| Welcome to Katja Nordman - our new Communications & Marketing Manager | | | Katja Nordman is our newest colleague of the CCSF team, joining as a Communications & Marketing Manager. She has 9 years of experience in the marketing field, delivering strategic implementations such as a customer journey, brand platform, digital strategy and marketing plans for a variety of sectors in B2B services. After working in the financial sector for 6 years, Katja sought to broaden her business knowledge, and moved to Paris to study for an MBA at Sorbonne University. The MBA granted her a great interest in entrepreneurship and strategy, which led her to write her thesis on the gender gap in startup investments in Sweden. Alongside doing her MBA, she worked at a Swedish consulting company, where she was involved in planning and leading strategic and marketing initiatives, both as a consultant and for the company itself. She has a great interest in the public sector and entrepreneurship, as well as in the French-Swedish cooperation, and is looking forward to start working at CCSF. Welcome Katja! | | | 20th of September 08h30-10h00: 'L’Union européenne 2024-2029: quelles perspectives?' | | | Lors de cette conférence petit-déjeuner, nous aborderons les priorités de l’UE pour 2024-2029, le nouveau Parlement européen, ses groupes politiques et ce qu’ils signifieront pour le nouveau programme de travail de l’UE, la nouvelle direction de la Commission, qui obtiendra quel portefeuille.
Avec Hannalena Ivarsson, Associée, Responsable de la Practice “Sustainability”, Kreab Bruxelles, et Cécile Huck, Directrice, Practice “Sustainability”, Kreab Bruxelles. | | | 15th of October: French Swedish Innovation Forum, Stockholm | | | This is a high-level event aiming to promote French-Swedish business relations, investments, and impact collaborations and further the development of the French-Swedish Innovation Partnership for sustainable, digital and resilient societies .
We want to create meetings across our two countries to further build bridges between impact startups, companies, capital markets, and decision-makers within our bilateral ecosystem. We want to strengthen the links between the French and the Swedish innovation ecosystems and discuss the challenges and opportunities of Europe's competitiveness.
The program focuses on accelerating sustainable business models and technologies, impact management, strategies for scaling and access to capital markets.
This occasion offers an excellent opportunity for networking to develop French-Swedish partnerships, create new businesses and further trade relations between France and Sweden in both directions.
This is an event organized by the Swedish Chamber of Commerce in France in collaboration with Team France and Team Sweden.
Date: 15th of October
Time: 13:30 - 18:30
Venue: Grand Hôtel Stockholm
More information coming soon. | | | 7-8th of November: Le Leadership suédois et le Management franco-suédois | | | Professional training in intercultural management to help optimise your French-Swedish business commuication.
Led by Laurence Romani, Professor at the Stockholm School of Economics, in the department of Management and Organisation, she has over 20 years of experience researching and teaching in the field of cross-cultural differences. | | The course will be held in French. For more information and to register click here. | | | Highlights from Previous Events | | | 11th of June: CCSF 109th General Assembly | | | The 109th General Assembly of the CCSF took place at the Cercle Suédois on June 11th 2024, chaired by our Honorary President H.E. Håkan Åkesson, Ambassador of Sweden to France, alongside our President Gîta Paterson and our Vice-President and Treasurer Pierre Schoeffler.
During the General Assembly, five new boaard members were elected: Johan Laurell, President & Chief Sustainable Officer, IKEA France Christian Leon, Chairman and CEO, Ericsson France Vincent Mégret, President, SKF France Jean-Jérôme Semat, President, Alfa Laval France Benoit Tanguy, President, SCANIA France
The General Assembly was also an opportunity to express our thanks to Carl Pattyn, SCANIA, for his valuable commitment to the Council since 2022, Pierre Perron, Electrolux, for his commitment to the Council since 2022, as well as Luc Graux for his faithful and sincere commitment to the Council since 2018. We also thank Franck Bouétard for his commitment and his valuable contributions to the Council since 2010, and who, during the meeting, was named Honorary Associate Member of the Board of Directors.
The Assembly was followed by a lunch with our guest of honor and speaker, Denis Ferrand, Managing Director, Rexecode, who shared his vision and experience on the theme “France: attractiveness, competitiveness and growth”.
Sincere thanks to all of our members and partners for the trust you continue to place in us, and for your support and faithful commitment to the CCSF and its missions! | | | 13th of June: YP Afterwork at Barapapa | | | On the 13th of June, CCSF's Young Professionals collaborated with the Franco-Finnish Junior Chamber of Commerce, for a nordic afterwork at Barapapa. The event was a fantastic opportunity for our Swedish and Finnish Paris-communities to meet, get to know each other and share experiences, all while enjoying the Seine riverbank.
Thanks to all who attended! | | | 18th of June: Presentation of the Business Climate Survey France 2024 | | | On the 18th of June, Team Sweden in France presented this year's Business Climate Survey France at the Embassy of Sweden in Paris. This year was the 5th edition of the report that investigates the experiences of Swedish companies on a total of 24 markets worldwide.
The event began with a welcome by S.E Håkan Åkesson, the Ambassador of Sweden to France, followed by an introduction by Gîta Paterson, President of the CCSF. Annika Stål, Trade & Invest Commissioner to France, and Sofia Kristensson, Consultant at Business Sweden then presented key findings of the report.
The presentation concluded with a panel discussion about the report results, between Fredrik Edström, Country Manager, Livi France, Sabrina Pantier, Managing Director, Husqvarna France, and Moustapha El Garaa, Retail Operations Manager, IKEA France West Area, moderated by Katarina Lööf, Managing Director at the CCSF.
A special thanks to the panellists for their insights and perspectives on the survey results. You can read the full Business Climate Survey France 2024 report here. and the full Global Business Climate Survey 2024 report here. | | | News From the CCSF Community | | | Launch of the Global Business Climate Survey 2024 | | | The Business Climate Survey is a global Team Sweden project, initiated by a unique partnership between Business Sweden and Swedish Chambers International in 2019. The survey is an important tool to map the opportunities and challenges facing Swedish companies doing business abroad.The event marked half a decade of companies operating worldwide and reflecting their views on economic developments, success factors, local conditions, and sustainability, providing a unique opportunity to compare results across markets and regions.
This year’s report is based on data collected from more than 1,700 employees at Swedish companies across 24 markets, and is a valuable source of knowledge for how to succeed abroad.
The hybrid launch event took place on the 14th of June at the Stockholm Chamber of Commerce. Among the key speakers at the event were Håkan Jevrell, State Secretary to Minister for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade, Andreas Hatzigeorgiou, Chairman, Swedish Chambers International (SCI) and CEO Stockholm Chamber of Commerce, Jan Larsson, CEO, Business Sweden, and Lena Sellgren, Chief Economist, Business Sweden. Representatives from global Swedish companies were also present to discuss the results. To watch a replay of the presentation click here.
To watch a replay of the presentation click here.
To read the full report click here.
| | | Husqvarna enjoying EURO 2024 on the CCSF terrace - Allez les Bleus! | | | To mark the release of their new Robot Victory Dance feature, Husqvarna France hosted a press event on our terrasse, live broadcasting the France-Poland Euros game.
From June 14 to July 14, Husqvarna is connecting 150,000 Automower robot lawn mowers to football matches. With each goal scored by the user's favorite national team, the robots will display match scores in real time and reproduce football's most iconic celebration dances.
Husqvarna’s choice of venue for this event: the CCSF’s terrace, where the Automover robots could dance the victory dance and play football!
If you want to connect your brand to the Swedish identity and values and if you want to impress your clients, partners and colleagues with one of Paris best rooftop views, contact us to book your date on info@ccsf.fr | | | Eurosatory took place in Paris between the 17th and the 21st of June, and is the largest international exhibition for the land and air-land defence and security industry. On site were multiple Swedish companies, including our members SAAB France, and Arquus. | | | Photo: Arquus all rights reserved. Arquus' stand at Eurosatory. | | | Photo: Camille Pertusot, SAAB, all rights reserved.
SAAB's stand at Eurosatory. Pictured is Camille Pertusot, Head of SAAB France and French Chief of Army, General Pierre Schill.
| | | A new look for our Terrace! | | | Over the last year, our terrace has undergone substantial renovations. We are delighted to reveal the final result!
We would like to take the opportunity to thank our partners on this project: - Muuto, Husqvarna, Gardena, and Captain Végétal.
A special thanks to our member Husqvarna and Gardena for their contribition and support. We are delighted their plants will be cared for by state of the art bluetooth automatic watering system technology. The smart Irrigation Control Sensor also allows water saving, as the smart sensor measures the moisture and temperature in the root zone of the plants, which helps determine when watering is needed or not. To all our members: please feel free to pop by for a coffee and experience the terrace for yourself!
Also, don't forget our conference room and terrace are available to rent. You can read more here, and contact us with any questions or queries on info@ccsf.fr. | | | VINCI announce the acquisition of Swedish Helios Nordic Energy | | | Vinci Concessions, through its subsidiary SunMind has completed an agreement to acquired 100% of the Swedish developer of photovoltaic projects and energy storage systems Helios Nordic Energy. Active in Europe, particularly in Sweden, Helios develops 'ready to build' projects. The price of the acquisition is set to amount to 73 million euros, to which a portion of Helios profit over the coming 5 years will be added. The transaction is planned to reach completion by the end of June 2024, after meeting regulatory requirements.
Source: Brèves Économiques.
| | | Swedish Companies and Partners are Recruiting | | | Scandinavia Design is looking for a new Brand and Clientele Manager | | | Scandinavian Design are looking for a bilingual French/English employee to strengthen their e-commerce / back office services. The role will have focus on one of their flagship brands - Marimekko. | | | Business Sweden is looking for a part time Business Incubation & Operations Specialist to join their Paris team | | To read more about the role, and on how to apply, click here. | | | 13th of June: French-Swedish Partnership Workshop in Stockholm | | | On the 13th of June, Business France, Business Sweden and Svenskt Näringsliv hosted a French-Swedish partnership Workshop. Topics discussed included France 2030, Swedish ambitions, as well as the energy transition and decarbonisation. Speakers included prominent industry representatives, as well as Laurent Saint-Martin, CEO of Business France, Jan Larsson, CEO, Business Sweden, Anna Stelinger, Deputy Director General, Svenskt Näringsliv, Christian Danielsson, State Secretary, Prime Minister's Office. H.E Ambassador of France to Sweden Etienne de Gonneville closed the event. | | Transavia France announce a new direct route from Stockholm to Marseille | | | Transavia have announced they are expanding their activities from Stockholm Arlanda Airport, and launch a new direct route from Stockholm to Marseille. The new route will operate twice a week, and started on the 6th of June. | | | France and Sweden come on top in the Energy Transition Index 2024 | | | The World Economic Forum have revealed their Energy Transition Index 2024, in which Sweden scores the highest and France 5th overall.
The Energy Transition Index tracks progress and preparedness for an equitable, secure and sustainable energy future. While Energy Transition Index scores have reached a new high this year, the pace of the transition has slowed in recent years.
Source: World Economic Forum. | | | EU Elections Shift European Parliament to the Right but the Centre Holds | | | From June 6 to 9, EU citizens cast their ballots to elect a new European Parliament. As anticipated, the centre-right European People’s Party (EPP) emerged as the biggest winner, securing 189 seats and retaining its position as the leading force. The European Socialists (S&D) followed with 136 seats, while the Liberal Renew Europe lost their third position (for now) with 81 seats. Despite significant losses on Renew's side, these results maintained the centre's coalition majority, albeit with a narrower margin. A potential coalition between the EPP, ECR, and Renew could result in a right-winged EP coalition, however it is more likely that the grand coalition of S&D, Renew, and EPP will persist.
The hard-right European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) and far-right Identity and Democracy (ID) earned 83 and 58 seats, respectively. These strong performances contributed to an overall rightward shift in the Parliament, though less pronounced than expected. The Greens experienced significant losses, maintaining only 51 seats, while The Left remained stable with 39 MEPs. Additionally, non-attached members, mostly ultra-conservative and far-right MEPs, hold a total of 83 seats in the Parliament.
The ensuing negotiations in Brussels and Member States will be crucial in defining the new mandate’s policy and political direction. On June 17, Member States started discussing the allocation of top jobs and the political priorities (strategic agenda) for the next Commission. Although there is no formal agreement yet on who will preside over the institutions, it is expected that Ursula von der Leyen (EPP) will secure a second mandate, while the frontrunner for the European Council Presidency is former Portuguese PM Antonio Costa (S&D). The current President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola (EPP), is also likely to remain for another 2.5-year term. The Foreign Affairs Chief role remain the most uncertain position not only because of the various names that are currently being considered but because Ursula von der Leyen has stressed during the campaign her preference for reshaping the portfolio, turning it into a Commissioner for defence. As things stand, Estonia’s Prime Minister Kaja Kallas (Renew) continues to be the most likely to get the job.
Next steps
Member States are anticipated to nominate the European Commission President, and other EU top positions, as well as adopt a strategic agenda for the next mandate on June 27-28. The European Parliament will vote on their own President and allocate Committee positions from July 16-19.
In September, a vote may take place to confirm the Presidents of both the European Parliament and the European Commission. Subsequently, the Parliament will vote on the college of Commissioners from November 25-28, just days before the Commission President officially takes office on December 1. | | | EU Solidifies Clean Tech Future With Adoption of Net-Zero Industry Act | | | The Council has given its final approval to the Net Zero Industry Act on 27 May. This measure, introduced in response to the US Inflation Reduction Act, is designed to enhance the EU's capacity to manufacture net-zero technologies. It aims to boost investments in the production of these technologies within the EU, speed up their implementation, and ensure the security of EU supply chains. Additionally, the act seeks to simplify the permit-granting process for designated strategic projects.
The Net Zero Industry Act reflects the EU's commitment to building and maintaining a strong industrial base for the green transition, while staying competitive on a global scale. The act sets ambitious targets, aiming for Europe to produce 40% of its net-zero technology needs domestically and to account for 15% of global production by 2040. It covers 19 different technologies, including solar panels, wind turbines, carbon capture and storage, nuclear energy technologies, biotechnologies, and electricity grid technologies.
Key elements of the act include setting deadlines for permitting new green technology manufacturing sites, enabling funding support from Member States, and establishing rules to attract investments. Additionally, the law requires public authorities to use 'qualitative' criteria focused on sustainability and resilience when purchasing technologies, thereby giving European manufacturers an advantage over international competitors.
Next steps
The Regulation will enter into force after publication to the Official Journal of the EU. The European Commission will also adopt a Delegated Act to identify the sub-categories and the list of specific components used for the net-zero technologies within 9 months after entry into force. | | | Member States Adopts Revised Trans-European Transport Network Regulation | | | The Council has approved a revised version of the trans-European transport network (TEN-T) Regulation to improve transport connectivity across Europe. This initiative seeks to establish a fully integrated transport infrastructure, including roads, railways, and airports. As part of a comprehensive legislative package promoting efficient and green mobility, the TEN-T network will be developed or upgraded in three stages: by 2030 for the core network, by 2040 for the extended core network, and by 2050 for the comprehensive network. The new 2040 deadline aims to expedite the completion of significant cross-border projects, such as missing rail links, ahead of the 2050 target for the broader network.
To ensure that infrastructure planning aligns with operational needs, the revised regulation merges core network corridors with rail freight corridors into 'European Transport Corridors.' These corridors are considered as crucial for the development of sustainable and multimodal freight and passenger transport flows across Europe. Moreover, in light of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the revised rules also integrate Ukraine and Moldova into parts of the network while reducing connections with Russia and Belarus.
Next steps
The legislation will enter into force twenty days after publication to the Official Journal of the EU. | | | Commission Introduces Provisional Tariffs on Chinese EVs | | | The European Commission has introduced provisional countervailing duties on battery electric vehicles (BEVs) imported from China. This move follows an anti-subsidy investigation initiated in October 2023, which revealed that the Chinese BEV industry benefits from unfair government subsidies. In an effort to safeguard EU manufacturers and curb the dumping of Chinese BEVs, the Commission has decided to implement these protective trade measures.
The provisional tariffs, set between 17.4% and 38.1%, will come into effect on July 4, 2024. These measures are expected to become permanent by November 4, 2024, subject to approval by EU Member States. The tariff rates will vary depending on the manufacturer, with Western brands operating in China facing a 21% duty. The Commission clarified that the objective is not to cut trade relations with China but to ensure fair competition for EU manufacturers.
In response, China has expressed significant concern and indicated a readiness to take necessary actions to defend its companies. While the tariffs are scheduled to be imposed from 4 July 2024, the final rates could be adjusted or even withdrawn, depending on the outcome of negotiations with China.
Next steps
The final tariff rate will require approval through a vote by the Council. To block the measure, a qualified majority is needed (at least 15 member states representing 65% of the EU population). | | | | |
