Sweden takes over the EU presidency in crisis mode – DW – 2023-01-01
As for the rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union, Sweden’s new minority government of the Moderates, Christian Democrats and Liberals, which is dependent on support from the far-right Sweden Democrats, continues where the Czech government left off. Russia’s war against Ukraine, its effects on security and energy supply for the whole of Europe, and the strengthening of the EU’s military capabilities and supply chains will be the overarching issues for Sweden’s six months at the head of the Council of the European Union. Stockholm will hold approximately 1,500 meetings with various EU bodies and spend countless hours negotiating compromises between the 27 member states, the European Commission and the European Parliament.
Sweden’s Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said the war in Ukraine would have decisive effects on his country’s leadership of the Council of the European Union.
“In some respects, we know exactly what these will be: maintaining European unity in our support for Ukraine; expanding economic, humanitarian and military assistance to Ukraine; continuing to mobilize countries and resources for Ukraine’s reconstruction; protecting international law; demanding accountability ; and closely monitor Ukraine’s progress as a candidate country, Kristersson told Swedish lawmakers in December. “Other than that, we have no idea what repercussions it will have. What happens a year after the invasion? Later in the spring or summer of 2023? During its presidency, Sweden will be prepared to act quickly and resolutely. “
EU skeptics support
The war in Ukraine will overshadow other issues, including climate change, migration policy and accession negotiations with Western Balkan states. On these other issues, Kristersson, who won power after September’s parliamentary election, will have little support from his unpopular partners in the far-right Sweden Democrats.
The Sweden Democrats led by Jimmie Åkesson received 20% of the vote in September’s election but did not become part of the government coalition. Akesson has denied climate change, pursued an anti-migration policy and demonized the European Union as the root of all evil. This policy makes the Sweden Democrats natural allies of other right-wing nationalist parties, including those currently in power in Hungary and Italy.
Kristersson said Sweden would protect the rule of law in all EU member states, adding that measures taken against Hungary and Poland would be pushed forward “moderately”. The Sweden Democrats have rejected the sanctions imposed on Hungary, which include withholding EU funds until the country implements measures to protect the rule of law and fight corruption.
The Green Party’s dissent
Jacop Dalunde, a member of the EU Parliament whose Environmental Party is in Sweden’s opposition, expressed his doubts about the government’s plans for its presidency.
– That Kristersson still claims that he and his government will be able to contribute to the protection of the rule of law at the same time as they are dependent on the Sweden Democrats is both naive and extremely worrying, says Dalunde to the Euractiv news site.
The Swedish government also plans to make progress in economic matters. Kristersson said that the European car industry deserves support in the transition to electric vehicles. He also called for a reduced dependence on Asian suppliers and spare parts manufacturers.
“European Semiconductor Ecosystem”
Kristersson said he would not accept the subsidies Washington has said it will pay to American automakers.
“During its presidency, Sweden will therefore lead the continued work on a European semiconductor ecosystem,” he told lawmakers. “This sounds technical – and it is. But it is also absolutely necessary if we are to electrify our entire vehicle fleet.”
Despite all the plans Kristersson has announced, Sweden’s government faces enough political problems at home that it will not be particularly optimistic when it takes over the presidency of the Council of the European Union in January.
Organized crime is growing
Although Sweden is perceived abroad as a peaceful and harmonious society, organized crime has become a problem for the country, Kristersson said in a gloomy Christmas speech. In 2022, there were 378 shootings that killed 60 people and injured 104 in mid-December, according to Swedish police statistics. Meanwhile, there were only four such deaths in Denmark and Norway and two in Finland.
As many people will be shot in 2022 in Södertälje, a city of around 72,000 people outside Stockholm, as in the whole of London during the year, Kristersson said. Most of the shootings involved young people, usually with a migrant background, shooting at people in other organized gangs, Kristersson said. Concerns about security and the high number of murders have made the far-right Sweden Democrats more popular.
In addition to leading the Council of Europe in 2023, Sweden will see its national security policy move forward. Turkey still blocks Sweden and Finland from joining NATO because of expressed concerns about Kurdish “terrorists” in the countries. Sweden has made certain concessions regarding the extradition of terror suspects to Turkey. But Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said at the end of December that the measures taken by Sweden’s government do not go far enough. But without giving a specific date, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said Sweden could join the alliance in 2023.
This article was originally written in German.