Latest News Highlights in Sweden on Tuesday:
On the 25th anniversary of the Oresund Bridge, a symbol of unity linking Copenhagen and Malmö, Sweden and Denmark adopted a joint declaration to commemorate the milestone. The exact details of the declaration are not fully disclosed, but it emphasizes the bridge's importance as a key infrastructure fostering cross-border collaboration, mobility, and regional integration.
The "Bridge Run 2025" event, where over 40,000 runners crossed the bridge and tunnel, highlighted the unity and cooperation facilitated by the link. The declaration was presented by Sweden's Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson and Danish leadership on July 1, 2025, reinforcing the role of the bridge as a vital connection in the Nordic region.
Meanwhile, a series of vandalism incidents targeting filling stations in western Sweden have left at least one individual hospitalized. Police are investigating these incidents as acts of vandalism and causing bodily harm, appealing for tips from the public to help identify the perpetrator.
In a separate development, fixed mortgage rates in Sweden have been falling for the first time since January 2025. Fixed mortgage rates fell again in May, standing at an average of 2.99 percent for terms of one to five years. Variable mortgage rates are also falling, with the average rate at 3.06 percent in May. This is a significant shift in the Swedish housing market, as fixed-rate mortgages are a rarity compared to variable mortgages in the country.
The Swedish krona, the strongest out of the most traded currencies in the G10 group, has strengthened 16.74 percent against the US dollar this year, with 9.48 kronor buying one US dollar today. This strength is partly due to the depreciation of the US dollar against many other currencies. Similar trends are observed with the Swiss franc and euro, which have strengthened 13.55 percent and 13.24 percent against the US dollar this year, respectively.
As the Oresund Bridge celebrates its anniversary, over 100,000 single journeys are made across the bridge each day, with more than 22,000 cross-border workers commuting daily across the Oresund Bridge. The leaders of Sweden and Denmark, King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia, and King Frederik X and Queen Mary, will meet on the Swedish side of the bridge for the celebrations. They will travel across the bridge, passing through Peberholm island in the middle of the Oresund strait.
The new cross-border declaration by Sweden and Denmark aims to make it easier to live and work across the Swedish-Danish border, combat cross-border crime, and make the Oresund region more competitive. The declaration reflects the ongoing partnership and shared interests between the two countries. For more details about the declaration, official government releases from Sweden or Denmark dated around July 1, 2025, are recommended.
[1] https://www.oresundstunnel.com/en/the-bridge-run/ [2] https://www.thelocal.se/20250701/oresund-bridge-turns-25-as-sweden-and-denmark-celebrate-cross-border-tie [3] https://www.thelocal.se/20250701/sweden-and-denmark-adopt-cross-border-declaration-for-oresund-region [4] https://www.thelocal.se/20250702/vandalism-incidents-targeting-swedish-filling-stations-leave-one-hospitalized [5] https://www.thelocal.se/20250701/swedish-mortgage-rates-fall-for-first-time-since-2025-as-krona-strengthens
The new cross-border declaration, a joint effort by Sweden and Denmark, focuses on easing living and working conditions across their shared border, combating cross-border crime, and making the Oresund region more competitive. This declaration is part of the ongoing partnership and shared interests between the two nations.
Politics and policy-and-legislation are central to the cross-border declaration as it aims to foster regional integration and collaboration, aligning with the general news trend of strengthening ties between Sweden and Denmark.
