Sweden

World news you missed on Sweden

Systembolaget store sign

Liberalization of alcohol sales in Sweden: The Systembolaget monopoly at risk?

A bill presented by the Swedish government proposes to modify the state monopoly on alcohol sales to support small local producers. However, before it can be adopted, this controversial plan, caught between divergent economic and health interests, must receive approval from Brussels and the EU member states.…
October 16, 2024
Spotify

Spotify not essential to society to justify night work in Sweden

A Swedish court has denied Spotify the right to have employees work night shifts to maintain its audio streaming platform, ruling that the company's services are not essential enough to society to warrant an exception to the country's night work ban.…
October 3, 2024
A map of Europe shows the intricate borders separating the countries. Now the definition of rape divides officials in the EU.

Consent-based definition of rape creates friction in the EU

Friction has sparked from within the EU, as countries are unable to agree on a definition of rape. The European Parliament (EP) decried the decision of Emmanuel Macron, Olaf Scholz and other ministers, to deny the proposal to define rape only according to consent across the EU. The issue remains contested.…
December 6, 2023
Sweden lottery scratch card

Towards the end of lotteries financing Swedish political parties?

In Sweden, the government will work on a ban on lotteries financing political parties, advancing the negative consequences of gambling. But it also aims to deprive an important source of funds from the Social Democrats, the country's largest party now in the opposition, that other parties don't have.…
May 1, 2023
Technology

European countries victims of espionage by the U.S.

Denmark let the United States spy on political executives of Germany, France, Norway or Sweden between 2012 and 2014. The head of the Danish intelligence agency was dismissed in 2020 for failing to investigate indications of espionage.…
June 2, 2021