Official events and meetings in Sweden
On 4 April 2022, President of the National Council Irène Kälin (The Greens, AG) paid a courtesy call on the King of Sweden, Carl XVI Gustaf, on her arrival in Stockholm. Ms Kälin also held talks with State Secretary to the Minister for EU Affairs Paula Carvalho Olovsson and Minister for Foreign Affairs Ann Linde on the war in Ukraine and relations between Switzerland and the EU. The three women emphasised the good relations between Switzerland and Sweden and reaffirmed the importance of European cooperation in times of crisis.
On the following day, Ms Kälin exchanged views with Cecilia Brinck, President of the Stockholm City Parliament, on the challenges facing the city. Afterwards, she met with her Swedish counterpart, Andreas Norlén. During their discussions, the question of Switzerland’s standpoint, as a neutral country, on the crimes committed by Russia was raised. Ms Kälin explained that the outbreak of the war had come as a shock to Switzerland, but that the country was not in a position to supply Ukraine with war material on account of its neutrality. Instead, she said, Switzerland was taking in refugees and providing humanitarian aid in Ukraine. Mr Norlén stressed that Russia’s attack on Ukraine had had a major impact on public opinion in Sweden, a country with a long tradition of peace. He said the Swedish government had appointed a parliamentary group at the end of February to assess the implications of the war in Ukraine for Swedish security and to report its findings within a month.
Visit to the Forsmark radioactive waste storage facility and to the innovation centre at Uppsala University
On 6 April, the Swiss delegation visited the Forsmark radioactive waste facility in the province of Uppsala. The repository is situated 60 metres below the Baltic Sea and was built to store used nuclear power plant fuel for at least 100,000 years. Minister for Climate and the Environment Annika Strandhäll said that Sweden aims to achieve 100% renewable energy by 2040. At present, wind energy is the preferred solution, but nuclear energy will continue to play an important role in the transition period.
The delegation then visited the innovation centre at Uppsala University. There they discussed with the governor of the region, the rector of the university and professors how researchers collaborate with industry and the differences between Switzerland and Sweden in the field of innovation research.
Official events and meetings in Finland
The Swiss parliamentary delegation continued on to Finland on 7 and 8 April, where they met the president of the Finnish parliament, Matti Vanhanen. Mr Vanhanen said that although sanctions against Russian gas following the aggression against Ukraine would take time to implement, they were necessary in order to end the war and achieve ecological transformation. During a meeting with Tytti Tuppurainen, Minister for European Affairs, the Swiss delegation highlighted the values shared by Switzerland and the EU and expressed Switzerland’s desire to be able to participate once again in the Horizon Europe and Erasmus+ programmes.
The focus of the delegation’s discussions with State Secretary for the Environment Terhi Lehtonen was climate. Ms Lehtonen explained that it had been scientifically proven that Finland could achieve carbon neutrality by 2035 and this had been enshrined in law. The challenges Finland faces in climate management include the long distances between towns and cities and the country’s cold climate. Ms Lehtonen also explained that the wind energy sector was expanding rapidly and many municipalities were thus benefiting from wind farm property tax revenue, allowing them to invest in infrastructure.
During her official visit to the Finnish parliament, Ms Kälin and her delegation had the opportunity to attend President Zelensky’s online speech from the gallery for dignitaries. Finnish President Sauli Niinistö and German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier were also present. Mr Zelensky denounced the cruelty of the Ukraine war and said it was imperative that these war crimes and crimes against humanity be prosecuted.
Prospects of NATO membership for Sweden and Finland
Ms Kälin’s official visit to Sweden and Finland took place at a key moment for the future security of both countries. Following Russia’s attack on Ukraine and the close geographical proximity to Russia, Sweden and Finland are under pressure to strengthen security, for example by increasing their defence budgets and considering NATO membership. The Swiss delegation had the opportunity to discuss this topic during meetings in both countries.
Ms Kälin was accompanied on her visit by vice presidents Martin Candinas (The Centre, GR) and Eric Nussbaumer (SP, BL). The delegation also included parliamentary group presidents Tiana Angelina Moser (glp, ZH), Aline Trede (The Greens, BE), Damien Cottier (FDP.The Liberals, NE), Philipp Matthias Bregy (The Centre, VS) and National Council member, Christian Imark (SVP, SO).