Between Italy and Sweden there is agreement within the EU on issues such as EU enlargement, environmental protection, employment and the social dimension of the European project. There is also convergence on the development of peacekeeping and crisis management activities.
Italy and Sweden have strengthened their ties in recent years thanks to more frequent meetings, which culminated in President Mattarella’s state visit in November 2018 and the bilateral meeting between Premiers Kristersson and Meloni in Stockholm in February 2022. These ties are bolstered by a heritage of mutual admiration and guided by a shared desire to steer future developments in the bilateral relationship and EU membership on the issues of research, growth, employment and innovation. Italy and Sweden have repeatedly shown their shared perspective on how to handle the phenomenon of immigration in the EU.
Recent years have seen a substantial increase in trade exchange, and in 2022, the value of Italian exports to Sweden exceeded 6.4 billion euros, while the value of Swedish imports into Italy was just under 6.1 billion euros. In particular, in 2022, compared to the same time the previous year, exports and imports rose by 14% and 26%, respectively.
The Italian presence in Sweden is characterized by a solid and integrated community of more than 19,000 compatriots, today mirroring our country’s excellence both in traditional areas, such as food and wine, and in cutting-edge areas of technology and applied research.