Stockholm, Sweden – May 30, 2025
Minister for Social Services Camilla Waltersson Grönvall and Minister for Older People and Social Security Anna Tenje recently concluded a two-day visit to Lviv, Ukraine, where they participated in the Social Policy Summit, a ministerial conference co-hosted by Sweden and three other European countries. The summit aimed to strengthen social policy cooperation between participating countries, with a focus on supporting Ukraine’s long-term development.
During their trip, Ms Waltersson Grönvall and Ms Tenje engaged in discussions with Ukrainian ministers and experts, reaffirming Sweden’s commitment to providing comprehensive support for the country’s welfare system. This includes measures such as strengthening Ukraine’s social services infrastructure and enhancing support for children and young people.
The summit provided a platform for exchanging experiences and knowledge on social policy, with a focus on deinstitutionalisation and care initiatives. Sweden’s National Board of Health and Welfare was allocated SEK 70 million to facilitate government agency support to Ukraine in the social and healthcare sectors.
In conjunction with the conference, Ms Tenje announced plans to review conditions for expanding Sweden’s cooperation with Ukraine on social policy to incorporate care of older people. The Government has tasked the National Board of Health and Welfare with conducting a preliminary study to investigate the conditions for enhancing support to Ukraine.
The visit also included visits to various organisations providing social services and care of older people, such as the Superhumans Veteran Centre in Lviv, which specializes in prosthetics, reconstructive surgery, rehabilitation, and psychological support. The ministers also inaugurated a Resilience Centre in Lviv, co-financed by Sweden, inspired by the Swedish model for family centres.
This year’s Social Policy Summit marks the second time the conference has been held in Ukraine, following the inaugural event in Kyiv in 2024. The summit aimed to further Ukraine’s progress towards compliance with EU legislation, including deinstitutionalisation measures and support initiatives for children and their families.
Sweden’s commitment to supporting Ukraine’s welfare system is a key part of its efforts to contribute to EU integration. By providing comprehensive support, Sweden aims to enhance Ukraine’s resilience and progress towards EU membership.
Key Takeaways
- Sweden reaffirms its commitment to supporting Ukraine’s long-term development through measures such as strengthening its welfare system.
- The Social Policy Summit co-hosted by Sweden provided a platform for exchanging experiences and knowledge on social policy, with a focus on deinstitutionalisation and care initiatives.
- Sweden plans to review conditions for expanding cooperation with Ukraine on social policy to incorporate care of older people.
This article will be updated as more information becomes available.