The Diplomat
As of yesterday, January 1, Sweden succeeds the Czech Republic and precedes Spain in the Presidency of the Council of the EU, whose priorities will be security -with special attention to Ukraine-, economic competitiveness, green and energy transition and the defense of democratic values and the rule of law.
“Security, competitiveness, green and energy transition, democratic values and the rule of law; these are the priorities of the Swedish Presidency of the Council of the European Union in the first half of 2023,” said Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson on December 14 during the presentation of the Swedish program to the Riksdag (Parliament).
“Sweden assumes the Presidency of the Council of the European Union at a time of historic challenges for the Member States and for the Union as a whole,” Kristersson continued. “Russia’s illegal, unacceptable and unprovoked invasion of Ukraine is a threat to European security, with dire consequences for migration, as well as for global food and energy supplies,” he said. “Our unity and readiness to act remain fundamental to the EU’s security, resilience and prosperity,” he added.
For all these reasons, as reported by the Stockholm Government, the first of the four priorities of the Swedish Presidency in the first half of 2023 will be security, which will include, on the one hand, the need to support Ukraine economically and militarily and to support Ukraine’s entry into the EU and, on the other hand, the creation of “a consensus towards a strong European security and defense policy to “counter Russian aggression towards Ukraine” and implement the Strategic Compass.
The second priority will be competitiveness, in order to boost economic growth to “meet our long-term challenges.” “The EU must continue to offer the best possible conditions for a strong and open economy based on free competition, private investment and successful digitalization,” the prime minister explained.
The ecological and energy transition is the third priority of the Swedish Presidency, to “tackle high and volatile energy prices while at the same time addressing long-term energy market reform.” “The Russian invasion of Ukraine has also made the phase-out of fossil fuels even more pressing,” and therefore “Sweden will prioritize efforts to accelerate the electrification of the EU,” Ulf Kristersson said. To that end, it is necessary to “continue negotiations for increased fossil fuel-free energy production” and to “replace Russian fossil energy with other low-carbon energy sources,” the chief executive continued. “At the same time, EU member states that wish to do so can continue to take responsibility by building new nuclear power plants,” he added.
The fourth priority is the defense of democratic values and the rule of law. “The European Union is based on democratic values, paving the way for cohesion, individual freedoms, non-discrimination, increased economic output and global influence,” the Swedish Presidency assured.
