2026-06-092025/26:UU10 · p.3UUForeign affairs
Sanctions
The EU's sanctions against Russia, China and Israel
What's at stake: The decision affects how effectively economic pressure on Russia is maintained, including against the shadow fleet that circumvents oil sanctions, and how Sweden acts on human-rights violations in China and the Israel-Palestine conflict. It concerns which concrete measures - such as prosecutions and inter-agency cooperation - are prioritised.
Case texts and AI reasoning are AI-translated from the Swedish originals; the Swedish text is authoritative.
What the vote decides
The question is how far Sweden and the EU should go in tightening and enforcing compliance with sanctions against Russia, China and Israel, or whether the current work within EU cooperation and inter-agency coordination is sufficient.
Yes Yes — the committee proposal
The committee welcomes the government working for increased pressure on Russia through more effective measures against the shadow fleet, stresses that combating sanctions evasion requires close cooperation between authorities and ongoing dialogue with the European Commission, maintains that unified EU action is crucial for sanctions against China, and welcomes the EU foreign ministers' agreement on targeted sanctions against Israeli settlers without taking a position on more detailed measures against Israel.
No No — the reservations
Reservation 7 (S)
The reservation (S) wants the government to bring together the relevant authorities and industry and transport representatives to tighten enforcement of the sanctions against Russia, act so that sanctions evasion is detected earlier and punished more severely, and push within the EU to cut Russia's revenue from fossil-fuel exports and for continued targeted measures against the shadow fleet.
Summarised from the committee report. Party labels in the summary come from the report, not from the vote.
What do the votes mean here?
Yes The committee proposal: rejecting the motions (keeping things as they are).
No Backing the counter-proposal: reservation 7 by S.
Abstain The party marks a position of its own that is not one of the two final alternatives.
The decision would have gone the other way
Explicit commitments that contradicted the vote: LLiberalerna, SDSverigedemokraterna
Ja 172–107Nej 88–191
Counterfactual: the parties above are moved to the position their own documents explicitly point at, carrying their whole contingent present. Every other party keeps its real figures, including dissenters and absentees.
How the AI parties would have voted
For each party: what its own plan – election manifesto and party programme – argues for in this case, next to how the party actually voted. The AI can only answer Yes or No; a party can also abstain.
| AI | Vote | Confidence | Evidence | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| V | No | Abstain 0/0/20/1 | differs | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| S | No | No 0/106/0/0 | match | confidence: high | derived |
| MP | No | Abstain 0/0/18/0 | differs | confidence: medium | derived |
| C | No | Abstain 0/0/23/1 | differs | confidence: high | explicit |
| L | No | Yes 16/0/0/0 | differsagainst own programme | confidence: high | explicit |
| KD | No | Yes 18/0/0/1 | differs | confidence: medium | derived |
| M | No | Yes 65/0/0/1 | differs | confidence: medium | derived |
| SD | No | Yes 68/0/0/2 | differsagainst own programme | confidence: high | explicit |
Committee proposal
The Riksdag rejects the motions 2025/26:2369 by Håkan Svenneling et al. (V) item 7, 2025/26:2831 by Elisabeth Thand Ringqvist et al. (C) item 40, 2025/26:3411 by Jacob Risberg et al. (MP) items 14 and 34, 2025/26:3593 by Fredrik Olovsson et al. (S) item 35, 2025/26:3623 by Morgan Johansson et al. (S) items 5 and 6, 2025/26:3729 by Kerstin Lundgren et al. (C) item 39 and 2025/26:3988 by Håkan Svenneling et al. (V) items 25, 26 and 28.
Original (Swedish)
Riksdagen avslår motionerna 2025/26:2369 av Håkan Svenneling m.fl. (V) yrkande 7, 2025/26:2831 av Elisabeth Thand Ringqvist m.fl. (C) yrkande 40, 2025/26:3411 av Jacob Risberg m.fl. (MP) yrkandena 14 och 34, 2025/26:3593 av Fredrik Olovsson m.fl. (S) yrkande 35, 2025/26:3623 av Morgan Johansson m.fl. (S) yrkandena 5 och 6, 2025/26:3729 av Kerstin Lundgren m.fl. (C) yrkande 39 och 2025/26:3988 av Håkan Svenneling m.fl. (V) yrkandena 25, 26 och 28.
Riksdag decision: The Government has submitted a communication on EU activities during 2025. The communication addresses decisions and events in the union and reports on the breadth of union issues based on the work in the various Council formations. In the communication, the Government describes how European security has been challenged by an unstable neighbourhood, hybrid threats and a global context in which the rules-based international order is being questioned. The Riksdag believes, as before, that it is central to Sweden's security and stability in the world that the rules-based international order is maintained. During the year, Sweden has been a driving force behind the EU imposing additional sanctions against Russia and Belarus due to Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The Riksdag welcomes the Government's efforts to increase pressure on Russia. The enlargement process in the union has also made progress during 2025. The Riksdag believes an enlargement is important for peace, stability and prosperity in Europe. But an enlargement is only possible if the process is perceived as legitimate and has broad support among the member states. Furthermore, the Riksdag believes that respect for the EU's common fundamental values – democracy, the rule of law, human rights and international law – is one of the union's foremost assets that must be guaranteed. The Riksdag placed the communication on file, that is, closed the matter.
Counter-proposals
- The counter-proposal wants to implement a gradual EU enlargement with phased access for candidate countries. (S) — Reservation 7
Plan vs actual vote
Every party, in chamber order: what its own plan pointed to, how it voted, and the reasoning behind both. Highlighted rows are where the two differ — but a vote that follows the plan is a result too, so the reasoning is there for every party.
The plan wants to prohibit weapons exports to states waging wars of aggression and establishes that international law needs to be defended, which in substance supports stricter enforcement of sanctions against Russia and measures against the shadow fleet.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan wants to prohibit weapons exports to states waging wars of aggression and establishes that international law needs to be defended, which in substance supports stricter enforcement of sanctions against Russia and measures against the shadow fleet. The plan also wants to see effective monitoring of organised economic crime, which supports the requirement that circumvention be detected earlier and punished more severely. The committee's reasoning about complexity and the need for coordinated EU action is not addressed by the plan.
Original (Swedish)
Planen vill förbjuda vapenexport till stater som för angreppskrig och slår fast att folkrätten behöver försvaras, vilket i sak stöder skärpt upprätthållande av sanktionerna mot Ryssland och åtgärder mot skuggflottan. Planen vill också se effektiv uppföljning av organiserad ekonomisk brottslighet, vilket bär kravet på att kringgående upptäcks tidigare och straffas hårdare. Utskottets skäl om komplexitet och behovet av enhetligt EU-agerande berörs inte av planen.
- no support for wars of aggressiondecisive»förbjuda vapenexport till diktaturer, stater som för angreppskrig och« (party programme ↗)“prohibit weapons exports to dictatorships, states waging wars of aggression and”
- defend international law»Folkrätten behöver försvaras och« (party programme ↗)“International law needs to be defended and”
- effective monitoring of economic crime»Det behövs en effektiv uppföljning av den organiserade« (party programme ↗)“There is a need for effective monitoring of the organised”
- non-military pressure measures»Vänsterpartiet anser att Sverige ska vara en röst för fred och rättvisa, inte för ökad militarisering.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Left Party considers that Sweden shall be a voice for peace and justice, not for increased militarisation.”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
The plan states that Sweden in all circumstances must stand up against Russia's invasion war and wants to see a more powerful joint foreign and security policy in the EU to defend international law.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan states that Sweden in all circumstances must stand up against Russia's invasion war and wants to see a more powerful joint foreign and security policy in the EU to defend international law. It also wants to stop dependence on fossil fuels from other countries. Tightened enforcement of sanctions, stricter penalties for circumvention and action against the shadow fleet thus follow from the plan.
Original (Swedish)
Planen slår fast att Sverige i alla lägen ska stå upp mot det ryska invasionskriget och vill se en mer kraftfull gemensam utrikes- och säkerhetspolitik i EU till försvar för folkrätten. Den vill dessutom stoppa beroendet av fossila bränslen från andra länder. Skärpt upprätthållande av sanktionerna, hårdare straff för kringgående och åtgärder mot skuggflottan följer därför av planen.
- pressure on Russiadecisive»Sverige måste i alla lägen stå upp för Ukraina och mot det ryska invasionskriget.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Sweden must in all circumstances stand up for Ukraine and against Russia's invasion war.”
- unified EU action»Mer kraftfull gemensam utrikes- och säkerhetspolitik för EU« (party programme ↗)“More powerful joint foreign and security policy for the EU”
- cut off fossil fuel income»Stopp för svenskt beroende av fossila bränslen från andra länder.« (party programme ↗)“Stop Swedish dependence on fossil fuels from other countries.”
- international law defended»Försvar för folkrätten och en regelbaserad världsordning.« (party programme ↗)“Defence of international law and a rules-based world order.”
The plan states that Sweden should help countries that have been attacked in violation of international law and work for increased accountability for crimes against international law, and describes Russia's war against Ukraine as illegal.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan states that Sweden should help countries that have been attacked in violation of international law and work for increased accountability for crimes against international law, and describes Russia's war against Ukraine as illegal. Stricter enforcement of sanctions and cut-off Russian fossil revenues follow from that, as does the plan's line that Sweden and the EU should become less dependent on imported energy.
Original (Swedish)
Planen slår fast att Sverige ska hjälpa länder som angripits i strid med folkrätten och verka för ökat ansvarsutkrävande för folkrättsbrott, och beskriver Rysslands krig mot Ukraina som olagligt. Skärpt upprätthållande av sanktionerna och strypta ryska fossilintäkter följer av det, liksom av planens linje att Sverige och EU ska bli mindre beroende av importerad energi.
- support to attacked countriesdecisive»Miljöpartiet vill att Sverige hjälper länder som har blivit angripna i strid med folkrätten.« (party programme ↗)“The Green Party wants Sweden to help countries that have been attacked in violation of international law.”
- accountability for crimes against international law»Sveriges ska stödja de internationella domstolarna och verka för att öka ansvarsutkrävandet för brott mot folkrätten.« (party programme ↗)“Sweden should support the international courts and work to increase accountability for crimes against international law.”
- reduced dependence on Russian energy»Putins invasion av Ukraina visar tydligt hur viktigt det är att Sverige och EU blir mindre beroende av att importera energi.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Putin's invasion of Ukraine clearly shows how important it is that Sweden and the EU become less dependent on importing energy.”
- illegal war of aggression»Efter Rysslands fullskaliga och olagliga anfallskrig mot Ukraina har den säkerhets- och försvarspolitiska situationen i vårt närområde försämrats kraftigt.« (party programme ↗)“After Russia's full-scale and illegal war of aggression against Ukraine, the security and defence policy situation in our region has deteriorated significantly.”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
The election manifesto explicitly requires that Putin's war chest be cut off and that all energy trade with Russia be stopped.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The election manifesto explicitly requires that Putin's war chest be cut off and that all energy trade with Russia be stopped. The counter-proposal's requirement for stricter enforcement of sanctions, tougher penalties for circumvention and EU pressure to cut off Russia's fossil revenues is the same commitment. The plan also describes Russia's war of aggression as a threat to all of Europe's security.
Original (Swedish)
Valmanifestet kräver uttryckligen att Putins krigskassa stryps och att all energihandel med Ryssland stoppas. Motförslagets krav på skärpt upprätthållande av sanktionerna, hårdare straff för kringgående och EU-tryck för att strypa Rysslands fossilintäkter är samma åtagande. Planen beskriver dessutom Rysslands anfallskrig som ett hot mot hela Europas säkerhet.
- cut off Russia's war chestdecisive»Stryp Putins krigskassa nu. Vi vill stoppa all energihandel med Ryssland och fasa ut fossila bränslen.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Cut off Putin's war chest now. We want to stop all energy trade with Russia and phase out fossil fuels.”
- resist Russia's war of aggression»Ibland förs kampen med vapen, som i fallet med Rysslands anfallskrig, som hotar Ukrainas överlevnad och hela Europas säkerhet.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Sometimes the struggle is waged with weapons, as in the case of Russia's war of aggression, which threatens Ukraine's survival and all of Europe's security.”
- energy independence from Russia»Sveriges energioberoende måste stärkas, bland annat genom att mångdubbla produktionen av biobränslen och biogas.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Sweden's energy independence must be strengthened, among other things by multiplying the production of biofuels and biogas.”
The stance rests on the quoted commitment in the party's own documents; the actual vote deviated. Click the quote to verify it in the document.
The plan explicitly requires that Sweden is driving for as comprehensive a sanctions regime against Russia as possible, and that coal and gas use in Europe is phased out according to a timetable.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan explicitly requires that Sweden is driving for as comprehensive a sanctions regime against Russia as possible, and that coal and gas use in Europe is phased out according to a timetable. The counter-proposal's demands for strengthened enforcement, harsher penalties for circumvention and choked Russian fossil revenues is precisely this. The plan also sees energy dependence on undemocratic regimes as a security policy issue.
Original (Swedish)
Planen kräver uttryckligen att Sverige är pådrivande för en så heltäckande sanktionsregim mot Ryssland som möjligt, och att kol- och gasanvändningen i Europa avvecklas enligt en tidssatt plan. Motförslagets krav på skärpt upprätthållande, hårdare straff för kringgående och strypta ryska fossilintäkter är just detta. Planen ser dessutom energiberoendet av odemokratiska regimer som en säkerhetspolitisk fråga.
- comprehensive sanctions regimedecisive»Sverige ska vara pådrivande för att så breda globala koalitioner som möjligt bygger ut en så heltäckande sanktionsregim mot Ryssland som möjligt.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Sweden shall be driving for as broad global coalitions as possible to build out as comprehensive a sanctions regime against Russia as possible.”
- choke Russian fossil revenues»Det finns två problem med rysk gas: att det är gas och att den är rysk. Det brådskar att få på plats en tidssatt plan för att fullt ut avveckla kol- och gasanvändningen i Europa.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“There are two problems with Russian gas: that it is gas and that it is Russian. It is urgent to put in place a timetable for completely phasing out coal and gas use in Europe.”
- energy dependence as security issue»Många fria stater är beroende av odemokratiska regimer för sin energiförsörjning. Att bryta behovet av olja och gas är inte endast en miljöfråga utan i högsta grad en säkerhetspolitisk fråga.« (party programme ↗)“Many free states are dependent on undemocratic regimes for their energy supply. Breaking the need for oil and gas is not only an environmental issue but definitely a security policy issue.”
- wholehearted support for Ukraine»Sverige ska helhjärtat stödja Ukraina i att Rysslands oprovocerade anfallskrig måste sluta i fullständig rysk militär reträtt.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Sweden shall wholeheartedly support Ukraine so that Russia's unprovoked war of invasion must end in complete Russian military withdrawal.”
The stance rests on the quoted commitment in the party's own documents; the actual vote deviated. Click the quote to verify it in the document.
The plan establishes that aggression should never be rewarded and that offensive war is not ethically defensible, and it explicitly designates boycotts and sanctions as tools when other means are insufficient.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan establishes that aggression should never be rewarded and that offensive war is not ethically defensible, and it explicitly designates boycotts and sanctions as tools when other means are insufficient. Stricter enforcement of sanctions, tougher penalties for circumvention and measures against fossil fuel revenues follow from this. The plan's demand for phasing out fossil fuels points in the same direction.
Original (Swedish)
Planen slår fast att aggression aldrig får löna sig och att offensivt krig inte är etiskt försvarbart, och den anvisar uttryckligen bojkott och sanktioner som verktyg när andra medel inte räcker. Skärpt upprätthållande av sanktionerna, hårdare straff för kringgående och åtgärder mot fossilintäkterna följer av det. Planens krav på utfasning av fossila bränslen pekar åt samma håll.
- aggression should not be rewardeddecisive»Aggression får aldrig löna sig och ingen har rätt, i en attityd av passiv neutralitet, att överge människor som utsätts för krigshandlingar.« (party programme ↗)“Aggression should never be rewarded and no one has the right, in an attitude of passive neutrality, to abandon people subjected to acts of war.”
- sanctions as a tool»Som en sista utväg kan bojkott och sanktioner bli aktuella.« (party programme ↗)“As a last resort, boycotts and sanctions may become relevant.”
- condemnation of aggressive war»Aggression och offensivt krig är inte etiskt försvarbart.« (party programme ↗)“Aggression and offensive war are not ethically defensible.”
- reduced fossil fuel dependence»Fossilbränslena måste fasas ut från såväl energi- som transportsektorn.« (party programme ↗)“Fossil fuels must be phased out from both the energy and transport sectors.”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
The plan describes Russia's invasion as the most serious security policy crisis in Europe since World War II and promises that Sweden shall wholeheartedly stand up for Ukraine.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan describes Russia's invasion as the most serious security policy crisis in Europe since World War II and promises that Sweden shall wholeheartedly stand up for Ukraine. Sharpened enforcement of sanctions and harsher penalties for circumvention follow from that commitment. The plan also wants to strengthen customs with powerful authorities and holds firm that Western democracies should not be able to be played off against each other.
Original (Swedish)
Planen beskriver Rysslands invasion som den allvarligaste säkerhetspolitiska krisen i Europa sedan andra världskriget och lovar att Sverige helhjärtat ska stå upp för Ukraina. Skärpt upprätthållande av sanktionerna och hårdare straff för kringgående följer av det åtagandet. Planen vill dessutom stärka tullen med kraftfulla befogenheter och håller fast vid att västliga demokratier inte ska kunna spelas ut mot varandra.
- wholehearted support for Ukrainedecisive»Sverige ska helhjärtat stå upp för Ukraina, även med fortsatta vapenleveranser.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Sweden shall wholeheartedly stand up for Ukraine, even with continued weapons deliveries.”
- Russia as main threat»Rysslands invasion av Ukraina har skapat den allvarligaste säkerhetspolitiska krisen i Europa sedan andra världskriget.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Russia's invasion of Ukraine has created the most serious security policy crisis in Europe since World War II.”
- stronger customs and border control»Stärka tullen med mer resurser och kraftfulla befogenheter för att stoppa stöldligor och vapensmugglare« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Strengthen customs with more resources and powerful authorities to stop theft gangs and arms smugglers”
- unity against authoritarian states»Stora auktoritära länder ska inte kunna spela ut enskilda små västerländska demokratier mot varandra.« (party programme ↗)“Large authoritarian countries should not be able to play off individual small Western democracies against each other.”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
The plan explicitly states that Sweden should work for clear sanctions against Russia and other countries with negative development.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan explicitly states that Sweden should work for clear sanctions against Russia and other countries with negative development. The counter-proposal's demands for tightened enforcement of sanctions, harsher penalties for evasion and measures against shadow fleets are a direct application of that commitment. The plan also wants to strengthen Sweden for the deteriorated security situation and reduce dependence on energy imports.
Original (Swedish)
Planen säger uttryckligen att Sverige bör verka för tydliga sanktioner mot Ryssland och andra länder med negativ utveckling. Motförslagets krav på skärpt upprätthållande av sanktionerna, hårdare straff för kringgående och åtgärder mot skuggflottan är en direkt tillämpning av det åtagandet. Planen vill också rusta Sverige för det försämrade säkerhetsläget och minska beroendet av energiimport.
- sanctions against Russiadecisive»Sverige bör verka för tydliga sanktioner mot Turkiet, Belarus, Ryssland och andra länder med en negativ utveckling.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Sweden should work for clear sanctions against Turkey, Belarus, Russia and other countries with negative development.”
- tightened security situation»Rusta Sverige inför en ny säkerhetspolitisk situation i vårt närområde« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Strengthen Sweden for a new geopolitical security situation in our neighbourhood”
- counter Russian advances»En tydlig Arktispolitik ska tas fram som hindrar ryska och kinesiska framflyttningar och bejakar svenska ekonomiska intressen.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“A clear Arctic policy should be developed that prevents Russian and Chinese advances and affirms Swedish economic interests.”
- reduced energy dependence»Minska beroendet av energiimport« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Reduce dependence on energy imports”
The stance rests on the quoted commitment in the party's own documents; the actual vote deviated. Click the quote to verify it in the document.
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Sources and documents
- The committee report on riksdagen.se (2025/26:UU10)
- Committee report full text (HD01UU10)
- Per-MP voting data (API)
- Case status (API)
Documents under consideration
- Motion 2024/25:1431 — Vissa Asienfrågor av Markus Wiechel m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2024/25:388 — Uigurernas situation i Kina av Björn Söder och Markus Wiechel (båda SD)
- Motion 2025/26:2003 — Stöd till Moldaviens europeiska väg av Magnus Berntsson (KD)
- Motion 2025/26:2369 — Kina av Håkan Svenneling m.fl. (V)
- Motion 2025/26:2379 — Ett system för att synliggöra kringgående av internationella sanktioner av Markus Wiechel (SD)
- Motion 2025/26:2776 — Västafrika och Västsahara av Håkan Svenneling m.fl. (V)
- Motion 2025/26:2800 — Belarus av Markus Wiechel (SD)
- Motion 2025/26:2818 — En svensk utvecklings- och biståndspolitik för rättvisa, jämställdhet och hållbar utveckling av Nooshi Dadgostar m.fl. (V)
- Motion 2025/26:2831 — En näringspolitik för tillväxt i hela landet av Elisabeth Thand Ringqvist m.fl. (C)
- Motion 2025/26:292 — EU:s avtal med och finansiering av Kubas regim av Björn Söder och Markus Wiechel (båda SD)
- Motion 2025/26:3411 — Kina - mänskliga rättigheter, miljö och geopolitik av Jacob Risberg m.fl. (MP)
- Motion 2025/26:3570 — Bistånd i en ny världsordning av Anna Lasses m.fl. (C)
- Motion 2025/26:3593 — Utgiftsområde 24 Näringsliv av Fredrik Olovsson m.fl. (S)
- Motion 2025/26:3622 — Utgiftsområde 7 Internationellt bistånd av Morgan Johansson m.fl. (S)
- Motion 2025/26:3623 — Internationell samverkan av Morgan Johansson m.fl. (S)
- Motion 2025/26:3724 — Förbud mot kärnvapen och utträde ur NATO av Daniel Riazat (-)
- Motion 2025/26:3729 — Internationellt samarbete i en utmanande tid av Kerstin Lundgren m.fl. (C)
- Motion 2025/26:3795 — Klassificering av Kuba som statlig sponsor av terrorism av Markus Wiechel (SD)
- Motion 2025/26:3988 — med anledning av skr. 2025/26:115 Verksamheten i Europeiska unionen under 2025 av Håkan Svenneling m.fl. (V)
- Motion 2025/26:404 — Konfliktmineraler och deras offer av Gudrun Brunegård (KD)
Source: The Swedish Parliament