| Two New Arrivals at CCSF! | | | This month, CCSF is happy to welcome two new Associate Project Managers - Sebastian Persson and Tereze Abazi. They will be joining the CCSF team for one year, thanks to grants from the “Scholarship Foundation for Swedish Youth Abroad” and “Svensk-Franska Språkfonden”. | | | Sebastian Persson has a bachelor's in Business and Economics with a major in Economics from Lund University. During his studies he has been active in several committees in the LundaEkonomerna Student Union and completed summer internships in both France and Germany. He is passionate about international relations and economic policy and looks forward to interesting interractions and meetings during his year at the chamber.Sebastian's responsabilities will mainly involve communication, including digital and print, as well as PR and events. He will also assist in the planning of the French Swedish Innovation Forum.
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Tereze holds a Bachelor's degree from the Linnaeus University in Political Science, specialising in the French language. Tereze has previously lived, studied and worked in Nice. Prior to joining CCSF, she interned for a Swedish politically independent organisation ‘Swedes Worldwide’ and was responsible for all the project management of the focus on the 2024 EU elections. France is very dear to her heart and she is very keen on contributing to fostering Swedish-French business relations and assisting in the important work of the Chamber of Commerce. Tereze’s responsibilities will include managing our meeting facilities and domiciliation service as well as events. She will also take part in the organization of the French-Swedish Innovation Forum. | | | 15th of October: French Swedish Innovation Forum, Stockholm | |  | |
Empowering Partnership & Technology
This high-level forum is being organized following the signing of the new edition of the Strategic Innovation Partnership between Sweden and France during the French state visit to Sweden at the beginning of the year, with the purpose of contributing to the development of a sustainable, digital and resilient European competitiveness. Opportunities and challenges in the new areas of the Innovation Partnership, such as security and defense, digitalization, nuclear energy, mobility and the green transition will be highlighted. European and national regulations, technological developments, innovation financing as well as skills and talent needs will be an integral part of the program.
Within this context the aim is to promote and develop French-Swedish business relations, investments, R&D and impact collaborations. We want to facilitate knowledge-sharing and exchange best practices in green transition. We want to create meetings across our two countries to further build bridges between impact startups, companies, capital markets, and decision-makers. We want to strengthen the links between the French and Swedish innovation ecosystems and discuss the challenges and opportunities of Europe as an innovative continent of excellence for sustainable, digital and resilient societies.
This occasion offers an exceptional opportunity for networking to strengthen relations and identify new French-Swedish partnerships in innovative technologies for the sustainable transition, create new businesses and further trade relations between France and Sweden in both directions.
This event is organized by the Swedish Chamber of Commerce in France in collaboration with Team France and Team Sweden.
Date: 15th of October 2024
Time: 13:30 - 18:30
Venue: Grand Hôtel Stockholm
| | | 21st of October: Richer and more equal: A New History of Wealth in the West - Daniel Waldenström | | | Daniel Waldenström, Professor of Economics at the Research Institute of Industrial Economics (IFN) in Stockholm, Sweden. At the IFN he directs the Taxation and Society research program. In his book, Richer and More Equal: A New History of Wealth in the West (Polity, 2024), Waldenström shows that what stands out since the late 1800s is a massive rise in the size of the middle class and its share of society’s total wealth. Unfettered capitalism, it seems, doesn’t have to lead to boundless inequality.
This event is featured by Chambre de Commerce Suédoise en France, Cercle Suédois, Swedish Business and Policy Forum Paris and SWEA Professional Paris. | | | 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.
Last day to register : 4th of October
Seats are confirmed based on availability
| | | 28th of November: 19ème édition des États de la France "Attractivité : Préparer l'avenir" | | This year, four main objectives will be pursued at the États de la France: - To propose a vision for the coming months
- To loudly and clearly convey messages about the fundamentals of France's attractiveness
- To suggest solutions to accelerate our transitions
- To allow you to share your experiences and best practices in these complex times
Among the themes that will structure the debates are: industrial competitiveness, European sovereignty, training talents for ecological and energy transition challenges, the deployment of AI in the economy etc.. With 800 participants, Les États de la France have welcomed the presence of leading political figures, including Emmanuel Macron, Bruno Le Maire, and Franck Riester. As a partner, CCSF members are invited. | | | Highlights from Previous Events | | | L'Union Européenne 2024-2029: Quelles Perspectives? - KREAB | | | The 20th of October, we had the pleasure of hosting a breakfast event in collaboration with our member, KREAB. The session offered a deep dive into the key priorities of the European Union for the upcoming period of 2024-2029, exploring the evolving dynamics of the new European Parliament, its political groups, and the implications for the EU’s work program and the future leadership of the European Commission. Our speakers, Hannalena Ivarsson, Senior Partner, Head of Energy and Environment at Kreab Brussels, and Cécile Huck, Director, Sustainability Practice shared invaluable insights on these crucial topics. In particular, on how sustainability is shaping the EU’s policy agenda and the role it will play in guiding decisions at the highest levels of governance. The event saw active engagement from the participants, who contributed to a lively and thought-provoking discussion. The exchange of ideas highlighted the importance of staying informed and connected as we collectively navigate the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead for Europe. We extend our sincere thanks to all who attended, and especially to our speakers, for their thoughtful contributions. Let’s continue this important conversation as we look to the future of Europe and its sustainable development goals. | | | News From the CCSF Community | | | Air France-KLM and SAS Sign Codeshare and Commercial Agreements, Expanding European Connectivity | |  | | Photo: TT NEWS AGENCY | | | Air France-KLM and Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) have signed new codeshare and interline agreements to enhance their commercial collaboration. Starting from September 1, 2024, this cooperation allows travel between the airlines’ respective hubs. Customers of Air France and KLM will gain access to 33 destinations in Northern Europe via SAS's hubs in Copenhagen, Oslo, and Stockholm, while SAS passengers will access 33 European destinations through Paris Charles de Gaulle and Amsterdam Schiphol. Additionally, SAS is set to join the SkyTeam alliance on the same date. These agreements are part of a broader strategy, with Air France-KLM also finalizing a 19.9% stake in SAS's capital, marking their entry into the Scandinavian market.
For more information, click here | | | Ericsson deliver a winning 5G performance in Paris | | | This summer, Ericsson provided seamless 5G connectivity to more than 10 million sports fans in Paris. Fans from around the world were able to easily stay informed of the latest results, watch live highlights, navigate the city, or share exciting sports moments without any issues. Behind the scenes, the teams worked tirelessly to make this seamless connectivity possible, with hundreds of engineers in France monitoring, optimizing, and maintaining the network. Watch the video to see how our the Ericsson teams collaborated to contribute to this event. | | | Bienvenue IKEA Paris Italie Deux | | | The 12th of September was the opening of the new IKEA store - IKEA Paris Italie Deux. Chambre de Commerce Suédoise en France - CCSF and the Ambassade de Suède en France attended and the ceremony included speeches from Johan Laurell, Président et Chief Sustainability Officer de IKEA France, Jesper Brodin, Président-Directeur général du groupe Ingka, Arslan ALI, Directeur des magasins parisiens IKEA and Jérôme Coumet, Maire du 13e de Paris.
Thank you IKEA for bringing a part of Sweden to Paris. Best of luck. | | | Sweden at the 2024 Olympics and Paralympics | | Photo: Ludvig Thunman/Bildbyrån Photo: Karl Nilsson Sweden had an outstanding showing at the 2024 Summer Olympics, winning a total of 4 gold, 4 silver, and 3 bronze medals - our best results since Sydney 2000. Notably, Jonatan Hellvig and David Åhman won gold in beach volleyball, while Tara Babulfath earned bronze in judo. Sarah Sjöström made history with two gold medals in swimming, bringing her total to six Olympic medals, solidifying her status as Sweden’s most successful swimmer. Armand Duplantis defended his Olympic title in athletics, and Sweden celebrated its first table tennis medals in 24 years. Truls Möregårdh with a silver medal in singels and together with Anton Källberg and Kristian Karlsson another silver medal in men's team. At the Paralympics, Sweden also excelled, securing 1 silver medal in shooting by Anna Benson, and 2 bronze medals from Anna Beck in cycling and Nicolina Pernheim in judo, showcasing the incredible talent and determination of our athletes. Congratulations to all our athletes for their incredible achievements! | | | VDL ANNOUNCES NEW COMMISSIONER-DESIGNATES FOR 2024-2029 | | | On 17 September, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen unveiled the 2024-2029 College of Commissioners as well as portfolios allocation. The 27 Commissioners include 11 women and 16 men, reflecting progress toward gender balance but still falling short of full equality. The Commissioners will lead the EU’s legislative and policy agenda for the next five years, tackling key areas like competition, climate change, digitalisation, economic recovery, and security. Further, the College will be structured in a more horizontal and top-heavy manner compared to the previous Commission. Von der Leyen has expanded the number of Executive Vice-Presidents (EVPs) from three to six, centralising leadership and emphasizing coordination and collegiality across portfolios. This shift seems to downplay the influence of individual Commissioners and reinforce the Commission President’s authority. However, overlaps between roles may lead to challenges in the practical division of responsibilities. The political orientation of the new team signals a shift to the right, with key figures from the European People’s Party (EPP) in influential roles. Valdis Dombrovskis (Latvia) will lead on economic governance, and Magnus Brunner (Austria) will handle migration, both portfolios reflecting a more conservative approach to fiscal and border policies. France’s Stéphane Séjourné (Prosperity and Industrial Strategy) and Spain’s Teresa Ribera (Clean, Just, and Competitive Transition) secured major portfolios, positioning their countries as key players in industrial and climate policy on paper. Meanwhile, the environment, agriculture, and climate portfolios went to conservative EPP members, indicating a focus on resilience and competitiveness. Sustainability remains central but will be tackled through various cross-cutting portfolios. Ribera and Séjourné will oversee the Clean Industrial Deal and the EU’s decarbonisation efforts, while Commissioners like Wopke Hoekstra (Climate, Net-Zero, and Clean Growth) and Jessika Roswall (Environment) will manage specific sectors. From an institutional perspective, coordination among these actors will be essential, though potential conflicts in vision between key figures are foreseeable. Next steps The 26 Commissioner-designates will undergo scrutiny by the European Parliament through written questions and public hearings in relevant committees. These hearings were initially planned for mid-October but may now be delayed until early November. MEPs will evaluate their performance and decide whether to endorse or reject nominees. Rejections are expected, which could delay the process, with Hungary’s Olivér Várhelyi being a likely contentious candidate. The new College of Commissioners is now expected to take office on 1 December 2024, with legislative proposals likely to follow shortly thereafter. | | | DRAGHI REPORT: ADDRESSING EU COMPETITIVENESS | | | On 9 September, former European Central Bank President Mario Draghi presented his report on “The Future of European Competitiveness” to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. Commissioned by the European Commission, the report aims to assess the current state of EU competitiveness and offer recommendations to reverse the trend of slowing growth and declining productivity, particularly when compared to the United States and China. The report is divided into two parts: Part A, which outlines a competitiveness strategy for Europe, and Part B, which provides in-depth analysis and detailed recommendations. Draghi highlights five main areas that need urgent attention: accelerating innovation, closing the skills gap, sustaining investment, revamping competition policy, and strengthening governance. Notably, the report points to a massive investment gap—nearly 5% of the EU’s GDP, or about €800 billion annually—that must be filled to meet the EU’s decarbonisation, digitalisation, and defence goals. One of the key elements of Draghi’s recommendations is the need to update the EU’s competition policy to better align with modern economic challenges, ensuring stronger rule enforcement, safeguarding innovation, and reducing regulatory burdens on EU companies. Draghi also underscores the importance of closing the skills gap and fostering a more innovation-friendly environment to boost productivity. While the report is non-binding, it is expected to influence the upcoming initiatives of the new European Commission. Specifically, Draghi’s findings will play a crucial role in shaping the Clean Industrial Deal, which is expected to be presented within the first 100 days of the new Commission’s mandate. The report also fed into the mission letters of future Commissioners, guiding the EU’s legislative agenda on competitiveness and sustainability. Next steps The European Parliament will discuss the Draghi report during its plenary session in late September. By the end of 2024, the new European Commission is expected to integrate the report’s recommendations into its legislative agenda, particularly for the Clean Industrial Deal. | | | ENERGY UNION 2024: PROGRESS AMID CHALLENGED AS EU RACES TOWARD 2030 | | | On 11 September 2024, the European Commission published the latest State of the Energy Union Report alongside a review of the Governance Regulation on the Energy Union and Climate Action. Both documents will be critical in shaping the new Commission’s energy and climate policies, particularly in meeting the EU's ambitious 2030 targets. The report highlights several key achievements: The EU has significantly reduced its reliance on Russian energy, with gas storage levels reaching 90% of capacity well ahead of schedule. This shift marks a major success in decoupling from Russian gas, following its share of the EU's imports dropping from 45% in 2021 to just 18% in 2024. In parallel, the EU has made strides in infrastructure development, adopting its first list of Projects of Common and Mutual Interest aimed at boosting cross-border energy networks. These efforts are further supported by the Grids Action Plan, which aims to enhance the expansion and digitalisation of the EU’s electricity grids. Renewable energy deployment is another area of progress. Between 2021 and 2023, the EU increased its wind and solar capacity by 36%, installing 56 GW of new solar capacity in 2023 alone. However, despite these advances, the report also notes some challenges. The EU is falling slightly short of its 2030 biogas and biomethane production targets, and while greenhouse gas emissions decreased by 2.5% in 2022, the pace of decarbonisation must accelerate, particularly in lagging sectors like buildings and transport. The review of the Governance Regulation found that while energy and climate planning has become more integrated and coherent, more effort is needed to meet energy efficiency targets, especially in the renovation of buildings and electrification of heating systems. Energy security has stabilised, but the EU still faces risks from climate change and cybersecurity threats. Next steps Looking ahead, the Commission will assess Member States’ updated National Energy and Climate Plans later this year. A collective progress report on meeting the 2030 goals is expected in early 2025, with potential legislative adjustments to follow if the current pace is deemed insufficient. | | | STRATEGIC DIALOGUE REPORT: THE FUTURE OF EU AGRICULTURE | | | The European Commission has published the final report from the Strategic Dialogue on the future of EU agriculture, chaired by Professor Strohschneider. The report provides a conceptual framework for future agrifood policies, focusing on sustainability, competitiveness, and resilience, rather than setting specific targets. It calls for new methods to assess the climate impact of agriculture, taking into account factors like greenhouse gas emissions, biodiversity, and soil health, to promote more sustainable farming practices. Key proposals include creating a strategic framework for decarbonised fertilisers and circular nutrient management, aimed at reducing reliance on mineral fertilisers and improving nutrient efficiency. The report also recommends establishing a European Board on Agri-Food (EBAF) to oversee a new system for benchmarking sustainability across the sector. In trade, the report urges a greater focus on sustainability in future negotiations and highlights the need for targeted socio-economic support for farmers as part of the next Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) reform. Next steps The Commission will present the "Vision for Agriculture and Food" roadmap in March 2025. This will inform the next MFF and CAP negotiations, with further developments expected into 2026. | | | GERMANY TIGHTENS BORDER CONTROLS: SCHENGEN UNDER PRESSURE | | | Germany has imposed tighter controls at its land borders in response to rising irregular migration, a move driven by national security concerns following a terrorist attack in August and growing far-right political pressure. This decision has raised concerns within the EU, as it potentially undermines the principles of the Schengen Area, which guarantees free movement across most EU Member States. Although temporary border controls can be justified under exceptional circumstances, critics, including Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, warn that this could erode the integrity of the Schengen system. Germany’s decision comes at a time when the EU is struggling to build consensus on migration policy reform, particularly with respect to the Dublin Regulation and the EU Migration Pact. The move could intensify existing divisions and add complexity to ongoing efforts to reform Europe’s approach to migration and border management. Next steps
In September 2024, the EU will hold consultations to discuss the impact of Germany’s actions on the Schengen Area. | | | Bruno Liljefors exposition at Petit Palais - La Suède sauvage | | | Poster: Petit Palais After two exhibitions dedicated to Carl Larsson (2014) and Anders Zorn (2017), the Petit Palais pays tribute to Bruno Liljefors and announces the final chapter of its program around the renowned Swedish trio "ABC," named after the initials of their first names. Bruno Liljefors remains a pivotal figure in late 19th-century Scandinavian art. By presenting his work to the French public for the first time, the Petit Palais aims to showcase Liljefors' artistic virtuosity and unique contribution to shaping the image of Swedish nature. This unprecedented exhibition will feature a collection of 100 works (paintings, drawings, and photographs) exclusively focused on Swedish nature and its wildlife. His style is defined by a masterful handling of light and atmosphere. His aesthetic explorations are heavily influenced by Japonism and East Asian art, as reflected in the arrangement of certain paintings within large golden frames, giving the works a decorative quality. At a time when biodiversity conservation has become a critical issue, Liljefors, beyond his role as a champion of Swedish nature, invites us to reflect on the broader living world to which we all belong. | | | | |
