Estonia and Sweden

27.01.2012

The Kingdom of Sweden re-recognized the Republic of Estonia on 27 August 1991and was the first country to appoint its ambassador to Estonia. Swedish Ambassador Lars Arne Grundberg commenced his assignment in Tallinn on 29 August 1991. Sweden's current ambassador, Jan Palmstierna, presented his credential to the President of the Republic on 2 September 2008. Since 7 April 2011 the Estonian Ambassador to Sweden is Jaak Jõerüüt.

Estonia also has five honorary consuls in Sweden: Veljo Pärli in Visby, Lars Johan Söderström in Malmö, Lars Werner in Karlskrona, Harriet Lagebo Eskilstuna, and Lars-Eric Boreström in Gothenburg. Sweden has two honorary consuls in Estonia – Ahti Puur in Narva and Madis Kanarbik in Tartu.

Bilateral relations

Estonian-Swedish bilateral relations have traditionally been very good and close in the areas of economic affairs, defence and culture. Openness, mutual understanding, trust and goodwill characterise these relations.

As early as July of 1990 Sweden had already started giving state aid to various sectors in Estonia—a total of 14.2% of the aid received in Estonia. Sweden was also one of Estonia’s biggest supporters in its integration process with the EU. A significant dimension was added to the bilateral relations in the year 2000, which was named as the year of the Baltic countries. The main objective of this initiative was to introduce the Baltic countries to the European Union and to inform the public in the three Baltic countries of European Union-related matters. Development co-operation projects with Sweden have primarily taken place through the projects of the Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA), the Council of the Baltic Sea States, or the EU. So far the focus has mainly been on new democracies like Georgia, Ukraine, Moldova, and Armenia.

Defence co-operation between the two countries has been good in the areas of counselling, logistics, training, and the environment. An arms purchase agreement that outlines the co-operation format and procedures and foresees the creation of a working group was signed on 10 August 2010. For each concrete joint procurement, a separate joint project agreement will be signed. Joint procurements will also improve the ability of Estonia and Swedish Defence Force members to work together, as in the future they will be using more and more of the same kind of equipment.

Close co-operation is also conducted in the framework of the European Union’s Common Security and Defence Policy (ESDP). Sweden is the leading nation of the Nordic Battle Group (whose members are Sweden, Finland, Estonia, Norway, and Ireland). Sweden has also invited Estonia, Finland and Norway to participate in the second Nordic Battle Group, which should achieve battle-readiness in the first half of 2011. Estonia plans to contribute 50 Defence Forces members.

As nations located on the Baltic Sea, Estonia and Sweden also co-operate in the environmental protection and rescue sectors. A general security agreement for the protection of classified information, a co-operation agreement for emergency prevention, preparedness and response, and a sea and air search and rescue (SAR) co-operation agreement have been concluded between the two countries.

Visits

In April 1992, King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden and Queen Silvia visited Estonia. This was the first royal visit to the restored Republic of Estonia. In June 1995, Princess Lilian visited Estonia. In May 2002, King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden and Queen Silvia paid a private visit to Estonia.

Agreements

After accession to the European Union, Estonia’s free trade agreements with EU member states were terminated. The economic relations are governed by the regulations of the EU's internal market.

All the important bilateral economic agreements have been signed:

• Environment-related Co-operation Agreement (came into force 30.03.92);
• Agreement on the Promotion and Mutual Protection of Investments (came into force 20.05.92);
• Agreement on the Organizing of International Highway Transportation of Passengers and Goods (came into force 30.07.92);
• Agreement on Mutual Assistance in Customs Matters (came into force 30.10.93);
• Agreement on Rendering Medical Aid to Temporary Visitors (came into force 01.11.93);
• Aviation Agreement (came into force 30.11.93);
• Convention on the Avoidance of Double Taxation of Income and Capital and on the Prevention of Tax Evasion (came into force 31.12.93);
• Agreement on the Abolition of Visa Requirements (came into force 01.05.97)
• Co-operation agreement in the field of maritime and air search and rescue (came into force 06.03.2007).

Economic relations

TRADE

From the Estonian side, Sweden is still among the most important trade partners — in 2010 Sweden actually rose to the position of first trade partner for the very first time. In the first half of 2011 Estonia’s total trade turnover with Sweden was 2564.5 million euros and the balance was positive for Estonia by 485.1 million euros. Exports totalled 1524.8 million euros (1st place) and import 1039.7 million euros (2nd place).

The addition of one more worker to the office of Enterprise Estonia in Sweden will certainly help to further intensify economic and trade ties with Sweden.

Estonian – Swedish trade 2007-2011 (in millions of EUR)

   
Main articles of export in 2011 (first half):

• Machinery and equipment, 56.5 million euros – 56.4%
• Wood and wood products, 93.4 million euros – 9.3%
• Metals and metal products, 63.3 million euros – 6.3%
• Other manufactured goods, 50.9 million euros – 5.1%

Main articles of import in 2011 (first half):

• Machinery and equipment, 360.5 million euros – 54%
• Transportation vehicles, 88.4 million euros – 13.2%
• Metals and metal products, 59.4 million euros – 8.9%
• Plastic and rubber products, 30.1 million euros – 4.5%

All economic figures originate from the Statistical Office of Estonia

INVESTMENTS

Sweden continues to be Estonia’s greatest foreign investor. Although the trend at the beginning of the economic downturn was for direct investments to decrease, in the second half of 2009 and in 2010 investments were seen to increase somewhat.

According to Bank of Estonia data, as of 30 June 2011 the volume of Swedish investments in Estonia was 4318 million EUR, which is 36.9% of all foreign investments made in Estonia.

In the first half of 2011 Estonia’s direct investments in Sweden totalled 48 million euros.

The biggest investments draws in Estonia continue to be the financial, communications, and service sectors. During the last year Swedish businesses have suddenly shown greater interest in the transport sector. The companies with the greatest Swedish participation in Estonia are AS Swedbank, AS Eesti Telekom, AS SEB Pank, AS Kunda Nordic Cement, Arco Vara AS, AS If Eesti Insurance, Rimi Eesti Food AS, AS Norma, and AS Põltsamaa Felix.

TOURISM

In terms of the number of foreign tourist coming into Estonia, the Swedish rank in third place after the Finnish and Russians, although the number of Swedes has declined in the past few years. While in 2006 nearly 106 000 Swedish tourists visited Estonia, in 2007 the number was 90 000, in 2008 it was 86 000, and in 2009 it dropped to 77 000. In 2010 a total of 81 196 tourists from Sweden visited Estonia, which directly reflects how ties between Estonia and Sweden are growing closer. In addition to more business-related interaction, there is also an increase in communication between people and growth in Estonia’s attractiveness as a tourism destination. During the first ten months of 2011, 75 229 Swedish tourists has stayed in Estonian accommodation establishments.

As of 1 May 2004 the Border Guard Board no longer registers the border crossings of EU, EEA, and Swiss citizens. The basis for tourism statistics is the number of people who have spent a night in an Estonian accommodation establishment.

Cultural relations

The beginning of a new era in the cultural ties between Estonia and Sweden was marked by the establishment of the Estonian Institute in Stockholm, which was opened by Foreign Minister Toomas Hendrik Ilves on 3 November 1999.

Estonia has become richer thanks to Swedish assistance given to renovate several valued architectural sites. In the framework of a Swedish governmental project, “Österled”, Kadriorg Palace, the Swedish St Michael's Church and a wooden house in the Kalamaja district on Väike-Patarei street were renovated.

In September of 2007, Estonia was the main guest at the popular Göteborg book fair. In conjunction with this, a series of Estonia-themed cultural events took place all over Sweden, which introduced not only Estonian literature and language but also culture more generally—through art, music, theatre and film. The book fair was opened by President Toomas Hendrik Ilves. Altogether the fair saw over 100 000 visitors, and most of those also visited the Estonian pavilion, also called the “black cube”. A large number of the close to 20 works by Estonian writers that were especially produced for the fair and the almost 250 works that were put out altogether were sold out during the fair. One very popular selection was Imbi Paju’s “Memories Denied” („Tõrjutud mälestused”), along with Jaan Kross’s “Treading Air” („Paigallend”), and Eeva Park’s “Lõks lõpmatuses”.

Neeme Järvi has served for a long time (1982-2004) as principal conductor of the Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra.

In the spring of 2005, as the result of long-lasting and thorough co-operation between Estonian and Swedish experts, the long-expected and most voluminous Swedish-Estonian Dictionary of all time, containing 100,000 key words, was published.

In June 2006, a separate section of the Läänemaa Museum in Haapsalu was openened for a permanent exposition of the works of Ilon Wikland, an artist born in Estonia, but raised in Sweden. Ilon Wikland won fame for her illustrations of Astrid Lindgren’s books. The gallery was named Iloni Imedemaa (Ilon’s Wonderland). This then developed into the Ilon Wikland Centre.

In May 2008 a formal concert took place in Stockholm’s Berwaldhallen, during which Estonia presented a musical gift to Sweden in honour of the 90th anniversary of the Republic of Estonia. The performers at the concert were the Estonian National Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Olari Elts, the Estonian Dream Big Band, and Swedish electric guitarist Mattias Torell. The gift was Toivo Tulev’s new piece ‘Future Continuous’; works by Erkki-Sven Tüür and Igor Stravinski were also performed at the concert.

In August of 2008, Sweden awarded Mart Laar the Order of the North Star – Commander with Grand Cross for his contribution as both a politician and a historian to ensuring the independence of Estonia and the development of democracy, for close co-operation with Swedish politicians from his first term as prime minister, and for prioritising the development of good relations between the two countries. The Order of the North Star was established by Swedish King Fredrik I in 1748. Today it is given to honour members of the Swedish King’s House and foreigners that have done a service for the country of Sweden.

In 2011 a great deal of attention was given in Sweden to celebrating the 20th anniversary of the restoration of independence in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. The year 2011 was even named the Baltic Year in Sweden, which culminated in various large-scale commemorative ceremonies in August. Many Estonian state figures participated in these events, including Riigikogu Speaker Ene Ergma, Prime Minister Andrus Ansip, Minister of Defence Mart Laar, Minister of Culture Rein Lang, former president Arnold Rüütel, and others.

Estonians in Sweden

Unlike the coastal Swedes, who lived on the Estonian islands and on the west coast for centuries, the significant Estonian communities in Sweden were established in the 20th century. However, Estonians have travelled throughout Sweden and taken up residence there for centuries.

The 20th century cardinally changed this situation. While pre-World War II only a few hundred Estonians lived in Sweden, Estonians fleeing the war in 1943-1944 swelled the number to some 20 000 after the war. With the birth of new generations in the 1950s and 1960s this figure rose to 30 000. About 7 000 coastal Swedes fled from Estonia to Sweden.

In the spring of 2004, the 60th anniversary of the arrival of thousands of refugees from Estonia to the Swedish coast was marked with several events. Among others, the commemorative monument “Departure and Homecoming” dedicated to the refugees was opened on Dalarö beach in the Haninge commune and an exhibit on the great wave of emigration was displayed in the Museum of Occupations in Tallinn. The exhibit was opened by Swedish Minister for Policy Coordination (now Finance Minister) Pär Nuder, who is also the descendant of Estonian refugees in Sweden.

Due to a lack of descendants, graves being neglected, and other such reasons, an important topic during the past few years has been the reinterment of famous Estonians that died in Sweden in Estonian soil. At the end of the summer in 2008 the remains of Jüri Uluots were buried in Kirbla in Lääne County; others that returned home in 2008 were former minister of education Jaan Lattik and his wife, who were reburied in Viljandi. In August 2006, the remains of former head of state August Rei and his wife Therese Rei were brought back to Estonia and given a ceremonial burial in Tallinn’s Metsakalmistu Cemetery. In August of 2002, respected diplomat and a prime minister of the exile government Aleksander Warma and his wife were brought from Sweden and reinterred in the Metsakalmistu Cemetery.

Presently, more than 10 000 Estonians live in Sweden, and most of them have gathered in the larger cities or their suburban neighbourhoods – 4 000 in Stockholm, 2 000 in Gothenburg.

From the post-war years onward, the Estonian community successfully integrated into the Swedish community. The Estonian community also worked actively to preserve its national heritage and to raise awareness about Estonia through its many associations, societies and unions (the Estonian Committee, the Union of Estonians in Sweden, the Estonian Culture Society etc). During the peak period, some 400-500 Estonian organisations had been active in Sweden. Today approximately 100 are still functioning. Also, many Estonian language periodicals are published – as the newspaper Eesti Päevaleht and the journal Rahvuslik Kontakt. In Stockholm, there is an Estonian nursery school and an Estonian elementary school (grades 1-9) with about 180 students. In Gothenburg, Estonians are planning to re-open its school alongside the Estonian nursery school.

Estonian Houses function as important centres for preserving and developing the Estonian heritage in Sweden.

Estonians' organisations in Sweden