| Type of parliamentary body |
Multifunctional |
| Nature |
Permanent |
| Related to chambers |
Riksdagen
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| Date of creation |
1937 |
| Last renewal date |
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| Mandate |
The Committee on Foreign Affairs prepares matters concerning foreign trade and international economic cooperation, insofar as it falls to no other committee to do so (Riksdag Act 4:6.6).
The Committee prepares matters concerning development assistance to other countries (Riksdag Act 4:6.6), which often touches on issues relating to international trade, free trade, globalization, the World Trade Organization (WTO: openness, negotiations, developing countries, the dispute settlement process, consumer protection and so on) and export credits.
The Committee has jurisdiction over a specific topic, the export of military equipment, and therefore prepares matters relating thereto. Every year since 1985 the Government has reported on Swedish export control policy in an annual Communication to Parliament, which provides a transparent report on the past year's activities in connection with export control policy and material for a broader discussion on matters related to export controls and non-proliferation. The Committee's work on the Communication results in a report that serves as the basis for the parliamentary debate and decision.
Matters referred to the Committee can involve legislation, the allocation of funds or other questions. The Committee's work results in a report that serves as the basis for the parliamentary debate and decision.
The European Union (EU) sets international trade policy for all its Member States, for instance in relation to WTO. Since Sweden joined the EU in 1995, the Swedish Government has advocated the Swedish position within the EU. Matters regarding trade policy and WTO which are handled in Parliament often take the form of proposals that the government should take a particular position in a certain area.
The Committee on Foreign Affairs has a twofold responsibility with regard to the EU. First, it is responsible for the Riksdag's overall preparation of issues relating to the EU. This means that it prepares government bills on the admission of new members, on amendments to EU treaties, and on the Government's annual report on its activities within the EU. It does this in consultation with the other relevant committees and the Advisory Committee on EU Affairs. Second, the Committee on Foreign Affairs, as a specialized committee, is responsible for monitoring EU issues falling within its areas of responsibility (for example, the common foreign and security policy, the European security and defence policy, partnership and association agreements with third countries, and EU development assistance to developing countries and to Central and Eastern Europe).
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| Membership |
The Swedish parliament has 16 committees. Each must have a minimum of 15 members and at least the same number of deputy members. In the current legislature (2002-2006), the Riksdag committees have 17 members each. The political composition of the committees reflects the relative strengths of the parties in the Riksdag. The Committee on Foreign Affairs has 8 representatives from the Social Democratic Party (s), three from the Moderate Party (m), two from the Liberal Party (fp), one from the Christian Democrats (kd), one from the Left Party (v), one from the Centre Party (c), and one from the Green Party (mp). |
| Working methods |
Most of the Committee's work results in reports that serve as the basis for parliamentary debates and decisions.
The Committee has the power to organize hearings. Committee meetings are private, but the hearings are usually public. A record of the hearings is usually issued in a public document.
Before WTO Ministerial Conferences, the government will sometimes submit a written communication regarding international trade policy in connection with the EU and WTO to Parliament. The communication is handled by the Committee on Industry and Trade, together with motions from parliamentary opposition parties and private members. The Committee on Foreign Affairs often has the possibility to deliver a written opinion to the Committee on Industry and Trade. The outcome of the Committee on Industry and Trade's deliberations is presented in a report.
It is customary to ask government officials to appear before the Committee and inform it about matters of current interest, for example before WTO Ministerial Conferences. In spring 2006 the State Secretary responsible for the 6th WTO Ministerial Conference was invited to a committee meeting to explain and discuss the subject.
Other sources of information are reports and information from the National Board of Trade and other public authorities, the EU and WTO.
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| Relations with other parliamentary bodies |
The Committee on Foreign Affairs has contacts with the other parliamentary committees, including the Advisory Committee on EU Affairs, which is the parliamentary body through which members of parliament advise the government regarding EU policies. Some of the members of the Committee on Foreign Affairs are also substitute members of the Advisory Committee on EU Affairs. Whenever trade policy or WTO matters are scheduled to be discussed by the Advisory Committee on EU Affairs, staff from the Committee on Foreign Affairs secretariat can ask to attend as observers. |
| Relations with external bodies |
The Committee on Foreign Affairs occasionally receives representatives of interest groups and the authorities in order to shed light on a particular item of business. Whenever the Committee feels that it needs more information on a particular subject, it invites the relevant experts from the government, organizations or the public authorities to attend a committee meeting.
In addition to these visits, the Committee receives a large number of foreign guests every year. Many of these are delegations from the governments or parliaments of other countries.
The Committee also regularly calls on bodies whose activities fall within its areas of responsibility, such as the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), the Swedish Institute and the National Board of Trade.
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| Subjects dealt with |
The most recent Committee report discusses a number of topics, including the EU internal market, EU enlargement, free trade and globalization, WTO matters relating to developing countries, trade, environmental and social matters relating to developing countries, export credits used in development policy, and military equipment export controls. |
| CONTACT INFORMATION |
| Main address |
Riksdagen, 100 12 Stockholm |
| Phone |
+468 786 4284 |
| Fax |
+468 786 6160 |
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PRESIDING OFFICER(S)
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| Name |
Mr. |
| Notes |
Deputy Chair |
| Address (if different from above) |
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| Phone |
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| Fax |
... |
| E-mail |
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| Website |
...
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| Name |
Ms. Gunilla Carlsson |
| Notes |
Deputy Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs |
| Address (if different from above) |
Riksdagen, 100 12 Stockholm |
| Phone |
+468 786 6701 |
| Fax |
+468 786 6160 |
| E-mail |
gunilla.carlsson@riksdagen.se |
| Website |
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SECRETARY
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| Name |
Mr. Thomas Hörberg |
| Notes |
Secretary of the Committee on Foreign Affairs |
| Address (if different from above) |
Riksdagen, 100 12 Stockholm |
| Phone |
+468 786 4284 |
| Fax |
+468 786 6160 |
| E-mail |
thomas.horberg@riksdagen.se |
| web site: |
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| Notes |
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| Name |
Mr. Martin Brothen |
| Notes |
Deputy Secretary of the Committee on Foreign Affairs |
| Address (if different from above) |
Riksdagen, 100 12 Stockholm |
| Phone |
+468 786 5449 |
| Fax |
+468 786 6160 |
| E-mail |
martin.brothen@riksdagen.se |
| web site: |
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| Notes |
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