In the European Union but outside the euro: Sweden keeps the krona and sends 21 members to Strasbourg

Background

Sweden's Riksdag has been examining European Commission proposals on energy and taxation, so its exact place in the European Union is worth stating. Sweden has been a member of the European Union since 1 January 1995. Its currency is the Swedish krona, abbreviated SEK, and it has not adopted the euro, though it has committed to adopt the euro once it fulfils the necessary conditions. Sweden has been a member of the Schengen area since 25 March 2001. There are 21 representatives from Sweden in the European Parliament. The capital is Stockholm, the official language is Swedish, and the country is a constitutional monarchy and parliamentary democracy with a single-chamber parliament of 349 members.