February 14, 2012
The following articles have been tagged with "European_union":
Analysis & Opinion: 1 Feb 12
Recently installed US ambassador to Sweden Mark Brzezinski speaks to The Local's David Landes about US-Swedish relations and taking Swedish lessons from his two-and-half year old daughter.
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Business & Money: 31 Jan 12
Sweden will participate in the eurozone pact on fiscal discipline, according to prime minister Fredrik Reinfeldt, who claims that all Sweden's demands for joining have been met.
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Business & Money: 13 Jan 12
Swedbank announced plans Friday to write down two billion kronor ($283 million) from its operations in Latvia, which have been plagued by rumours about their financial stability.
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Politics: 31 Dec 11
Tobacco users in Sweden will have to dig deeper into their wallets as another tax increase comes into force in the new year, while parental leave benefits as well as housing allowances are set to increase starting on January 1st.
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Science & Technology: 30 Dec 11
Floods, infectious disease, forest fires, and cyberattacks are among several threats to Sweden identified by the country's Civil Contingencies Authority.
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Analysis & Opinion: 27 Dec 11
The debt crisis plaguing the eurozone has left Swedes loving their cherished krona more than ever, a sentiment shared by non-euro country Denmark as well, as both struggle to keep the euro's woes from hurting their own economies.
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National: 27 Dec 11
Sweden has turned to the United States and the EU for assistance in gaining the release of journalists Martin Schibbye and Johan Persson, who were sentenced on Tuesday to 11 years in prison by an Ethiopian court.
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Business & Money: 27 Dec 11
A tax-financed lobbying organization in western Sweden is under investigation after it was revealed that the group's sizeable liquor bills were being processed through a subsidiary in Brussels.
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Politics: 20 Dec 11
Sweden agreed on Monday night to help stabilize the euro by pledging to make loans to the International Monetary Fund to strengthen a eurozone bailout fund.
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Business & Money: 19 Dec 11
Sweden needs to implement tighter controls of new rules governing foreign labour migration, according to the OECD, which nevertheless concluded that the 2008 reforms have worked fairly well.
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Analysis & Opinion: 13 Dec 11
European leaders have failed to help solve the current debt crisis, and Sweden shouldn't think of signing on to a plan that amounts to an attempt to remake Europe into a super-bureaucratized dream, argues Swedish liberal commentator Johan Norberg.
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Business & Money: 12 Dec 11
More than 100 Swedbank cash machines in Latvia were emptied at the weekend following a wave of rumours on Twitter hinting that the Swedish bank was in danger of running out of money.
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Politics: 11 Dec 11
Swedish minister for the environment, Lena Ek, welcomed the deal to decrease emissions of greenhouse gases, reached on Sunday following intense negotiations during the UN Climate Change Conference in South Africa.
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Business & Money: 9 Dec 11
Sweden was one of four European Union member states to scupper hopes of a 27-country agreement to help strengthen the euro, but nevertheless plans to participate in the creation of a European bailout fund.
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Business & Money: 8 Dec 11
Sweden's prime minister Fredrik Reinfeldt on Thursday argued against changing the European Union treaty to help solve the euro debt crisis as suggested by the leaders of France and Germany earlier this week.
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Politics: 6 Dec 11
Close to nine out of ten Swedes are keen to remain outside the eurozone and retain the krona, according to a new poll published on Tuesday in the wake of renewed problems afflicting the European single currency.
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National: 30 Nov 11
The Swedish foreign ministry sent for the Iranian ambassador on Wednesday to discuss what officials described as the "unacceptable" attack on the British embassy in Tehran.
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Business & Money: 29 Nov 11
Foreign Minister Carl Bildt on Monday defended a European single market but said that stricter budget supervision and regulation by Brussels will only work if already existing rules are adhered to.
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Business & Money: 23 Nov 11
The Financial Times (FT) has elected Swedish finance minister Anders Borg as the best minister for finance in Europe for 2011, news met with scepticism by Borg's Social Democratic opponent, who claimed he would also have won the top spot if he had been finance minister.
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National: 22 Nov 11
Sweden's foreign minister Carl Bildt is to travel to Ukraine in a bid to apply "football diplomacy" to secure the release of opposition leader Yulia Tymoshenko.
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Politics: 15 Nov 11
It should be easier for Swedes with dual citizenship to be extradited to states outside the European Union, a government inquiry charged with reviewing Sweden's extradition law has concluded.
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Politics: 10 Nov 11
Sweden's foreign minister Carl Bildt declared on Wednesday that his country supports the EU aspirations of the nations in the Western Balkans, but warned that the process of reform must be maintained.
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Business & Money: 9 Nov 11
Swedish ball-bearings giant SKF was among the companies inspected by European anti-trust authorities on Tuesday in a series of surprise visits in several European Union states.
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Politics: 5 Nov 11
Although the Greek PM Giorgos Papandreou won a narrow vote-of-confidence late Friday, Sweden's European Union Affairs Minister Birgitta Ohlsson warned that a default by Greece would directly threaten Sweden's economy.
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Business & Money: 3 Nov 11
Sweden's state-owned energy giant Vattenfall is reportedly planning to file suit against the German government over the closure of its nuclear power plants.
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National: 29 Oct 11
If anyone was still in denial, Saturday night will make winter time official when clocks are turned back an hour to compensate for the intruding darkness.
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Analysis & Opinion: 13 Oct 11
The current debt crisis is a concern for all of Europe, not just to eurozone countries, Swedish Finance Minister Anders Borg tells AFP's Nina Larsson, highlighting the vulnerability of banks and exports in Sweden as an example.
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Politics: 12 Oct 11
Swedish finance minister Anders Borg warned on Wednesday that Swedish banks were "vulnerable" to the euro debt crisis, despite the country's strong public finances.
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National: 11 Oct 11
A Swedish court has ruled that prostitutes from other European Union countries are free to operate in Sweden for at least three months, much to the dismay of the police.
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Politics: 10 Oct 11
A rally against the Syrian regime was held outside Sweden's parliament on Sunday with some 200 people calling on Stockholm and the European Union "to support the revolution in Syria".
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Business & Money: 7 Oct 11
Swedish prime minister Fredrik Reinfledt joined his counterparts from Finland and the Netherlands in calling for an ambitious growth agenda and tighter fiscal policies to help combat the deepening euro debt crisis.
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Business & Money: 4 Oct 11
Sweden's finance minister Anders Borg warned on Tuesday that Greece is at risk of missing budget targets demanded by international lenders in return for bailout funds.
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Science & Technology: 29 Sep 11
A recent study from the World Health Organization showed that Stockholm air contains higher levels of the harmful PM10 particles than in Los Angeles, and the city council argues that studded tyres used in the long winter are to blame.
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Business & Money: 22 Sep 11
Sweden has been told by the European Union to repay 870 million kronor (€94 million, $127 million) in agricultural subsidies, a third of which will be paid by farmers, an industry body said Thursday.
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Education: 22 Sep 11
The government has allotted an additional 20 million kronor ($2.9 million) in scholarship funding to help offset tuition fees charged to students from developing countries who want to study at Swedish universities.
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Politics: 22 Sep 11
As the 10th anniversary of Dawit Isaak's arrest approaches, the Swedish-Eritrean journalist remains jailed without charge or trial, despite countless efforts to secure his release, the AFP's Rita Devlin Marier explains.
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National: 16 Sep 11
Former government ministers Thomas Bodström and Jan Eliasson, have urged the government to find a new approach for how to get Swedish journalist Dawit Isaak released from prison in Eritrea.
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National: 11 Sep 11
The Baltic island of Öland isn't an island after all, ruled the European Union, thereby depriving Öland of subsidies granted to other islands. The reason for this surprising ruling: the Öland Bridge.
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National: 11 Sep 11
Sweden is investing 62 million kronor ($9.6 million) in a national action plan to combat extremism, according to a government announcement.
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Science & Technology: 7 Sep 11
Sweden is renowned for its innovation and strong research tradition and The Local has compiled a list of ten technological breakthroughs of the last decade.
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Business & Money: 16 Aug 11
Swedish Finance Minister Anders Borg said Tuesday the government planned to implement measures to help ensure the country's banking sector avoid being pulled into the European debt crisis.
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Business & Money: 11 Aug 11
Sweden's inflation rate rose at a higher clip in July than in the previous month, partly due to rising mortgage interest costs, although consumer prices remained flat.
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Business & Money: 8 Aug 11
Experts say Sweden won't avoid being affected by the turbulence in the world economy and the Social Democrats called for a meeting of the Riksdag’s financial committee to discuss the situation.
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Politics: 2 Aug 11
Sweden's foreign minister Carl Bildt has condemned the Syrian regime's "unacceptable" violence against its people, especially as it has come at the beginning of the holy month of Ramadan.
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Business & Money: 19 Jul 11
Swedish-Finnish bank Nordea on Tuesday reported a 6 percent drop in net profits for the second quarter 2011, saying that improvements in banking activity had not compensated for a drop off in investments.
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Politics: 18 Jul 11
The European Commission on Monday warned Denmark that it has failed to justify a controversial decision to increase controls at its borders with Sweden and Germany.
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Politics: 18 Jul 11
Sweden's state-run alcohol retail monopoly Systembolaget should be authorised to start up a home delivery service, suggests MP Carl B Hamilton of the Liberal Party, in an opinion article published on Monday.
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Business & Money: 16 Jul 11
Ten banks in Sweden, Norway and Finland passed European Union stress tests, their financial regulators announced on Friday.
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National: 15 Jul 11
European officials visiting Denmark's controversial controls on the border to Sweden on Thursday found to their surprise that there was no sign of the customs officers deployed earlier this month.
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Politics: 8 Jul 11
Social Democratic leader Håkan Juholt is promising that his speech in Almedalen on Friday evening will unveil no fewer than 21 concrete points on labour and employment reforms.
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Science & Technology: 6 Jul 11
Swedes use least sun protection and suffer most sun damage, and every year 2,800 people in Sweden are diagnosed with malignant melanoma, now one of the most common forms of cancer in Sweden, according to a report in Swedish media.
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National: 6 Jul 11
Denmark on Tuesday deployed 50 new customs officers at its borders with Germany and Sweden as part of a widely-criticised government plan to reintroduce permanent controls at border crossings.
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Analysis & Opinion: 4 Jul 11
As Swedish citizen Dawit Isaak endures his tenth year in Eritrean captivity, publicist Arne Ruth and historian Susanne Berger explain why the Swedish government should give its full backing to a new legal initiative aimed at securing his release.
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Politics: 28 Jun 11
The Sweden Democrats demanded increased border controls when the Riksdag debated free movement within the European Union on Tuesday.
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Politics: 26 May 11
Swedish foreign minister Carl Bildt on Thursday hailed the arrest of Bosnian Serb war crimes suspect Ratko Mladic, calling it the closing of a "dark chapter in European history".
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Science & Technology: 24 May 11
Police officers in northern Sweden took action on Tuesday against a group of Greenpeace activists occupying a barn while protesting against the planned introduction of genetically modified (GM) potatoes in the area.
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Business & Money: 19 May 11
Swedish finance minister Anders Borg on Thursday ripped the record of former UK PM Gordon Brown, while praising French finance minister Christine Lagarde amid speculation over who may become the new head of the IMF.
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Education: 17 May 11
A elementary school teacher from Skövde in western Sweden is one 28 Europeans recognised by the EU in a competition to highlight language diversity.
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National: 12 May 11
Denmark decided on Wednesday to resume controls at its Swedish and German borders, prompting calls for an explanation from the European Commission warning against any challenge to the freedom of movement in Europe.
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Analysis & Opinion: 9 May 11
On Europe Day, May 9th, many will no doubt celebrate the increased mobility of EU citizens, but open borders and bureaucracy have also resulted in rising numbers of homeless EU citizens in Stockholm, The Local's Geoff Mortimore discovers.
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Analysis & Opinion: 2 May 11
As fuels derived from forestry industry waste power an increasing number of Swedish cars, The Local's Karen Holst discovers not everyone is convinced that this new biodiesel fuel will deliver long-term environmental benefits.
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Politics: 22 Apr 11
Swedish Finance Minister Anders Borg believes that Sweden will soon join the euro pact, following a major European Union decision regarding Swedish wage controls.
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Business & Money: 13 Apr 11
The government expects a budget surplus by the end of the year, although Sweden's 2011 growth rate may not be as strong as previously forecast, according to the spring budget bill released on Wednesday.
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National: 12 Apr 11
Swedish inflation rose at a higher rate in March than the previous month driven by price hikes for clothing and footwear and housing, official data showed on Tuesday.
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Politics: 31 Mar 11
A parliamentary committee has proposed granting work permits to rejected asylum seekers and allowing immigrants to live abroad for up to five years without losing their right to reside in Sweden.
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Business & Money: 31 Mar 11
The Swedish government has announced that it is to "fight all the way" against an EU Commission ruling to reject an application to restrict the levy of VAT payable by non-profit groups.
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National: 28 Mar 11
The European Union has proposed that prisoners committing offences in another member state should be able to serve their sentences in their home country.
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National: 24 Mar 11
Swedish fighter aircraft took part in a NATO led exercise over the Baltic states on Wednesday, marking a new level in the formally non-aligned country's ties with the military alliance.
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Politics: 19 Mar 11
Liberal Party leader Jan Björklund has called for a tightening of conditions for Swedish arms exports, calling sales to Saudi Arabia and Bahrain an "embarrassment".
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Politics: 10 Mar 11
Sweden has halted the deliveries of weapons to two Middle Eastern and North African countries due to the civil unrest gripping the region, the head of a government agency said on Wednesday.
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National: 9 Mar 11
Swedish exports of defence equipment increased in 2010 to 13.7 billion kronor ($2.15 billion), according to new statistics released on Wednesday.
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Politics: 7 Mar 11
The European Union must attract labour from other parts of the world if it is to function in future, according to Sweden's prime minister Fredrik Reinfeldt. And Turkey should join the club as soon as it is ready.
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National: 28 Feb 11
Sweden is the better at managing integration than other European countries, the United States, and Canada, according to a new study published on Monday.
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Politics: 16 Feb 11
Granting membership to Turkey would strengthen the European Union, Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt argued in his annual foreign policy statement to the Riksdag.
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Politics: 15 Feb 11
Sweden's plan to replenish its wolf population with pups imported from its neighbours has met resistance from Finland.
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Politics: 2 Feb 11
Swedish foreign minister Carl Bildt has hailed the end of the "Mubarak era" in Egypt, as Egyptians in Sweden planned additional demonstrations to support pro-democracy forces in their home country.
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Analysis & Opinion: 31 Jan 11
While Sweden's emphasis on equality is admirable, it may end up keeping Swedish children from striving to be the best they can be, argues contributor Ruben Brunsveld.
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Politics: 27 Jan 11
The European Commission on Thursday formally reported Sweden’s wolf hunt for violating European Union environmental laws. Sweden’s environment minister said that the hunt would nevertheless continue.
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Politics: 26 Jan 11
Sweden Democrat leader Jimmie Åkesson kicked off Wednesday's Riksdag debate about violent extremism with a reference to the Stockholm suicide bombing in December.
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Analysis & Opinion: 19 Jan 11
The Swedish economy hasn't yet been dragged down by eurozone debt problems, and while growth is strong and exports are up, Sweden might still face a few economic bumps on the road ahead, the AFPs Marc Preel reports.
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Business & Money: 18 Jan 11
Swedish truckmakers Scania and Volvo AB are among the companies included in a cartel investigation launched by the European Commission on Tuesday.
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National: 4 Jan 11
Figures from Sweden's Migration Board reveal a sharp increase in the number of people who sought asylum in Sweden in 2010.
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Business & Money: 29 Dec 10
Sweden boasted a trade surplus of 10 billion kronor ($1.4 billion) for November, nearly a five-fold increase from November of last year, statistics published on Wednesday reveal.
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Politics: 22 Dec 10
Sweden's foreign minister Carl Bildt on Wednesday announced the closure of five embassies as a result of the recent cuts to the government's administrative budget.
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Politics: 10 Dec 10
Sweden's refusal of entry of asylum seekers from Greece violates the alien act, the country's migration court of appeal has ruled, ordering an end to Swedish expulsions to the Mediterranean country.
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Analysis & Opinion: 1 Dec 10
Despite good intentions, the decision to introduce tuition fees for non-European students who enroll at Swedish universities may end up doing more harm than good, contributor Adam Mullett discovers.
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Politics: 29 Nov 10
Swedish foreign minister Carl Bildt expressed concerns Monday that WikiLeaks' release of hundreds of thousands of US diplomatic cables could severely weaken global diplomacy.
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Politics: 29 Nov 10
Over 800 secret American documents about relations with Sweden have been released by WikiLeaks, according to Swedish media reports.
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Politics: 24 Nov 10
Sweden's parliament, the Riksdag, voted for the most sweeping changes to the country's constitution since 1974 on Wednesday, confirming Sweden's place in the EU among a raft of other amendments.
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Business & Money: 22 Nov 10
Sweden is prepared to lend Ireland up to 10 billion kronor ($1.46 billion) to help with the country's current debt crisis, Swedish finance minister Anders Borg said Monday
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Analysis & Opinion: 18 Nov 10
On the eve of three important international summits, US ambassador to Sweden Matthew W. Barzun emphasises the importance of the transatlantic partnership as well as Sweden’s constructive role in promoting international engagement.
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Business & Money: 16 Nov 10
Sweden is expected to be running a budget surplus in 2011, according to a new forecast from the country’s National Debt Office.
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Politics: 16 Nov 10
Sweden's foreign minister Carl Bildt roundly criticised European Union President Herman Van Rompuy on Tuesday for omitting to name Turkey in discussions over EU enlargement.
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Politics: 6 Nov 10
Swedish Migration Minister Tobias Billström is 'tired' of Greece and its problems in dealing with asylum seekers.
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National: 3 Nov 10
Sweden announced on Tuesday that it has stopped sending asylum seekers back to Greece, due to a "deteriorating" situation for the country's immigration system.
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Politics: 3 Nov 10
Almost half of all residents in Sweden and its Nordic neighbours of Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Iceland are in favour of uniting their countries to create a federal state, according to a new poll.
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Science & Technology: 30 Oct 10
It is that time of year again - Saturday night spells the official end of summer time when clocks are turned back an hour.
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National: 26 Oct 10
A Turkish citizen arrested at Stockholm's Arlanda Airport on Friday on terror charges is thought to be a member of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), Belgian prosecutors said on Monday.
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National: 19 Oct 10
Lawyers and activists argued on Monday that Sweden and the EU are legally bound to work harder to secure the release of Dawit Isaak, an Eritrean-Swedish journalist who has been held in Asmara for nearly a decade without trial.
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Business & Money: 14 Oct 10
Despite recent cuts to corporate tax rates, Sweden still taxes companies more than many other countries in Europe, a new study shows.
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As diverse as Sweden is, there are a few societal norms that are distinctly Swedish. Understanding a handful of them will hopefully prepare you culturally before you relocate. When you're invited home to a Swede, you better be on time and take your shoes off, writes expat Lola Akinmade-Åkerström. Read more »
Sweden is a country where almost everyone can speak English. So why bother to learn Swedish? Edina Varnagy from Hungary managed with English for a whole year but then found that Swedish could open doors – to a job, a social life and greater understanding. Read more »
"The ice dripped in the winter sun. It was the first day when the light had been intense enough to cause dripping in the sunlight. To hear it was an extraordinary wakeup call. The cycle was happening again as it always does, always will (or so we think). I imagined that on my summer island, the bees..." READ »
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fin
adjective
Fin means anyhting from sweet to proper. When someone says, Du är så fin it's quite a compliment.
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