“Belgium acts as gatekeeper when Europeans seek partnership with Rwanda”

Of: Bjorn Sundeby

After a diplomatic dispute flared up between Belgium and Rwanda, Rwandans who want to visit Sweden can no longer apply for a visa in Kigali. Instead, they must apply to neighboring Kenya. But the difficulties for Rwandans visiting the Schengen area do not stop there. Björn Sundeby, chairman of an IST Group with operations in Rwanda, has noted that his own and partner company's staff are no longer being granted their visas. The reason? Belgium has reportedly blocked the visas.  

June 26, 2025, Guest chronicle

Week 20: Demand for clear language on Gaza, increased European self-sufficiency and criticism of US self-interest

"Save the Children and other organizations can treat Gaza's malnourished children, but we are not allowed to do our job. Instead, children are forced to eat animal feed and leaves to avoid dying," write representatives of Save the Children. Image: Hosny Sala/ Pixabay via Canva

Of: Meklit Teklu and Nora Sargin

Last week's discussions on global issues on Swedish debate and editorial pages have been dominated by the crisis in Gaza. Critics argue that the Swedish government should do more to stop starvation and bloodshed, while responsible ministers point to dialogues and aid volumes. Other texts draw attention to the effects of Europe's energy and technology dependence on authoritarian states, and Trump's foreign and trade policies continue to be the subject of criticism.

May 20, 2025, Current debate

Week 14: Criticism of Swedish diplomacy, Trump escalates the trade war and gender equality recedes in aid

This week, the journalist's continued imprisonment in Turkey, Trump's rollout of global staff tariffs, and reflections on global gender equality work have dominated the debate. Image: Collage in Canva.

Of: Meklit Teklu and Nora Sargin

Previous vThe debate in the corner has been characterized by demands to bring back the imprisoned journalist Joakim Medin and criticism of Sweden's quiet diplomacy. At the same time, USA newly introduced customs aroused strong reactions. Ballowance policy has also been on the agenda, and not least gender equality work, in the surge after the annual meeting of the UN Commission on Women.  

April 8, 2025, Current debate

Week 13: Debators criticize US power play in Greenland and trade policy

This week, the debate on global issues has revolved around how the EU should respond to the Trump administration's trade policy, the US's actions against Greenland, and developments in Turkey following the imprisonment of opposition leader Imamoglu. Image: collage in Canva.

Of: Meja Roberg and Olle Hoög

US Vice President JD Vance's brief visit to Greenland has once again set the stagen at the center of a geopolitical tug-of-war. At the same time, Donald Trump continues Trumps tariff policy to create concern in Europe, where experts warn of the long-term consequences of the trade war. In Turkey, the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imomoglu raised international attention, but EU leaders have so far been conspicuously silent.

April 1, 2025, Current debate

The EU is torn between its farmers and support for Ukraine

Margarethe (left) and Alice (right) are both beef farmers from the Netherlands. They have gathered in Brussels with other farmers to demonstrate against the EU's free trade agreement with Ukraine. Image: Jakob Kerren.

Of: Jakob Kerren

Intensive peasant protests has put EU politicians under pressure. The farmers are angry about the Union's free trade agreement with third countries. The problem is only that one of the the countries are Ukraine - who need every penny in the war against Russia.  

May 13, 2024, FUF-correspondents, Reportage

Agreement between the EU and Great Britain to prevent tensions in Northern Ireland

In the spring, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen presented the new 'Windsor Framework', which replaces the former Northern Ireland Protocol. Photo: UK Prime Minister. Source: Flickr.

Of: Amanda Rossling

Britain and the EU agree a framework for Northern Ireland and Ireland, after lengthy discussions on the so-called Northern Ireland Protocol - which was signed when the UK left the EU. The framework will simplify trade in the UK and be a means of avoiding tensions between Northern Ireland and Ireland. 

May 12, 2023, Development magazine explains

Week 15: NATO debate after Russian escalation and China boycott H&M

Last year, H&M stopped buying cotton from the Chinese region of Xinjiang after reports of forced labor.

Of: Melanie Alphonse

During the past week, the relationship between Russia and Ukraine has attracted attention after upwards of 85 Russian soldiers were transferred to the border with Ukraine. The course of events has contributed to a debate about both Ukraine's and Sweden's possible membership in the NATO defense alliance. China's boycott has also sparked debate about Sweden's trade with China.

April 19, 2021, Current debate

Let's take control of the food

Large-scale and small-scale agriculture

Today's large - scale food production is bad for both people and the environment, writes Lisa Tover.

Of: Lisa Tover

The global food industry creates everything from hunger and devastation of rainforest to obesity and large emissions of greenhouse gases. Profit interests rule and a few giant companies completely dominate. Now we have to take back control of the food and shorten the path from farm to fork, writes Lisa Tover from the association Framtidsjorden.

June 4, 2020, Debate