in the west, Svealand has a climate that is normally a few degrees cooler than that of Götaland.

Is it cold in Scandinavia?
Parts of the Scandinavian mountains in Norway and Sweden have an alpine tundra climate with very cold temperatures, especially in winter. Further north, in the regions of Greenland and Iceland, you experience arctic climate with cold winters.

What is the weather like in Sweden in October?
Guaranteeing enjoyment all year round, Stockholm, Sweden, impresses visitors with its majestic landscape, historic highlights and natural scenery. Vast green areas and numerous waterways ornament the city. In October, temperatures reach up to 10°C in the afternoon and drop to an average low of 5°C overnight.

What is the best time to go to Sweden?
Summer — When it comes to weather, the ideal time to visit Sweden is from June to August. At this time, all its cafes and most attractions, including open-air museums, are open, and thousands flock to the north of Sweden to enjoy the midnight sun.

How expensive is it to visit Sweden?
Add in some museums, and you’ll need around $70 USD per day (420 SEK). If you’re the average “stay in a hostel/hotel, eat cheap, go out a few times” traveler, then you should budget around $90 USD per day (540 SEK).

How safe is it in Sweden?
Sweden is very safe overall, with a low crime rate, although some cities have some rough areas that tourists should better avoid. … Sweden is the 18th safest country in the world, based on the safest and most dangerous countries ranking.

Is Sweden the safest country?
Scandinavia: The Safest Region In The World. Having all three of its most prominent constituent nations (Norway, Sweden, and Denmark) among the 25 safest countries in the world, Scandinavia has to be considered the safest region. … Scandinavia also appears to have some of the happiest people on the planet.

Is Sweden safe for American tourists?
Sweden is very safe overall, with a low crime rate, although some cities have some rough areas that tourists should better avoid. … Sweden is the 18th safest country in the world, based on the safest and most dangerous countries ranking.

Are Sweden Northern Lights?
The Northern Lights, or aurora borealis, appear around the beginning of September (Kiruna) to around the end of March all over Swedish Lapland. But for the very best chance of seeing the Northern Lights you should make the trip to the Aurora Sky Station in Abisko National Park.

Can I see Northern Lights from Stockholm?
Usually, the northern lights are only visible in Sweden’s northern reaches. It is possible to see the northern lights much further south than Jokkmokk, however, and during periods of particularly high solar activity, it’s not unheard of to see the aurora as far south as Stockholm and Gothenburg.

When can you see the Northern Lights in Scandinavia?
Historically, the chances of seeing the northern lights are best viewed in Northern Norway between October and March, because the polar night makes them easier to see. The northern lights are visible in a belt around the magnetic North Pole.

What is the best month to see the Northern Lights?
In this period of time, no Northern Lights can be observed. In the most intense Northern Lights area (notably Alaska, Iceland, Northern Scandinavia and Yukon), the lights are observed from late August to mid April. However, from late September to late March, it is dark after 6pm, and one enjoys maximum chances.

Is there a monarchy in Sweden?
When The King is unable to fulfil his duties as Head of State because for example he is abroad, his duties are discharged to Crown Princess Victoria, Prince Carl Philip or Princess Madeleine. Sweden has a constitutional monarchy. The Monarch’s power is regulated by the Swedish constitution.

Who is the current queen of Sweden?
Queen Silvia of Sweden (born Silvia Renate Sommerlath on 23 December 1943) is the spouse of King Carl XVI Gustaf and mother of the heir apparent to the throne, Crown Princess Victoria.

What is the last name of the Swedish royal family?
Estelle, her mother Crown Princess Victoria, and the rest of Sweden’s royal family, belong to the House of Bernadotte. However, they do not use Bernadotte as their surname, with the exception of the country’s newest prince, Prince Daniel, whose full name is Daniel Westling Bernadotte.

Where does the royal family live in Sweden?
Drottningholm Palace. Drottningholm Palace, just outside Stockholm, has been home to the Swedish Royal Family since 1981. Today, however, only the King and Queen live there.

How did Sweden become a country?
During the 11th and 12th centuries, Sweden gradually became a unified Christian kingdom that later included what is today Finland. Modern Sweden started out of the Kalmar Union formed in 1397 and by the unification of the country by King Gustav Vasa in the 16th century.

Is Sweden a democracy or a monarchy?
Politics of Sweden takes place in a framework of a parliamentary representative democratic constitutional monarchy. Executive power is exercised by the government, led by the Prime Minister of Sweden. Legislative power is vested in both the government and parliament, elected within a multi-party system.

Is Sweden a capitalist country?
The Nordic model (also called Nordic capitalism or Nordic social democracy) refers to the economic and social policies common to the Nordic countries (Denmark, Finland, Norway, Iceland, the Faroe Islands and Sweden).

Is Sweden a republic?
Republicanism in Sweden (Swedish: Republikanism) is the collective term for the movement in Sweden that seeks to establish a republic and abolish the Swedish constitutional monarchy.

Who was the first king of Sweden?
However, due to scant and unreliable sources before the 11th century, lists of succession traditionally start in the 10th century with king Olof Skötkonung, and his father Eric the Victorious, who also were the first Swedish kings to be baptized.

Who is the current president of Sweden?
The current Prime Minister of Sweden is Stefan Löfven, leader of the Swedish Social Democratic Party.

What is Sweden’s economy based on?
Sweden is an export-oriented mixed economy featuring a modern distribution system, excellent internal and external communications, and a skilled labor force. Timber, hydropower and iron ore constitute the resource base of an economy heavily oriented toward foreign trade.

Are Vikings from Sweden?
According to the Icelandic sagas, many Norwegian Vikings also went to eastern Europe. In the Viking Age, the present day nations of Norway, Sweden and Denmark did not exist, but were largely homogeneous and similar in culture and language, although somewhat distinct geographically.

Who was the greatest Viking?
There are so many badass Vikings that it’s tough to narrow it down, but these ten who made their peers soil their breeches.

Eric Bloodaxe.
Freydis Eriksdottir.
Sweyn Forkbeard.
Harald Hardrada.
Bjorn Ironside.
Gunnar Hamundarson.
Erik the Red.
Ragnar Lodbrok.

Is there a real Ragnar Lothbrok?
In fact, Lothbrock is a legendary Vikings figure who almost certainly existed, although the Ragnar Lothbrok in the Viking Sagas may be based on more than one actual person. He is the scourge of England and France. One highly probably link is to the real life character Ragnall.

Why did the Vikings die out?
The Viking age ended when the raids stopped. The year 1066 is frequently used as a convenient marker for the end of the Viking age. At the Battle of Stamford Bridge, the Norwegian king Haraldr harðráði was repulsed and killed as he attempted to reclaim a portion of England.

Where would Kattegat be?
According to the definition established in a 1932 convention signed by Denmark, Norway and Sweden (registered in the League of Nations Treaty Series 1933–1934), the northern boundary between the Kattegat and Skagerrak is found at the northernmost point of Skagen on Jutland.

Is Thor a Viking god?
Thor was one of the most important and famous gods in Norse mythology. He was the son of Odin and Fyorgyn, the earth goddess. Thor was considered the storm-weather god of sky and thunder and also a fertility god. His wife was Sif, a goddess also linked to fertility.

What was Sweden called before?
Before Sweden’s imperial expansion, Early Modern English used Swedeland. Sweden is derived through back-formation from Old English Swēoþēod, which meant “people of the Swedes” (Old Norse Svíþjóð, Latin Suetidi). This word is derived from Sweon/Sweonas (Old Norse Sviar, Latin Suiones).

What is the color of the cross in the Swedish flag?
The Nordic Cross design traditionally represents Christianity. The design and colors of the Swedish flag are believed to have been inspired by the present coat of arms of Sweden of 1442, which is blue divided quarterly by a cross pattée of gold, and modeled on the Danish flag.

What is the national animal of Sweden?
So, they are the same animal species. But then it gets really confusing, because in North America there is another member of the Deer family, the Wapiti, which is also called Elk. So, the Swedish Älg (Alces alces) is a Moose in American English and an Elk in British English.

Is Sweden a developing or developed country?
Sweden is considered to be a developed country. In fact, Sweden is considered to be one of the most highly developed post-industrial societies in the world. According to the IMF, Sweden has a gross domestic product (GDP) per capita of $46,420 as of 2016. It is ranked number 17 in the world in terms of GDP per capita.

What animals are found in Sweden?
Sweden is a great place if you are interested in wildlife. Besides moose, reindeer, deer and various birds, which you can spot without too much effort, Sweden is also home to predators such as the bear, wolf, lynx and wolverine.

Are there polar bears in Sweden?
Contrary to popular belief, we have no polar bears, or ice bears, walking in the streets. In fact, there are no wild polar bears in Sweden at all. The wildest animal you’re likely to see here is a moose, and the best chance to meet one is to run into it with your car.

What kind of bears are in Sweden?
The bears which inhabit the forests and mountains of Sweden are Brown Bears, Ursus arctos. In the wild, a male can weigh as much as 350 kg and a female up to 240 kg. No! The nearest polar bears are in Spitsbergen in Norway, almost 1000 miles north of Stockholm.

What are the main ethnic groups in Sweden?
ETHNIC GROUPS. The Swedes are primarily Scandinavians of Germanic origin. There is also a small the Lapp (Sami) population. The remaining 12% of the population is comprised of foreign-born or first-generation immigrants, including Finns in the north, Yugoslavs, Danes, Norwegians, Greeks, and Turks.

What are the people of Sweden?
Swedes (Swedish: svenskar) are a Germanic ethnic group native to Sweden. They mostly inhabit Sweden and the other Nordic countries, in particular Finland, with a substantial diaspora in other countries, especially the United States.

Who is the richest man in Sweden?
1. Stefan Persson, (born 4 October 1947) is a Swedish business magnate. In March 2013, Forbes reported Persson’s net worth as $28 billion[2] making him the richest of Sweden’s 12 billionaires and the 17th richest person in the world; he has since dropped to number 80. Persson is the chairman and main shareholder in fashion company H&M, which was founded by his father Erling Persson in 1947. Persson took over the company from his father in 1982 and served as its manager until 1998. Persson also owns a substantial stake in the Swedish technology company Hexagon AB. Through his privately held real estate company Ramsbury Invest, Persson owns a large number of properties in London, Paris and Stockholm.

According to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, Persson had a net worth of US $31.9 billion in 2014, making him the 17th richest person in the world at the time.

How wealthy is Sweden?
Sweden ranks 11th in the world by nominal GDP per capita (53,218 US$). The top 10 countries by GDP (nominal) per capita are: Luxembourg, Switzerland, Macau, Norway, Ireland, Iceland, Qatar, United States, Singapore, Denmark, Australia.

What is the main source of income in Sweden?
Sweden is an export-oriented mixed economy featuring a modern distribution system, excellent internal and external communications, and a skilled labor force. Timber, hydropower and iron ore constitute the resource base of an economy heavily oriented toward foreign trade.

What is the tax rate in Sweden?
Denmark’s top marginal effective income tax rate is 60.4 percent. Sweden’s is 56.4 percent. Norway’s top marginal tax rate is 39 percent. However, the rates are not necessarily the most important feature of the Scandinavian income tax systems.

What is the average salary in Sweden?
A typical Swedish man works in the manufacturing industry, earning an average of SEK 33,305 per month. The largest share of working Swedish women is found in the healthcare sector, where they have an average salary of SEK 24,176 per month.

Is health care free in Sweden?
The Swedish health care system is mainly government-funded and decentralized, although private health care also exists. The health care system in Sweden is financed primarily through taxes levied by county councils and municipalities.

What is the minimum salary in Sweden?
There is no general minimum wage, instead the companies sign agreements with the unions and these agreements set the minimum level depending on the employee’s age and experience.

Is there free college in Sweden?
Swedish colleges and universities are free. … College in Sweden is free. That’s not even all that common in Europe anymore. While the costs of education are far lower than in the US, over the past two decades sometimes-hefty fees have become a fact of life for many European students.

How much maternity leave do you get in Sweden?
For 390 of the days, parents are entitled to nearly 80 per cent of their normal pay. Benefits are calculated on a maximum monthly income of SEK 37,083, as of 2015. The remaining 90 days are paid at a flat rate. Those who are not in employment are also entitled to paid parental leave.

What is the race of Swedish people?
The majority of the population are Swedes or Swedish people. The Sweden Finns are a large ethnic minority comprising approximately 50,000 along the Swedish-Finnish border, and 450,000 first and second generation immigrated ethnic Finns, mainly living in the Mälaren Valley region.

How can I get permanent residence in Sweden?
Get a job offer from an employer in Sweden that will help you get a work permit. Once you move to Sweden, you’ll need to live and work there for 4 years. You will then be eligible for permanent residency when you renew the permit. Another year after that and you can apply for citizenship.

Do I need a visa to travel to Sweden from the US?
Many foreign nationals, including those from the United States, do not require a visa to enter Sweden if the intended length of stay is less than 90 days. But for stays that will exceed 90 days, or if the applicant is from a country that requires a visa to enter, it is necessary to obtain a Schengen visa.

How long does it take to become a citizen of Sweden?
To become a Swedish citizen, you must have been living in Sweden on a long-term basis for a certain period of time. As a rule you must have been resident in Sweden for a continuous period of five years.

How do you immigrate to Sweden?

Offer of employment. To obtain a work permit, you must have an offer of employment in Sweden.
The employer initiates the application.
You receive an email.
Enclose documents.
Pay and submit your application.
The Migration Agency processes the application.
Information needed for residence permit card.
Receiving the decision.

Do you need a visa to go to Sweden?
Visit the Embassy of Sweden website for the most current visa information. Sweden is a party to the Schengen Agreement. This means that U.S. citizens may enter Sweden for up to 90 days for tourist or business purposes without a visa.

Do I need a visa to go to Sweden from the US?
Sweden is a party to the Schengen Agreement. This means that U.S. citizens may enter Sweden for up to 90 days for tourist or business purposes without a visa. Your passport should be valid for at least six months beyond the period of stay. You need sufficient funds and a return airline ticket.

Can I get Swedish citizenship?
In order to apply for Swedish citizenship you must fulfil the requirements needed for right of residence, a residence card, or have been given a permanent residence permit. You can also apply if you have been given a permanent residence card, or have permanent right of residence in Sweden.

How can I become a citizen of Sweden?
To become a Swedish citizen you must:

be able to prove your identity.
have reached the age of 18.
have a permanent residence permit, a right of residence or residence card in Sweden.
have fulfilled the requirements for period of residence (lived in Sweden for a specified period)
have conducted yourself well in Sweden.

How do you become a citizen of Sweden?
To obtain Swedish citizenship you must meet the following requirements:

Be at least 18 years of age.
Have permanent right of residence in Sweden.
Have lived in Sweden for at least five consecutive years or two if you are a Nordic citizen.
Have no criminal record.

Is a child born in Sweden a Swedish citizen?
A child born after 1 April 2015 is always given Swedish citizenship if: one of the parents is a Swedish citizen. It does not matter if the child is born in Sweden or abroad. a deceased parent to the child was a Swedish citizen upon their death.

What is the nationality of Sweden?
Swedish nationality law determines entitlement to Swedish citizenship. Citizenship of Sweden is based primarily on the principle of jus sanguinis. In other words, citizenship is conferred primarily by birth to a Swedish parent, irrespective of place of birth.

Is dual citizenship allowed in Sweden?
If you become a Swedish citizen, you may retain your foreign citizenship if the other country permits it. Likewise, if you are a Swedish citizen and become a citizen of another country, you may keep your Swedish citizenship if the other country permits it. Some countries do not allow dual citizenship.

Is it hard to learn Swedish?
In addition, there are also a lot of grammatical similarities. So, for someone with a background in a Germanic language (German, Dutch, Flemish etc.), learning Swedish will not be that difficult. Probably the hardest thing to grasp about Swedish is how “intonated” the spoken language is.

Is Swedish easy to learn for English speakers?
Learning Swedish. … Speaking Swedish gives you access to the world of 9 million native speakers in Sweden and parts of Finland. Swedish is considered one of the easiest languages for a native English speaker to understand. The grammar and sentence structure are very similar to English, but with fewer irregularities.

Do all Swedes speak English?
Swedes really do like getting the chance to speak some English now and then. In general, people in Sweden believe that their language proficiency is as good or even better than the average English speaker. But do keep the following in your mind; Don’t try to simplify the language.

What is the main religion in Sweden?
The Church of Sweden (Swedish: Svenska kyrkan) is the largest Christian church in Sweden, and also the largest religious body. The church professes the Lutheran faith and is a member of the Porvoo Communion.

Featured image: Sweden (NordenBladet)

Messages of congratu­lations from the family

NordenBladet — Message of congratulations from The King and Queen to The Prince Couple. “We are extremely happy for Prince Carl Philip and Princess Sofia, and are delighted to have become grandparents again. We hope the new parents enjoy a time of peace and quiet together with their son.”

Message of congratulations from The Crown Princess Couple: “We hope Carl Philip and Sofia enjoy these wonderful first few days with their new-born son, and we share the new parents’ joy.”

Message of congratulations from Princess Madeleine and Mr Christopher O’Neill: “We are delighted to welcome a new member of the family, and we congratulate Carl Philip and Sofia on becoming parents.”

Message of congratulations from Marie and Erik Hellqvist: “We are so pleased that Prince Carl Philip and our daughter Sofia have had their first child. We have longed for a grandchild for a long time, and we are both extremely proud and happy. We wish them great happiness together with the new member of the family, and we will provide help and support as grandparents.”

Message of congratulations from Lina Hellqvist and Sara Hellqvist, Princess Sofia’s sisters: “We welcome this tiny new member of the family with great joy and love. We have been looking forward to becoming aunts, and we will enjoy getting to know our nephew. We wish the new family the very best of luck!

Source: Swedish Royal Court
Find us also on Twitter: @NordenBladet

 

Folke Bernadotte Academy (Folke Bernadotteakademin)

NordenBladet – The Folke Bernadotte Academy (FBA) (Swedish: Folke Bernadotteakademin) is the Swedish government agency for peace, security and development. FBA conducts training, research and method development in order to strengthen peacebuilding and statebuilding in conflict and post-conflict countries. The agency also recruits civilian personnel and expertise for peace operations and election observation missions led by the EU, UN and OSCE. The agency is named after Count Folke Bernadotte, the first UN mediator.

FBA is under the authority of the Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The agency was established in 2002 and has two offices; in Stockholm and at Sandö in Sweden. Apart from the somewhat 100 employees at the two offices, FBA has about 80 deployed employees around the world. The General-Director of FBA since 2012 is Sven-Eric Söder.

FBA works with various parts of the peace process:

– Disarmament, demobilization and reintegration of ex-combatants
– Conflict prevention and conflict resolution
– Women, peace and security
– Leadership and political affairs
– Rule of law, human rights and election support
– Security sector reform
– Cooperation in peace operations
– Security in the field

FBA is part of Sweden’s development aid within the field of peace and security. The agency is commissioned by the Swedish government to work with the Swedish development cooperation strategies with a number of conflict affected countries and regions.

Moreover, FBA administers two Swedish government grants. The Peace Million, that finances projects that focus on peace and security, and the so called 1325 Grants for organizations working with issues concerning women, peace and security.

FBA also manages The Peace Archive, a digital archive with documentation of Sweden’s contribution to international peace operations. In addition, the international secretariat of Challenges Forum is hosted by the FBA. Challenges Forum is a worldwide network of organizations dedicated to strengthening UN peace operations.

Official website: fba.se

Swedish National Export Credits Guarantee Board (Exportkreditnämnden)

NordenBladet – Swedish National Export Credits Guarantee Board (Swedish: Exportkreditnämnden, EKN) is a Swedish government agency that answers to the Ministry for Foreign Affairs. The agency is located in Stockholm.

Its aim is to promote Swedish exports by issuing guarantees, functioning as insurances, by which the Government of Sweden assumes certain risks. The customers include export companies and banks.

About EKN
EKN, The Swedish Export Credit Agency, is an authority with the task of promoting Swedish exports. We do this by insuring the risk of not being paid in export transactions.

We also insure banks’ lending to both exporting companies and their buyers.

EKN’s guarantees make difficult markets available and enable more secure export transactions. We work with the big global companies as well as the very small ones, and guarantee their export business to over 130 countries.

Long-term guarantor for Swedish exports
EKN was established already in 1933 and has since been a complement to the private export credit insurance market. We have a worldwide network of banks, companies and other countries’ export credit agencies. We also work closely with other export promotion organisations in Sweden.
EKN’s commitment is on behalf of the Swedish state

EKN is funded with the guarantee holders’ premiums that reflect the risk in the transaction. The activities shall be financially self-sustaining over time.

Framework
The government appoints EKN’s Board and Director General. The Minister of Trade is responsible for EKN in the government. EKN’s mandate and mission are governed by regulations. The activities must follow instructions from the government, as stated in the annual letter appropriation.

What they do?
EKN is commissioned by the government to promote Swedish exports and the internationalisation of Swedish companies. We do so by insuring export companies and banks against the risk of non-payment in export transactions, thereby enabling them to conduct more secure export transactions. Our activities are financed by the guarantee holders’ premiums.

We make difficult markets accessible and export transactions possible. Our activities encompass export transactions in 120 different countries, and the companies we help range from small companies to large groups. EKN has existed since 1933, and has a broad network which includes banks, EKN’s counterparts in other countries and other export-promoting organisations.

Business relationships with companies and banks
The nature of our commission means we are both a business partner and a government authority. EKN’s decision to provide a guarantee is based on our businesslike assessment of the risk.

EKN’s commitments are also the Swedish state’s
The premium paid by guarantee holders reflects the risk in the transaction and represents EKN’s provision for loss. In the course of our business we have established a strong financial position, which means we are able to honour our commitments and expand our activities using our own resources. There have been periods in EKN’s history when our reserves did not cover the costs of loss. In these situations, EKN has an unlimited borrowing facility with the Swedish National Debt Office.

Official website: ekn.se

Visiting address: Kungsgatan 36

P.O. Box 3064
SE-103 61 Stockholm
Telephone: +46 8-788 00 00
E-mail: info@ekn.se

Swedish Market Court (Marknadsdomstolen)

NordenBladet – The Swedish Market Court (Swedish: Marknadsdomstolen) is a Swedish government agency that answers to the Ministry of Integration and Gender Equality. It is located in Stockholm.

The Market Court is a specialized court that tries cases related to the Swedish Competition Act as well as cases involving the Swedish Marketing Act and other consumer and marketing legislation.

Website: avgoranden.domstol.se/marknadsdomstolen (in Swedish)

Prosecutor-General of Sweden (Riksåklagaren) + LIST of Prosecutor-Generals

NordenBladet – The Prosecutor-General of Sweden (Swedish: Riksåklagaren) is the department head for the Swedish Prosecution Authority responsible for the daily operations, the highest-ranked prosecutor in the country, and the only public prosecutor in the Supreme Court.

The Office of the Prosecutor-General (Swedish: Riksåklagarens kansli) is responsible for legal development, the agency’s operations in the Supreme Court, and administrative tasks. The Legal Department of the Prosecutor-General (Swedish: Rättsavdelningen) has an overall responsibility for the operations in the Supreme Court and key international issues. The office was established in 1948, when the Chancellor of Justice’s task as chief prosecutor was transferred to the Prosecutor-General.

The Prosecutor-General is organized under the Ministry of Justice and appointed by the Government, though without belonging to the spoils system, and can only be dismissed under special circumstances described in the Letters Patent Act, with support from the Swedish National Disciplinary Offence Board (Swedish: Statens ansvarsnämnd).

List of Prosecutor-Generals
There have been eight Prosecutor-Generals in Sweden, since the office was created in 1948.

Maths Heuman, 1948–1960
Emanuel Walberg, 1960–1966
Holger Romander, 1966–1978
Magnus Sjöberg, 1978–1989
Torsten Jonsson, 1989–1994
Klas Bergenstrand, 1994–2004
Fredrik Wersäll, 2004–2008
Anders Perklev, 2008–present

Swedish Prison and Probation Service (Kriminalvården)

NordenBladet – Swedish Prison and Probation Service (Swedish: Kriminalvården) is a Government agency that is part of the Swedish judicial system, tasked with incarcerating suspects during pre-trial and trial and convicts after sentencing. The Main Office of the agency is located in Norrköping.

The agency also handles deportations of individuals not allowed in the country.

Change and custody
The main tasks of the Prison and Probation Service are to implement prison and probation sentences, to supervise conditionally released persons, to implement instructions for community service, and to carry out pre-sentence investigations in criminal cases.

The Prison and Probation Service is also responsible for remand prisons and the transport service. Our vision is that spending time in the prison and probation system will bring about change, not simply provide secure custody. We want to encourage our clients to live a better life after serving their sentence.

A basic concept in the Swedish sanctions system is to avoid imprisonment when possible.

Imprisonment complicates the transition to a life of freedom and does not counter-act recidivism. That is why there are more people on probation than in prison in the Swedish Prison and Probation Service.

Our non-custodial clients number about 14,000 per day, compared with just over 4,500 prisoners per day.

Probation
Probation is the most common non-custodial sanction and places the convicted person under supervision, normally for one year. There is also a trial period of three years. Serious breaches of probation can lead to the sentence being served in prison instead. Probation can also be combined with a shorter prison sentence or a fine.

The Probation Service
The Probation Service is aimed primarily at the supervision of persons conditionally released on probation, with or without contract treatment/community service; intensive supervision with electronic monitoring; work at remand centres and prisons and preparing client social reports.

A client sentenced to probation or who has been released from prison on probation is assigned a supervising probation officer. The probation officer can be a part of the probation system or a layman. Each client has a special schedule for the probation period, regulating how often he or she meets the probation officer.

Official website: kriminalvarden.se

Klas Friberg appointed new Head of the Swedish Security Service

NordenBladet – The Swedish Government has appointed Klas Friberg, formerly Chief Commissioner of Police Region West, as new Director General and Head of the Swedish Security Service. Mr Friberg assumes this post on 1 March 2018.

“It is exciting, challenging and inspiring to come to an organisation responsible for protecting our democracy. In my police career, I have been in close contact with the Security Service on a number of occasions and I have also had the opportunity to meet with Security Service staff who I view as very committed and knowledgeable in their field”, says Klas Friberg.

He also mentions that there are numerous challenges associated with the current security situation in Sweden, with growing extremist environments and increasing intelligence activities carried out by foreign powers against our country. In this context, ensuring the security of the parliamentary election later this year will require considerable efforts.

“Cooperation with the Swedish Police is important when it comes to building a more secure Sweden. There are areas in which our cooperation could improve and develop, and this is also true for other authorities”, says Friberg.

“I am happy to appoint Klas Friberg as new Head of the Swedish Security Service. Klas Friberg has extensive experience from his work for the Swedish Police, for instance as Head of the National Bureau of Investigation and, more recently, his excellent performance as Chief Commissioner for Police Region West”, said Morgan Johansson, Minister for Justice and Home Affairs, during a press conference on 28 February.

Klas Friberg has worked for the Swedish Police for more than 27 years. In 2002, he was appointed Chief Commissioner of the County Police in Västra Götaland County. A few years later, he assumed the post of Head of the County Criminal Investigation Department in Västra Götaland County. In December 2010, he was appointed Head of the Swedish National Bureau of Investigation and, after that, he assumed the post of County Police Commissioner of the Västra Götaland County Police. Between January 2015 and February 2018, he held the post of Chief Commissioner for Police Region West.

Klas Friberg assumes the post of Director General and Head of the Swedish Security Service on 1 March 2018, succeeding Anders Thornberg who was recently appointed National Police Commissioner.

Source: sakerhetspolisen.se

Swedish Security Service (Säkerhetspolisen)

NordenBladet – The Swedish Security Service (Swedish: Säkerhetspolisen, abbreviated Säpo, until 1989 Rikspolisstyrelsens säkerhetsavdelning abbreviated RPS/Säk) is a Swedish government agency organised under the Ministry of Justice. It operates like a security agency responsible for counter-espionage, counter-terrorism, the protection of dignitaries and the constitution.

The Swedish Security Service is also tasked with investigating crimes against national security and terrorist crimes. Its main mission, however, is to prevent crime, and not to investigate them. Crime prevention is to a large extent based on information acquired via contacts with the regular police force, other authorities and organisations, foreign intelligence and security services, and with the use of various intelligence gathering activities, including interrogations, telephone tapping, covert listening devices and hidden surveillance cameras. The Service was, in its present form, founded in 1989, as part of the National Police Board and became an autonomous police agency January 1, 2015. National headquarters are located at Bolstomtavägen in south-east Solna since 2014, drawing together personnel from five different locations into a single 30,000 m2 (320,000 sq ft) HQ facility.

Areas of responsibility
The Swedish Security Service’s main tasks and responsibilities are:

Counter-espionage – preventing and detecting espionage and other unlawful intelligence activities; targeting Sweden, its national interests abroad, and also foreign interests and refugees within the borders of Sweden.
Counter-subversion – to counter illegal subversive activities (e.g. violence, threats and harassment targeting elected representatives, public officials and journalists) intended to affect policy-making and implementation, or prevent citizens from exercising their constitutional rights and freedoms.
Counter-terrorism – preventing and detecting terrorism; this includes acts of terrorism directed against Sweden or foreign interests within the borders of Sweden, as well as terrorism in other countries and the financing and support of terrorist organisations in Sweden.
Dignitary protection – providing security and close protection officers at state visits, to senior public officials (e.g. the Speaker of the Riksdag, Prime Minister, members of the Riksdag and the Government, including State Secretaries and the Cabinet Secretary), the Royal Family, foreign diplomatic representatives, etc. As of 2014, the Service had 130 close protection officers.
Protective security – providing advice, analysis and oversight to companies and government agencies of importance to national security, in addition to background checks.

Organisation
The Swedish Security Service became a separate agency January 1, 2015, and is directly organised under the Ministry of Justice. Similar to other government agencies in Sweden, it is essentially autonomous. Under the 1974 Instrument of Government, neither the Government nor individual ministers have the right to influence how an agency decide in a particular case or on the application of legislation. This also applies to the Security Service, which instead is governed by general policy instruments. What sets the Security Service apart from other agencies is that most directives guiding the Service are classified on the grounds of national security, along with the bulk of the reports it produces. The Service is led by a Director-General, Anders Thornberg, who is titled Head of the Swedish Security Service. Operations are led by a Chief Operating Officer, reporting directly the Head of the Security Service. He is in turn assisted by a Deputy Chief Operating Officer and an Office for Operations. The Service is organised into four departments and a secretariat, each led by a Head of Department.

Official website: sakerhetspolisen.se

Swedish Police Authority (Polismyndigheten)

NordenBladet – The Swedish Police Authority (Swedish: Polismyndigheten) is the central administrative authority for the police in Sweden, responsible for law enforcement, general social order and public safety within the country.

The agency is headed by the National Police Commissioner, who is appointed by the Government and has the sole responsibility for all activities of the police. Although formally organised under the Ministry of Justice, the Swedish police is—similar to other authorities in Sweden—essentially autonomous, in accordance with the constitution. The agency is governed by general policy instruments and is subject to a number of sanctions and oversight functions, to ensure that the exercise of public authority is in compliance with regulations. Police officers typically wear a dark-blue uniform consisting of combat style trousers with a police duty belt, a polo shirt or a long sleeve button shirt, and a side-cap embellished with a metal cap badge. The standard equipment includes a handgun, pepper spray and an extendable baton.

The first modern police force in Sweden was established in the mid-19th century, and the police remained in effect under local government control up until 1965, when it was nationalized and became increasingly centralized, to finally organize under one authority January 1, 2015. Concurrent with this change, the Swedish Security Service formed its own agency. The new authority was created to address shortcomings in the division of duties and responsibilities, and to make it easier for the Government to demand greater accountability. The agency is organized into seven police regions and eight national departments. It is one of the largest government agencies in Sweden, with more than 28,500 employees, of which police officers accounted for approximately 75 percent of the personnel in 2014. It takes two and a half years to become a police officer in Sweden, including six months of paid workplace practice. Approximately a third of all police students are women, and in 2011 women accounted for 40 percent of all employees.

Official website: polisen.se