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| CCSF offers a unique office space for rent in the centre of Paris |
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A unique opportunity in the heart of the business district in Paris.
The Business Center of the Swedish Chamber of Commerce in France (CCSF) is offering a 17m² office with three workstations for rent, located just steps from the Champs-Élysées with a breathtaking view of the Eiffel Tower from our rooftop terrace.
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| Scholarships 2025 - Apply for a one-year traineeship at CCSF in Paris |
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Do you have the ambition to work with Swedish business abroad? Are you interested in French-Swedish trade relations? And getting access to a unique network within French-Swedish-European companies?
In collaboration with the Scholarship Fund for Swedish Youth Abroad and SFS - Stiftelsen Svensk-Franska Språkfonden, CCSF is offering two one-year traineeships starting in the fall of 2025.
The purpose with these two partnerships is to give the opportunity to Swedish young talents to gain practical experience in French business culture, language and communication.
Note that the last day to apply is the 25th of April.
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Why is Ericsson France a member of the CCSF? |
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Christian Leon, CEO of Ericsson France and Board Member CCSF, shares why being a part of the Chamber is essential for Ericsson:
- Strengthening connections with the Swedish business ecosystem in France
- Fostering intercultural exchanges and ways of working
- Supporting the growth of Swedish business activities in France
Watch the full video to hear it directly from him. |
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| Prix d'Excellence - are you the 2025 winner? |
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Are you a Swedish company in France that takes pride in its success in the French market? Send us your application and give your company the chance to win the Prix d'Excellence 2025.
The Prix d'Excellence is a prestigious award presented by the Swedish Chamber of Commerce in France to Swedish companies for their exceptional success on the French market.
The aim of this company award is to stimulate interest in cross-community business activities, create strong French-Swedish partnerships, promote and raise awareness of its potential, thus contributing to the trade development between the two countries. Furthermore this award aims to raise awareness and promote Sweden and Swedish industry in France.
The award ceremony is scheduled for the 1st of December 2025 during the event French-Swedish Business Day in Paris, which is dedicated to companies from the French-Swedish business world, their clients, partners, and colleagues. The event will be held in the presence of leading economic and political personalities from the two countries. It is a unique opportunity to foster your business relations and to promote your success and know-how. This year, we will also celebrate the Chambers 110 years anniversary. |
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The Champagne Baronna has been in the Baronna family for over 150 years. As a revival, the estate now has a French-Swedish collaboration through Swedish investments and the continuing local French production and know-how.
Champagne Baronna comes from the champagne House Domaine Baronna. Their expert winemaker carefully tends to Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier, and Chardonnay vines on the slopes of Moussy, near Épernay, ensuring top-quality champagne.
Our members will have the possibility to taste this "French-Swedish" Champagne on the 13th of May at the Rooftop Terrace Mingle. |
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| Gudrun Sjödén - Swedish design with a colourful soul |
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Gudrun Sjödén is a niched and unique design and lifestyle brand. They focus on design and nordic inspiration with elements from all corners of the world.
Their clothes, accessories and homeware products are colourful with artistic designs, possible to combine whatever the season or year, suitable for all ages and body shapes.
They have stores in the Nordic countries, Germany , UK and US and soon in France.
The brand Gudrun Sjödén was founded 1974 by the designer Gudrun Sjödén herself. It’s privately owned, with a Head Quarter in Stockholm. |
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| Stureplansgruppen & Le Cagnard - Exceptional Hospitality with Swedish Excellence |
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Stureplansgruppen, a leading name in Swedish hospitality, are introducing the charming property, Le Cagnard, to the members of CCSF. Perched on the picturesque hills of Haut-de-Cagnes, Le Cagnard is a historic boutique hotel that dates back to the 13th century. Known for its enchanting views of the Mediterranean Sea and its timeless elegance, the property has hosted countless guests seeking a refined and serene getaway. As part of Stureplansgruppen, Le Cagnard is a testament to the commitment to providing unique, high-quality experiences. With a blend of Swedish excellence in service with French charm, offering guests a truly memorable stay. |
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| SEARL Laurent Verdes Avocat |
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Laurent Verdes is a partner at the firm 23 Bosquet, with expertise in banking and finance law (financing, regulatory matters, bank liability), corporate law (M&A, private equity, corporate restructuring), labour law, and new technologies. Before joining the firm, he worked as a corporate legal counsel at Deutsche Bank (Jersey – UK), at the Special Affairs Department of the Comptoir des Entrepreneurs, and in the international legal department of Natixis. He also practiced at the law firms Jeantet Associés and Norden. He holds a Master’s degree in Business Law from the University of Rennes 1 and a postgraduate degree (DESS) in Legal and Financial Engineering from the Institut de Gestion de Rennes. |
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| Nathalie Saurin - Avocat Directrice Associée |
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Nathalie Saurin is a lawyer and associate director in corporate law in the Mediterranean region at the law firm FIDAL AVOCATS, an independent business law firm. The firm operates in all areas of business law: corporate law, tax law, labor law, contract law, intellectual property, estate law, etc. Of French-Swedish origin, Nathalie also hold a doctorate degree (J.D) from Paris I Panthéon-Sorbonne on cross-border mergers of companies within the EU, with a comparison between French law and the law of Scandinavian countries. Nathalie is joining the chamber in the category "Entrepreneur". |
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Private and Young Professionals |
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Private members - Frank Besson, Associate Partner, Valtus
- Björn Henriksson, CEO, Valtus
- Per Nordström, Consultant, Advantage Nordstrom plc
- Carl Lööf, Head of Growth & Partnerships, Pertimm
Young Professional members- Simon Koser, Chief Product Officer, Tzafon, Inc
- Leah Deriba, Marketing & Communications, Freelance
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| 1st of April 18h30 - Insights in Business & Leadership - Responsible Business and Gender Equality for the Industry of Tomorrow |
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Helena Hedblom is the President and CEO of Epiroc, a Swedish company in the mining industry, that plays a crucial role in advancing solutions to the challenges posed by climate change. With the growing demand for critical metals, the sector is central to the development of renewable energy systems.
As the demand rises for these resources, this industry is also focusing on attracting young, diverse talents to help drive innovation. How does a company like Epiroc, in a male-dominated sector, work to embrace diversity and to attract more women?
Event co-organised by CCSF, Embassy of Sweden and SWEA Professional Paris.
At CCSF. |
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| 3rd of April 18h30 - Young Professionals: After work - Leadership of the future |
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What should young people keep in mind to become good leaders in the future? What will be expected of leaders in the future? What qualities should a good leader have?
These are some of the questions today's Young Professionals asks themselves.
We have invited Pär Lindbäck, Country Manager H&M Hennes & Mauritz / France, Belgium & Luxembourg and Board Member, CCSF to help us navigate through the landscape of the leadership of tomorrow.
At CCSF. |
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| 8th of April 11h00 - Webinar: European Leaders Talk |
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Join us for “European Leaders Talk,” a 2025 webinar series organised by Swedish Chambers International featuring top business leaders discussing key economic and geopolitical trends. Our first guest, Fredrik Persson, President of BusinessEurope, will provide insights on the future of Europe’s competitiveness, BusinessEurope’s key priorities and initiatives, and the impact of the U.S. elections and the new administration on European business. Previously, Fredrik was President of the Confederation of Swedish Enterprise (2017–2022), and currently chairs Ellevio AB, JM AB, and ICC Sweden, while serving on boards such as Holmen and ICA Group. He has extensive experience from Axel Johnson Group, ABB Financial Services, and Aros Securities. The conference will be moderated by Daniella Waldfogel, President, Swedish Chambers International and CEO, Stockholm Chamber of Commerce with expertise in public affairs and policy advocacy from roles at JKL, the European Parliament, and the Ministry for Foreign Affairs. |
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May 9th 14:00 (CET) - Webinar Europe Fika – Celebrating International Europe Day |
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Have you ever wondered who the other members of the Swedish Chambers in Europe are?
In today’s rapidly changing world, fostering strong European connections is more important than ever. On May 9th, you have the opportunity to virtually connect with fellow members of the Swedish Chambers Internationals network as we come together to celebrate International Europe Day!
And what better way to honor unity, friendship, and collaboration than by embracing a cherished Swedish tradition – fika?
Sign-Up Deadline: To receive a fika box, please register by April 15th. Spontaneous registrations are welcome until May 9th, and all members are invited to join the virtual fika session. |
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| 13th of May 18h30 - CCSF Rooftop Terrace Mingle |
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Join us for this years Rooftop Terrace Mingle.
A networking event where our new and current members can connect. New members will get an introduction and be able to present themselves to the rest of the network.
You will also have the chance to taste the champagne from our new member Champagne Baronna.
For members only.
At CCSF. |
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| 3rd of June 17h00 Presentation of the Business Climate Survey France 2025 |
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Team Sweden in France is happy to invite you to a presentation of the Business Climate Survey France 2025. The report and ensuing discussions will provide insights about the economic outlook, key facts about the market and Swedish company performances in France. Opening by H.E. Håkan Åkesson, Ambassador of Sweden to France. Introduction by Gîta Paterson, President, Swedish Chamber of Commerce in France. Presentation of results by Annika Stål, Trade and Investment Commissioner & Country Manager France, Business Sweden. The presentations will be followed by a panel with company leaders.
More information and registration coming soon.
At CCSF. |
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| 12th of June 18h30 - Young Professionals: After work - Sustainable Leadership |
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The world is constantly evolving and we are in need for new sustainable leaders.
At the seminar, we explore how leaders can drive positive change, build resilient teams, and shape a more sustainable future.
Whether you're a current leader or an aspiring one, this is an opportunity to gain insights, share experiences, and be inspired. Let’s lead with purpose.
Guest speaker: Annika Mohr-Storfält, Global Sustainability Director, Balenciaga.
At CCSF. |
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| 19th of June 11h00-14h30 110th Annual meeting of CCSF and networking lunch |
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In the presence of H.E. Håkan Åkesson, Ambassador of Sweden to France. Guests of honour Pascal Cagni, Chairman of the Board, Business France and France Ambassador for International Investments and H.E. Thierry Carlier, new Ambassador of France to Sweden, former Deputy General Manager DGA.
At the Embassy of Sweden.
More information and registration coming soon. |
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| 6-7th of November - Le Leadership Suédois et le Management Franco-Suédois |
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Professional training in intercultural management to help optimise your French-Swedish business communication.
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.
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| 1st of December - French-Swedish Business Day III |
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The event is organised by CCSF in close collaboration with Team Sweden and Team France. The day features a high-level conference - French-Swedish Business Summit, French-Swedish Tech & Innovation Exhibition, and the Networking Evening - Soirée Franco-Suédoise with the Prix d'Excellence Award Ceremony. The event will take placce on December 1st at Pavillion Vendôme, former "Banque de Suède et de Paris".
More information about partnership possibilities and tickets will be available soon. |
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Highlights from Previous Events |
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| Reception by the Ambassador of Sweden to France |
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The 13th of March H.E Håkan Åkesson, Ambassador of Sweden to France held a networking reception for the CCSF members at his residence.
The evening was filled with enjoyable and great conversations within the the French-Swedish business community. |
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On the 18th of March we hosted a business breakfast together with our premium member KREAB.
The topic was the European Clean Industrial Deal and focused on how it aims to balance competitiveness and industrial decarbonisation, with key insights into its implications for industry, including energy supply, pricing, financing, raw material security, and overall competitiveness.
A special thank you to our speaker Cécile Huck from KREAB Brussels for valuable expertise on this crucial topic. |
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News from the business community |
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evroc boosts Europe’s competitiveness with first AI factory in France |
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 | evroc Founder and CEO Mattias Åström. Photo: n24 |
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CCSF Member and Swedish startup evroc has secured €50.6 million ($55 million) in Series A funding to establish a sovereign European hyperscale cloud platform. This initiative aligns with increasing calls for an independent EU tech infrastructure, reducing reliance on non-European providers. evroc plans to build eight data centers by 2028, with facilities already operating in Stockholm. evroc boosts Europe’s competitiveness with first AI factory in France, pioneering next-generation hyperscale cloud and critical AI infrastructure. evroc, announced on the occasion of AI Summit in Paris, a landmark initiative to build its first AI factory in Mougins, France, strengthening Europe’s position in AI. Designed from the ground up to power large-scale AI workloads, the 96 MW data center will maintain industry-leading sustainability standards. Construction is expected to be completed in 2025, and capacity will be built in phases. AI built from the ground up Unlike legacy providers, evroc integrates AI at every layer – from data center operations and hardware orchestration to developer tools and applications – ensuring next-generation performance, energy efficiency, and developer productivity. AI-driven optimisations also help minimise environmental impact, including novel approaches to cooling, resource allocation, and heat reuse. “We see France as a central hub for AI research and innovation,” says Mattias Åstrom, evroc founder and CEO. “Our new data center in Mougins represents both a critical infrastructure investment and a commitment to local technology and talent. By building the European cloud, we’re opening new frontiers for Europe’s AI ecosystem.” Expanding in France To further support French and European markets, evroc plans to secure two additional 100+ MW sites in France during 2025 – key steps in establishing the European hyperscale cloud. evroc will also expand its existing Sophia Antipolis development office with a dedicated AI team, strengthening local R&D capabilities in AI, cloud engineering, and data center operations
To read more, click here |
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EDF and Volvo Trucks France join forces for more sustainable road transport |
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Photo: Linkedin
EDF and Volvo Trucks France have signed a partnership to accelerate the electrification of heavy transport in France. Through the Energy Savings Certificates (CEE) program, transporters can receive a subsidy covering up to 25% of the cost for purchasing or leasing a Volvo electric truck. - Simplified Process – EDF experts support Volvo Trucks customers in securing CEE subsidies with full transparency and direct payment.
- Financial Benefits – Negotiated conditions provide stable and attractive funding, independent of market fluctuations. With transport accounting for 30% of greenhouse gas emissions in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, this initiative supports the government's push for sustainable transport solutions. EDF leverages its expertise in financing and charging infrastructure to drive the transition. |
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Alfa Laval Enters Exclusive Negotiations to Acquire Fives Cryogenics for €800 million |
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 | | Photo: Alfa Laval |
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Swedish engineering firm Alfa Laval, a Stockholm-listed leader in heat transfer, separation, and fluid handling technologies, is in exclusive negotiations to acquire the French cryogenics company Fives Cryogenics, a subsidiary of the Fives Group. With over 700 employees across France, China, Switzerland, and the United States, Fives Cryogenics reported €200 million in revenue in 2024. The company specialises in cold boxes, heat exchangers, and cryogenic pumps. The deal is subject to regulatory approvals and is expected to be finalised in the second half of 2025. |
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| Thierry Carlier, the new Ambassador of France to Sweden |
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Photo: Linkedin
Thierry Carlier officially became the new French Ambassador to Sweden on March 24. Prior to his appointment, he served as Deputy General Manager at the Directorate General of Armaments (DGA).
He succeeds Étienne Le Harivel de Gonneville, who left Stockholm last August. Since then, Diane Doucerain has been acting as Chargée d’Affaires during the seven-month interim period.
One of Carlier’s key missions will be to continue strengthening the growing ties between Paris and Stockholm, particularly in the defense industry. The bilateral strategic innovation partnership, renewed during the French President's state visit to Sweden in January 2024, also constitutes a solid foundation of cooperation to strengthen French-Swedish relations in all areas.
CCSF welcomes His Exellency to the French-Swedish community and look forward to future collaborations. |
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Business leaders from 28 countries took part in Join Sweden Summit, the Swedish Government’s investment conference |
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 | | Photo: Magnus Liljegren/Government Offices |
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On February 19, 2025, Stockholm hosted the Join Sweden Summit, an international investment conference organised by the Swedish Government. The event attracted over 600 participants, including leading companies, investors, and decision makers from 28 countries, marking a new attendance record.
Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson emphasised Sweden's commitment to free trade and international collaboration, highlighting the mutual benefits of Swedish exports for both global climate efforts and domestic society. Minister for Energy, Business and Industry, Ebba Busch, underscored Sweden's position as an innovation leader, offering fossil-free electricity, world-class expertise, and a cooperative investment climate. Minister for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade, Benjamin Dousa, noted that foreign investments currently provide employment for approximately 800 000 people in Sweden, with expectations for an additional 3 000 jobs in the next two years.
The summit aimed to strengthen Sweden's global competitiveness and attract strategic investments, particularly in the green and digital sectors, aligning with the government's strategy for trade, investment, and global competitiveness. |
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Forum d'Affaires Nordiques 2025 in Paris |
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In the presence of the Ambassadors of the Nordic countries, Business France hosted the Forum d’Affaires Nordiques in Paris, bringing together industry leaders to explore opportunities in Norway, Finland, Sweden, Iceland, and Denmark. The event focused on the Nordic countries' leadership in the green transition, economic sovereignty, and sustainable consumer trends. Key discussions covered green industry development, digitalisation, and market strategies, with insights from major companies like EDF, SAAB, IKEA, Ericsson and Electrolux. The forum reinforced the Nordics countries role as innovation hubs and prime markets for sustainable business growth. |
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Team Sweden Tech was present at the Hello Tomorrow Global Summit in Paris |
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 | | Photo: Vinnova |
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On March 13-14, Europe’s leading deep tech players gathered in Paris for the Hello Tomorrow Global Summit. Team Sweden Tech was there to give Swedish deep tech companies a unique opportunity to network on the international stage. "We are here to mobilise and highlight Sweden’s innovative deep tech ecosystem. By coordinating a joint Swedish pavilion and marketing efforts, we create a platform for Swedish startups and scaleups to gain visibility,” says Moa Persdotter, Head of the Deeptech Acceleration Program at Vinnova, Sweden's innovation agency. 11 Swedish deep tech companies participated through Team Sweden Tech. |
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Strong Swedish and Nordic participation in the Summit for Action on Artificial Intelligence in Paris |
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 | | Photo: elysee.fr |
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23 Swedish companies and 40 Nordic companies were present in Paris on February 10 and 11 for the Summit for Action on Artificial Intelligence, organised by President Macron. Among the Swedish companies were notably Astra Zeneca, SEB, Stegra, evroc, King, Klarna, Normain, Scaleout, Spotify, Vizu Health, ZenseAct, and Sigma Technology. Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, along with Jacob Wallenberg, President of Investor AB, attended the dinner and the special session for Heads of State and Government. In addition to the EU and the African Union Commission, 62 countries - including Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland, and Iceland - signed the Global Declaration for Inclusive and Sustainable Artificial Intelligence. |
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| France remained resilient in 2024 to foreign investors in an uncertain global environment |
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 | | Photo: Business France |
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Business France is now able to present the main figures of the “2024 Annual Report: Foreign Investment in France”, which will be made public on April 1, 2025.
The major trends in the 2024 Annual Report illustrate the resilience and economic attractiveness of France, against a global environment marked by uncertainty and decline. With 1,688 investment decisions from foreign businesses, France continues to attract the interest and confidence of investors, thanks to its key strengths and its potential for innovation.
After two record years in 2022 and 2023, these results place 2024 at a higher level than the pre-Covid years. The 7% decrease on last year’s numbers compares favorably with figures from UNCTAD, which saw a 10% decrease in new foreign direct investment projects in developed countries in 2024. One of the key findings from the summary of the 2024 Annual Report is that investment decisions are set to create or maintain 37 747 jobs.
The reduction in the number of jobs created is largely due to an adjustment in the temporary employment market, one of the leading variables for adjustment during periods of economic slowdown.
Read the full report here |
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| Deep tech fundraising in France triples in 5 years. |
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Photo: La French Tech
France's deep tech fundraising soared from €1.5 billion in 2019 to €4.1 billion in 2023, making it #1 in the EU and #4 globally (after the U.S., China, and the U.K.). The Directorate General for Enterprises released a report on scaling up deeptech, highlighting the success of the Deeptech Plan and outlining strategies to direct €30 billion in funding and boost breakthrough technology adoption. The French Tech 2030 program, in partnership with Bpifrance, supports deep tech startups in health, AI, agritech, and green tech. A new national deep tech strategy is expected by summer following interministerial consultations. |
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| French-Swedish service trade surpasses 100 billion SEK (€9 billion) for the first time |
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Trade in services between France and Sweden has continued to grow in recent years, reaching €9.9 billion (109.2 billion SEK) in 2024, up from €8.9 billion in 2023. This figure is more than double that of 2020 (€4.3 billion). According to the Swedish Statistics Office (SCB), Swedish service exports to France rose to €5.5 billion (+15% vs. 2023), while imports from France reached €4.4 billion (+6%), resulting in a French bilateral service trade deficit of approximately €1 billion.
Source: SER Stockholm |
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| THE COMMISSION PRESENTED THE FIRST AND SECOND OMNIBUS PACKAGES |
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On 26 February, following a plea by the European business community, the Commission presented its anticipated first Omnibus package, targeting a range of sustainability reporting and due diligence rules. The package notably puts forth amendments to the substance of key enabling legislations for the EU’s Green Deal, namely the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD). The proposal also suggests delaying their implementation and amends the EU’s so-called carbon import tax - Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) by exempting 90% of EU importers of iron, steel, aluminium, fertilisers and cement below a 50 tonnes mass-based threshold. Despite the far-reaching amendments introduced by the Omnibus, the Commission’s narrative remains committed to the Green Deal’s climate objectives. The CSRD and CS3D amendments push back the CSRD’s first reporting requirement to 2028 and postpone CS3D compliance to July 2028, with a one-year delay in transposition and application. Additionally, the scope of the CSRD is significantly reduced, now only applying to large companies with more than 1,000 employees and either a turnover above €50 million or a balance sheet total above €25 million, resulting in excluding 80% of the companies initially covered. To prevent excessive reporting demands on smaller businesses in the supply chain, the Commission intends to introduce a voluntary sustainability reporting standard (VSME), which will limit the information that large companies can request from smaller value chain partners with fewer than 1,000 employees. The CSDDD has also been streamlined, with significant modifications aimed at reducing compliance burdens. The deadline for transposition has been postponed by one year to July 2027, with the first phase of due diligence obligations applying from July 2028. Other key changes include relaxing due diligence requirements for indirect business partners, reducing the frequency of mandatory impact assessments from every year to every five years, and removing the obligation to terminate business relationships as a last resort measure. Alongside the first Omnibus package, the Commission presented its second Omnibus package, labelled the Investment Simplification Omnibus. Similarly to the first package, this second proposal falls under the Commission’s simplification agenda and thus aims to streamline and optimise access for stakeholders to public investment programmes such as the InvestEU fund. To note, InvestEU is the EU’s main facility to mobilise public funding and crowd in private investments towards the EU’s strategic sectors. Aside from reducing administrative burdens linked to the programmes, specifically for SMEs, the new package suggests providing an additional €50 billion to the fund, to boost its capacity.
Next Steps
The legislative package will be examined by the European Parliament and the Council, with inter-institutional negotiations expected in the coming months. By the end of 2025, the Commission will present a legislative proposal aiming to: (i) address carbon leakage for CBAM goods exported from the EU to third countries, (ii) extend the scope of the current CBAM to certain downstream goods of iron, steel, aluminium, fertilisers, cement, electricity and hydrogen, in order to avoid carbon leakage being pushed further down the value chain, and (iii) propose anti-circumvention measures. |
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| CLEAN INDUSTRIAL DEAL SETS OUT COMMISSION’S COMPETITIVE DECARBONISATION VISION |
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On 26 February, the Commission outlined its new vision for the EU’s growth and competitiveness trajectory in the Clean Industrial Deal, which was presented alongside the Affordable Energy Action Plan, a new strategy to address the persistent challenge of high energy costs for industries and households. Overall, the initiative lays out measures supporting energy-intensive industries in their transition and boosting clean manufacturing in the continent, by unlocking private and public investments. Notably, these include a new Industrial Decarbonisation Bank aiming for 100 billion euros in funding and reviewing the state aid measures for decarbonisation and clean tech projects. The CID is structured around four key pillars: · Demand: Introducing revised public procurement rules with “EU-made” criteria to boost clean product uptake. · Costs: Reducing energy prices through long-term Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs), supported by an EIB pilot project (€500 million). · Financing: Mobilising over €100 billion in financial support, including a €100 billion Industrial Decarbonisation Bank leveraging ETS revenues, InvestEU, and Member State contributions. · Imports: Enhancing joint raw material purchasing policies to ensure a stable and cost-effective supply for key industries. The Commission has also pledged to accelerate permitting procedures under the Industrial Decarbonisation Accelerator Act, addressing key bottlenecks for clean tech projects. Meanwhile, the Circular Economy Act, set for Q4 2026, will create leading markets for secondary raw materials. The implementation of the CID will happen across sectors through specific plans, such as the Industrial Action Plan for the Automotive Sector, the Steel and Metal Action Plan and the Chemicals Industry package. The Industrial Action Plan for the Automotive Sector On 5 March, the European Commission presented its Communication on an Industrial Action Plan for the European automotive Sector, which includes a targeted amendment of the CO₂ emission performance standards for cars and vans to allow OEMs to compensate overshooting the 2025 emissions target with overachievements of previous years, by extending the reporting period from 1 to 3 years. In addition, the European Commission will accelerate the review of the legislation on CO₂ emission performance standards for cars and vans, which could open the door to a review clause to the end of the combustion engine initially set in 2035.
The Industrial Action Plan for the Steel and Metal Sector On 19 March, the European Commission presented its Communication on an Industrial Plan for Steel and Metal. It entails measures to (i) ensure access to clean and affordable energy, (ii) prevent carbon leakage, (iii) strengthen European industrial capacities, (iv) promote circularity for metals, (v) defend quality industrial jobs, and (vi) de-risk projects through lead markets and public support. Launch of Strategic Dialogue with the Chemicals Industry The European Commission announced the launch of a strategic dialogue on the future of the chemicals industry meant to take place on 25 March, with upcoming measures expected to recognise the sector as strategically vital, and support the modernisation effort and the transition towards low carbon in a way to boost chemicals production and competitiveness in the EU. Next Steps The Chemicals Industry Package is set to be published in Q4 2025, and the Circular Economy Act in Q4 2026. The Industrial Decarbonisation Bank should kickstart in Q2 2026. |
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| VON DER LEYEN ANNOUNCES REARM EUROPE PLAN TO BOOST DEFENCE SPENDING |
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On 4 March, in response to increasing geopolitical uncertainties and concerns around the commitment of the new U.S. administration to European security, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen introduced the ReArm Europe plan, subsequently endorsed by EU leaders during a special European Council meeting dedicated to defence. The plan aims to foster the build-out of EU’s defence capabilities, putting forward measures that the Commission estimates could unlock up to €800 billion in military funding over a number of years. These include a dedicated €150 billion pool of EU funds, as well as tweaking the EU’s fiscal rules to enable Member States to increase their defence spending without breaching fiscal sustainability requirements. During the week, leaders such as President Macron went even further on their commitments to European defence, by suggesting expanding France’s nuclear protection to the whole EU. Next Steps The Commission will propose its initiatives to the Council and the European Parliament. |
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| TRUMP ANNOUNCES INCOMING 25% TARIFFS ON ALL EU IMPORTS, FOCUSING ON CAR SECTOR |
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On 1 March, U.S. President Donald Trump announced a 25% tariff on all steel and aluminium imports, including certain products containing these materials, affecting exports from the EU and other trading partners. The tariffs, which came into effect on 12 March, have been strongly condemned by the European Commission as unjustified and harmful. In response, the Commission announced on 12 March that it will impose countermeasures targeting €26 billion worth of US exports, mirroring the financial impact of the US measures. The EU’s response will follow a two-step approach. Effective 1 April, legacy EU retaliatory tariffs from the first Trump administration, will automatically be reinstated impacting around €8 billion in US goods. Additionally, by mid-April, the European Commission intends to introduce further measures covering an additional €18 billion of US products, with a stakeholder consultation underway to determine their scope. While the EU remains open to resolving the escalating trade war through negotiations with the Trump administration, the US does not seem willing to take such offer. For instance, responding to the EU’s actions, Trump has threatened additional tariffs on European goods such as champagne. Next Steps The EU retaliatory tariffs targeting €8 billion in US goods will be effective on 1 April, while measures covering an additional €18 billion of US products will be introduced in mid-April. |
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| Visit the Swedish Institute's two new exhibitions from 28th of March |
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Exposition
Barbro Östlihn (1930-1995). Stockholm – New York – Paris28.03.2025 – 20.07.2025 |
Exposition
Keep Smiling! L'univers imprimé de Pontus Hultén28.03.2025 – 21.09.2025 |
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Photo: Institut Suédois
Standing at the crossroads between the American and European avant-gardes, Barbro Östlihn developed a unique painterly idiom that stands apart from established artistic movements. Only at the turn of the Millennium did the work of this prolific painter, who was married to a famous artist, gain the attention it so richly deserves. This is the first retrospective of Barbro Östlihn’s work in France. |
Photo: Institut Suédois
At the helm of several major artistic institutions worldwide, Pontus Hultén (1924–2006) revolutionised the art world and its role in society. This exhibition showcases around a hundred graphic works created under his direction, reflecting a playful, free-spirited, and profoundly inventive anarchism. |
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