This index compares EU/EEA/EFTA members for intra-European sourcing decisions. Scores reflect relative risk between member states from a Nordic buyer perspective.
weighted score 1.0 · seven dimensions
Intra-EU/EEA Sourcing Risk
Sweden
Governance, labour enforcement, regulatory gap, transparency, political risk, payment risk and logistics connectivity intelligence for Sweden as an intra-EU/EEA sourcing origin.
Governance & rule of law
1
TI CPI 82/100 (6th globally). 98th percentile Rule of Law. Best-in-class governance with negligible corruption risk.
Labour standards enforcement
1
All ILO fundamental conventions ratified. 90% collective bargaining coverage. The Swedish model delivers strong enforcement.
Regulatory enforcement gap
1
Excellent EU directive transposition record. Active market surveillance across product safety, chemicals, and environment.
Supply chain transparency
1
Open company registers, public tax records, and beneficial ownership disclosure. Nordic-standard transparency.
Political & EU-integration risk
1
EU member since 1995, NATO since 2024. Full single market integration. No policy divergence risk.
Payment & insolvency risk
1
27-day average B2B payment terms. AAA sovereign rating. Excellent payment discipline and insolvency resolution.
Logistics & Nordic connectivity
1
LPI 6th globally. Gothenburg is the largest Nordic port. Same-day delivery across the Nordic region.
Governance & Rule of Law
Governance & Rule of Law
- TI CPI 2024
- Sweden scores 82/100 on the Transparency International Corruption Perceptions Index (2024), ranking 6th globally. Consistently among the least corrupt countries worldwide.
- World Bank WGI
- Sweden ranks in the 98th percentile for Rule of Law and 97th percentile for Government Effectiveness in World Bank Worldwide Governance Indicators.
- Judicial independence
- Fully independent judiciary with strong constitutional protections. Swedish courts are well-resourced and efficient. Contract enforcement is reliable and predictable.
- Buyer implication
- Best-in-class governance. Sweden's institutional quality matches Finland and Denmark as the Nordic reference standard for sourcing decisions.
Labour Standards Enforcement
Labour Standards Enforcement
- ILO conventions
- Sweden has ratified all eight ILO fundamental conventions. The Swedish Work Environment Authority (Arbetsmiljöverket) conducts active workplace inspections.
- Collective bargaining
- Approximately 90% of workers are covered by collective agreements. The Swedish model relies on strong social partner self-regulation rather than statutory minimum wages.
- Posted workers
- Sweden enforces the EU Posted Workers Directive through Lex Laval framework. Foreign service providers must comply with Swedish collective agreement terms.
- Buyer implication
- Reference-level labour enforcement. The Swedish model of social partner self-regulation delivers strong worker protections without creating compliance complexity for buyers.
Regulatory Enforcement Gap
Regulatory Enforcement Gap
- EU transposition
- Sweden has an excellent record of timely EU directive transposition. The government proactively implements EU regulations, with very few infringement proceedings.
- Product safety
- The Swedish Market Surveillance Board and sector-specific agencies (Elsäkerhetsverket, Kemikalieinspektionen) actively enforce product safety, CE marking, and REACH.
- Environmental compliance
- Sweden is a leader in environmental regulation enforcement. The Swedish Environmental Protection Agency (Naturvårdsverket) maintains comprehensive oversight.
- Buyer implication
- No regulatory enforcement gap. Swedish suppliers operate under robust enforcement that meets or exceeds EU baseline standards.
Supply Chain Transparency
Supply Chain Transparency
- Beneficial ownership
- Bolagsverket (Swedish Companies Registration Office) provides publicly accessible company and ownership data. Beneficial ownership registers are well-maintained.
- Financial reporting
- Annual reports are publicly filed and accessible. Listed companies follow IFRS. Strong audit culture with Big Four presence across major sectors.
- Tax transparency
- Sweden shares the Nordic tradition of tax transparency. Tax records are publicly accessible. Country-by-country reporting requirements for large multinationals.
- Buyer implication
- Best-in-class transparency comparable to Finland. Full visibility into supplier ownership, financial health, and compliance history.
Political & EU-Integration Risk
Political & EU-Integration Risk
- EU membership
- Sweden has been an EU member since 1995. Full single market access. Sweden is outside the eurozone (uses SEK) but this does not affect trade-relevant acquis compliance.
- Political stability
- Stable parliamentary democracy. While coalition dynamics have shifted, cross-party consensus on EU membership and Western alignment is strong.
- NATO membership
- Sweden joined NATO in March 2024, completing Nordic NATO integration and removing a historical uncertainty in Swedish security policy.
- Buyer implication
- No EU-integration risk. Sweden is fully embedded in EU regulatory architecture. The SEK/EUR currency difference is manageable and well-hedged in Nordic trade.
Payment & Insolvency Risk
Payment & Insolvency Risk
- Payment culture
- According to the Intrum European Payment Report 2024, Sweden has average B2B payment terms of 27 days, among the shortest in Europe. Strong payment discipline.
- Insolvency framework
- Sweden's insolvency framework provides efficient resolution. The Kronofogden (Swedish Enforcement Authority) ensures effective debt recovery and enforcement.
- Credit risk
- Sovereign credit rating AAA (S&P) / Aaa (Moody's). One of the highest-rated sovereigns globally. Robust banking system under Finansinspektionen oversight.
- Buyer implication
- Minimal payment and insolvency risk. Swedish suppliers are reliable counterparties with excellent payment culture and strong institutional support.
Logistics & Nordic Connectivity
Logistics & Nordic Connectivity
- LPI ranking
- Sweden ranks 6th globally in the World Bank Logistics Performance Index (LPI 2023). Excellent customs efficiency, infrastructure quality, and shipment tracking.
- Nordic connectivity
- Central Nordic location with excellent road, rail, and ferry connections to Finland (via ferries), Denmark (Öresund Bridge), and Norway. Extensive domestic rail freight network.
- Port infrastructure
- Major ports at Gothenburg (largest Nordic port), Stockholm, and Malmö. Year-round operations with ice-class capability in northern ports.
- Lead times to Nordics
- Same-day to next-day delivery across the Nordic region. Gothenburg is the primary gateway for transatlantic container freight serving all Nordic markets.