Sweden in the EU and NATO: Nordic, UN, defence

Sweden belongs to the Nordic Council, the EU and the UN, and since 2024 to the defence alliance NATO.

How do the Nordic countries work together?

The Nordic countries (Norden) are Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland and Iceland. The Faroe Islands, Åland and Greenland also belong. They are self-governing and decide many matters themselves.

The countries work together in the Nordic Council (Nordiska rådet), founded in 1952. Politicians from their parliaments and governments meet there. Among other things, the council works against border obstacles (gränshinder). These are rules that make it hard, for example, to live in Sweden and work in Norway.

As a citizen of Denmark, Finland, Iceland or Norway, you can settle in Sweden without applying for a permit.

When did Sweden join the EU?

EU means the European Union. Today (2026), 27 European countries are members. Sweden joined in 1995, after a referendum in autumn 1994. In a referendum, voters answer one question, not choose parties.

The European Commission usually proposes new EU laws. It has one member from each EU country. Most proposals are then decided together by the European Parliament and the Council of the EU (ministerrådet). The Parliament's politicians are elected by the people of the EU countries. In the Council, one minister from each country's government meets. Voting in the European Parliament election: see Elections and parties.

What does the EU decide?

The EU has more power in some areas than in others. The EU countries decide on trade with non-EU countries only together. Transport and energy are examples of areas where power is shared between the EU and the countries.

In other areas each country decides alone, for example social insurance and child allowance. In Sweden, the Riksdag (the Swedish parliament) and the government decide about them.

What are the EU's four freedoms?

The EU countries have one internal market, with the same trade rules everywhere. Goods, people, services and capital (money) should move freely between the countries. These are the four freedoms. Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway also take part in it, as members of the EEA, the European Economic Area.

As an EU citizen, you may stay three months in another EU country with no conditions. For a longer stay, you usually need a job, studies or money to live on.

Sweden is also part of Schengen, where countries usually have no passport checks at the borders between them. A country may briefly check its border again if security requires it. Swedish citizens should still carry a passport or national ID card when travelling in the EU. A driving licence or an ordinary ID card is not enough.

Does Sweden have the euro?

No. The euro is the EU's common currency, but not every EU country uses it. Sweden held a referendum on the euro in 2003. More people voted no than yes. Sweden's currency is the krona.

What do the Council of Europe and the UN do?

The Council of Europe (Europarådet) is a different organisation from the EU. It works for democracy and human rights. Countries sign agreements, called conventions, and promise to follow them. Sweden was one of the founding countries in 1949. Today (2026), it has 46 members. Human rights: Rights and the media.

The UN (the United Nations) was founded in 1945. Sweden has been a member since 1946. The UN's tasks include keeping the peace between countries and making them cooperate. For many years, Sweden has taken part in UN peacekeeping operations. There, soldiers and others help keep the peace in an area.

How does Swedish aid work?

Sweden gives aid: support for people in other countries. Aid is run partly by Sida (the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency). It is a government agency that works for the Riksdag and the government. Aid should reduce poverty and give poor or oppressed people better living conditions. Sida works in two ways:

• development cooperation, which continues over a long time;
• humanitarian assistance, quick help for people affected by war or a disaster.

Taxes pay for aid. The Riksdag sets the amount in the state budget.

Why did Sweden join NATO?

NATO is a defence alliance in Europe and North America: countries that have promised to defend each other. Today (2026), 32 countries are members. Under Article 5 of the NATO treaty, an armed attack on one member counts as an attack on all.

For many years, Sweden was non-aligned. The Cold War policy was this: no military alliances in peacetime, so that Sweden could stay neutral in war. According to the government, the groundwork for this policy was laid as early as 1812. More about the Cold War: Sweden's modern history.

After the Cold War, Sweden cooperated more on security. In 1994, Sweden became a NATO partner in Partnership for Peace, a cooperation between NATO and countries outside it. Sweden applied for membership in May 2022. The government explained why. The security situation around Sweden had become much worse, mainly because of Russia's large-scale attack on Ukraine. In the government's view, membership was the best way to protect Sweden. Sweden joined as a full member on 7 March 2024.

What is total defence (totalförsvar)?

Total defence prepares Sweden for war. It has two parts:

• Military defence. It is run mainly by the Swedish Armed Forces (Försvarsmakten), the agency for Sweden's military. Its main task is to protect the country if someone attacks it with weapons.
• Civil defence. This is the ability of the whole society to cope in war or when war threatens. Everyone needs to prepare: you, companies, municipalities, regions and agencies. The Swedish Civil Defence and Resilience Agency (MCF) has special responsibility.

You can plan to cope for a while if the electricity fails, the water stops or the shops close.

Total defence duty and conscription

Total defence duty (totalförsvarsplikt) means you can be required to do a task in total defence. It applies from the start of the year you turn 16 to the end of the year you turn 70. It covers Swedish citizens and everyone else living in Sweden.

Conscription is military training and service in the Armed Forces. It applies only to Swedish citizens. Since 2010, the same rules apply to women and men. Enlistment and conscription are used only when the government has decided so. The government made such a decision in 2017. Since 2018, basic military training (grundutbildning), the first military training, is a duty again.

Enlistment (mönstring) means tests and examinations that show whether you suit conscription. The Swedish Defence Conscription and Assessment Agency runs it. Swedish citizens can be called up from the year they turn 18. If you become a citizen later, it applies from that day. After the year you turn 24, you usually do not have to attend enlistment. Not everyone is called up. Today (2026), basic training lasts 6 to 15 months.

See also: what the citizenship test contains.

Words to know

Word	Meaning
Folkomröstning	Referendum: a vote on one question
Inre marknad	Internal market: the same trade rules in the EU
Schengen	Area with usually no passport checks between countries
Bistånd	Aid to people in other countries
Alliansfri	Non-aligned: in no military alliance
Värnplikt	Conscription: military service for Swedish citizens