It was not until mid-October that a new government took office in Stockholm, which can now devote itself to “historic challenges”. At the turn of the year, Sweden took over the presidency of the EU Council from the Czech Republic. The Scandinavian country will therefore play an important role as a leader and mediator in Brussels for the next six months.
Mainly due to the Russian offensive war against Ukraine and the persistently high energy prices, the Scandinavians are not facing an easy job – but also due to the fight against the climate crisis and the constant point of contention, migration.
“Sweden is taking over the Presidency of the Council at a time when the Union is facing historic challenges,” Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson stressed in mid-December. Sweden’s priorities should focus on “a greener, safer and freer Europe”. The focus here is on security, prosperity, democratic values and the rule of law.
Cooperation with right-wing populists
Kristersson and his cabinet are still relatively unknown faces on the EU stage. The Conservative government has only been in office for about two and a half months and has replaced the cabinet of Social Democrat Magdalena Andersson. As Sweden’s first ever head of government, Kristersson works closely with the right-wing populist Swedish Democrats, who have always been left out, on security and immigration issues.
Despite this supporting party’s EU skepticism, EU minister Jessika Roswall said her government “will make EU work a high priority”. It is in Sweden’s interest to keep the EU together and tackle problems that require common solutions.
applied for NATO membership
Sweden and neighboring Finland are the two northernmost countries of the EU. Following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the two countries decided to apply for NATO membership in May. 28 of the 30 NATO members have already ratified the proposals, only Turkey, which has so far blocked, and the EU country Hungary not yet.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
