The Swedish Presidency of the Council of the EU is around the corner – What does Sweden want to achieve and what can we expect?

At the turn of the year, Sweden will take over the six-month rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union. Institutional and legislative responsibility is shouldered at a time characterised by war and economic crisis.

The Swedish Precidency Program

The presidency program, including the planning of the work of the Council, was presented by the Swedish Prime minister on 14 December 2022. While an EU presidency always entails the opportunity to set – rather than just shape the agenda – there are limits for the scope for own initiatives for Sweden this time. Naturally the emphasis will be on security and the EU’s role in the world, the energy crisis and the climate transition. These immense topics will be addressed from many angles including European competitiveness and democracy. The 2023 Presidency also takes place at the end of the current mandate of the European Commission and the European Parliament, which means that the agenda is full of legislative acts to be finalized.

The European Union is facing historic challenges. Russia’s illegal and unacceptable invasion of Ukraine poses a threat to European security and entails very serious consequences for both migration as well as for global food and energy supplies. A successful EU is also a Swedish interest. Swedish security, competitiveness and ability to cope with the green transition depend on a united Europe. The main priorities for the Swedish Presidency are security, competitiveness, green and energy transition, democratic values and the rule of law.

Consensus on the EU’s external and internal security
No issue is as crucial as maintaining the EU unity both in terms of enhanced support for Ukraine and sanctions against the Russian regime. It is also a question of deepening, on the basis of the new geopolitical situation, political support for countries in the EU’s neighbourhood.

Green transition
Sweden will need to be prepared for further emergency measures to deal with the energy crisis. Climate change is one of the major cross-border problems of our time and the EU is one of the world’s most important climate policy actors. The EU is also Sweden’s most important climate policy platform; it is not through national special solutions that we achieve results. Therefore, it is fundamental for Sweden to create good conditions for the green transition.

European competitiveness
A competitive economy is a prerequisite for both the green transition and for the EU to tackle the current war-crisis and to be prepared for future crises. The EU needs to implement new reforms that strengthen Europe’s competitiveness. Today, many companies and industries lack good conditions in order to invest and grow in Europe. It is a result of the fact that the EU for a long time has deprioritised competitiveness in favour of complex regulations.

Democracy and the rule of law
Europe’s geopolitical situation has changed fundamentally and the need for unity has never been greater. The European Union is founded on democratic values, which pave the way for cohesion, individual freedoms, non-discrimination, increased economic production and global influence. Upholding the rule of law and fundamental rights is therefore essential for the Swedish Presidency.

A large number of meetings will take place during the Presidency. Important legislative acts will be adapted during this time. Please read our article here on what to expect and look out for interesting updates on the blog during the next six months.