2012 Press release 11 July 2012 Ministry for Foreign Affairs Swede new Head of the EU Police Mission in Afghanistan Swedish District Police Commissioner Karl Åke Roghe has been appointed Head of the European Union Police Mission in Afghanistan (EUPOL Afghanistan). The mission is to assist the Afghan police in setting up an effective civil police organisation. Mr Roghe will take up his position at the mission on 1 August 2012. "The appointment of Åke Roghe as head of EUPOL Afghanistan comes at a stage when Sweden is shifting its focus in Afghanistan from military commitment to civil. The Government attaches great value to the appointment and supports Åke Roghe in his assignment," says Minister for Foreign Affairs Carl Bildt. "I am pleased that a Swede will have the opportunity to lead the important work of improving security in Afghanistan," says Minister for Justice Beatrice Ask. External links More information about the mission: EUPOL:s web page EUPOL Afghanistan was launched in June 2007. In addition to Mr Roghe, some twenty Swedes are currently serving in the mission, posted by the Swedish Police, the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency and the Folke Bernadotte Academy. Mr Roghe has sound experience of the EU's international activities and has previously served in both Kosovo and the Sudan. Mr Roghe most recently held a position with the police authority in Gävleborg. Swedish involvement in EUPOL Afghanistan is part of Sweden's comprehensive efforts in Afghanistan.
Press release 29 June 2012 Ministry for Foreign Affairs Final agreement on unitary patent protection Agreement was reached today at the European Council on the final outstanding issue in the negotiations on unitary patent protection, i.e. where the seat of the Central Division of the Court of First Instance of the Unified Patent Court will be situated. The solution to the issue, which has been deadlocked since December, is that the seat of the Central Division will be in Paris, while some parts of it will be located in London and Munich. "This agreement is great news. It means that the Council has now agreed all parts of the negotiation package and that years of hard work have been fruitful," says Minister for Trade Ewa Björling. However, the Minister for Trade adds that everyone had to make concessions to reach this compromise, but that the agreement provides a solid basis for a competitive European patent system. "An improved patent system is important for Swedish innovators, particularly for small and medium-sized companies," says Minister for Justice Beatrice Ask. The agreement involves substantial improvements compared with the current system since it is simpler, less costly and more uniform. It is hoped that the new system will be up and running in spring 2014. Monica Enqvist (fd Ohlsson) Press Secretary to Ewa Björling +46 8 405 37 11 +46 70 296 18 99 email to Monica Enqvist (fd Ohlsson)
2011 Press release 01 December 2011 Martin Valfridsson new State Secretary at The Government today appointed Martin Valfridsson as State Secretary at the. Mr Valfridsson most recently served as a judge at Stockholm District Court, but he also has several years of experience of different positions at the The division of responsibilities between the two state secretaries at the means that State Secretary Magnus Graner will have main responsibility for civil law matters, while Mr Valfridsson will have main responsibility for criminal law matters. As of today, the new Chief of Staff at the is Christoffer Järkeborn. Anna Erhardt Press Secretary to Beatrice Ask
2010 Press release 15 December 2010 Ministry for Foreign Affairs Commission gives go-ahead to enhanced cooperation on single European patent The European Commission has responded to the request submitted by Sweden and eleven other Member States on 7 December and produced a proposal for enhanced cooperation on a single European patent. The Commission has now proposed a framework for this cooperation, which will make it possible for those Member States that want to break the deadlock in the negotiations on an EU patent and create a competitive patent system in Europe to do so without waiting for all 27 Member States. The Commission proposal contains the basic conditions for enhanced cooperation on a single patent for those states that choose to participate. In the next stage, the Council can take a decision by qualified majority to begin enhanced cooperation based on the Commission proposal once the European Parliament has given its approval. If the Council takes such a decision, the Commission will make further proposals on the details of the single European patent. The Council will then negotiate the conditions for the patent before the proposal is ultimately adopted. All the EU Member States can participate in the negotiations, but only those involved in the enhanced cooperation may participate in the decision. "The Commission's proposal is a very important step forward. Enhanced cooperation is the only way to move forward now, and we hope that as many Member States as possible will choose to take part," says Minister for Justice Beatrice Ask. "I warmly welcome the Commission's proposal. I am pleased that the Commission has acted so quickly, as it proves that this issue is a high priority. It is also pleasing that so many EU Member States are prepared to support enhanced cooperation, which is something that Sweden has worked hard for. If we do not move ahead now, European entrepreneurs will be left without a competitive patent system for a long time to come," says Minister for Trade Ewa Björling. Enhanced cooperation on a single European patent is open to all Member States that choose to take part. All entrepreneurs and innovators will be able to apply for a single patent, regardless of their nationality. As such, there will be no disadvantage to companies in Member States that do not choose to take part. Monica Enqvist (fd Ohlsson) Press Secretary to Ewa Björling +46 8 405 37 11 +46 70 296 18 99 email to Monica Enqvist (fd Ohlsson) Martin Valfridsson Press Secretary to Beatrice Ask
Press release 08 December 2010 Ministry for Foreign Affairs Ten Member States move ahead on EU patent Sweden has requested that the European Commission propose enhanced cooperation in the area of patents. The request also has the backing of Germany, France, the Netherlands, Denmark, Finland, Slovenia, Luxembourg, Estonia and Lithuania. In addition, several other Member States have indicated their desire to participate in enhanced cooperation. Sweden now hopes that as many Member States as possible will choose to take part. The UK is also submitting a separate request to the same effect. "I regret that the Council has not been able to reach unanimity in the matter, but look very positively on the fact that there is such strong support for enhanced cooperation in the patent area. It is pleasing that so many EU Member States are prepared to move ahead and create a competitive patent system for Europe," says Minister for Trade Ewa Björling. "If we do not move forward now, we risk European entrepreneurs being left without uniform patent protection for the foreseeable future. It is the climate for innovation in Europe that will suffer. According to estimates from the European Commission itself, failure to adopt an EU patent will cost businesses around EUR 250 million," says Minister for Justice Beatrice Ask. The Member States behind the request to the Commission currently account for the lion's share of European patent applications lodged with the European Patent Office. Enterprises from Member States that are not participating will also be able to apply for patent protection under the common provisions to be created by enhanced cooperation. Common patent protection for all these Member States will mean substantial savings for Swedish and European enterprises and innovators and is an important measure to promote innovation and European competitiveness. The Competitiveness Council will continue to discuss the EU patent and the possibility of enhanced cooperation on 10 December. Monica Enqvist (fd Ohlsson) Press Secretary to Ewa Björling +46 8 405 37 11 +46 70 296 18 99 email to Monica Enqvist (fd Ohlsson) Martin Valfridsson Press Secretary to Beatrice Ask Evelina Janunger Kaarme Special Adviser +46 8 405 81 63 + 46 709 35 21 03
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 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