On the first of January and six months from now, it will be Sweden who holds the presidency of the EU. It is happening at the same time as a war is going on in Ukraine and EU member states are grappling with energy and economic crises.
“The war will decisively affect the entire Swedish presidency,” says Ulf Kristersson when he presents the government’s priorities for the presidency.
Exactly how it will affect and which issues will become urgent in the spring, no one knows.
“Sweden as the presiding country will be prepared to act quickly and resolutely,” says Kristersson.
For the good of all
The priorities concern four overarching areas: the EU’s external and internal security, climate and green transition, the EU’s competitiveness and democracy and the principles of the rule of law.
In a debate article in DN, Ulf Kristersson and EU Minister Jessika Roswall (M) write that one of the most difficult tasks will be to hold the union together in a time characterized by war and crisis.
As the chairing country, Sweden will have limited opportunities to pursue matters of its own heart. Instead, the chairing country is expected to work constructively for the interests of all member countries.
New sanctions
Nor can the presiding country decide which issues are to be pursued and decided upon. It is important to address the issues that are already on the EU’s table. At the moment there are many energy, climate and migration issues. But there are also ongoing discussions about new sanctions against Russia and different ways to support Ukraine.
The main task is to lead the work of the Council of Ministers, where the EU countries meet. Sweden will also lead the work in finding compromises with the EU Parliament, which also participates and decides on most issues.