Report from the meeting of the European Political Community on October 6 and the informal meeting of the European Council on October 7

Statsministern Magdalena Andersson (S)

Reporting from the meeting of the European Political Community on 6 October and the informal meeting of the European Council on 7 October

Madam Speaker! Last Friday of last week, the European Council met at an informal meeting in Prague. The day before, on Thursday, a meeting was held in the so-called European Political Community. Both the meeting in the new format and the meeting in the European Council were entirely characterized by Russia's war against Ukraine and its consequences.

It was the first time we met in the new constellation of the European political community, and my impression was that it is a positive way to meet. There is an added value in meeting in a broader circle of European leaders and, in this broad format, being able to discuss today's challenges, which affect all of us in Europe, and how they can best be met. There is also a clear symbolic value in meeting in a broad circle to discuss Russia's war against Ukraine, which was also an important point of the meeting.

Madam Speaker! The EU leaders had also, before the meeting in Prague, reacted forcefully and jointly against Russia's illegal annexation of four more Ukrainian regions. The discussions in Prague also showed our unity and our determination regarding the approach towards Russia: We shall continue to support Ukraine economically, politically and militarily. Recently, an eighth sanctions package was adopted in light of Russia's escalation, and there is also a readiness to take further measures in various areas.

I also had the opportunity to inform my colleagues about the status of the investigation regarding the likely sabotage against Nord Stream 1 and 2. It is a very serious incident, and there was great interest among my colleagues regarding the facts surrounding what has happened and what is happening in the Swedish investigation. What occurred also breathes life into the important discussion on protection of critical infrastructure and the European energy supply.

Madam Speaker! Soaring energy prices were also high on the agenda. It is something that is high on all EU leaders' agendas right now. We see an uncertain situation with increased inflation, and it creates increased economic difficulties all around Europe for households, companies, and states. We were, however, very much in agreement not to let Putin's energy war divide the cohesion we have or diminish our determination to continue supporting Ukraine.

With that said, the situation is very worrying. This winter, most of the EU's households and companies will pay significantly more for both heating and electricity, and both households and companies face major challenges. But people and companies should, of course, not be left to their fate, and many countries, just like Sweden, have taken measures to counteract the effects of the extreme electricity prices caused by Russia's manipulations of gas deliveries to Europe. We have also taken joint steps within the EU, for example, decisions on energy-saving measures and decisions to return parts of companies' excess profits to consumers, but it is obvious that more will need to be done.

We agreed at the meeting to mandate the commission to continue working on proposing concrete measures to lower the price of gas and thus also on electricity. This involves, for example, coordinating and cooperating within the EU and with third countries to lower the import prices of the gas we import. It is also, however, about avoiding market speculation that can drive up already high prices and about continuing to make investments in the green transition.

Not least, we need to reduce the impact of the gas price on the electricity price. Today's pricing on the European electricity market is simply not constructed for the situation we find ourselves in now, with clear manipulation from the Russian side. I was also very clear at the meeting that we need to do more to bring down electricity prices and that we must speed up in breaking our dependence on fossil energy.

The Swedish position is also crystal clear regarding the fact that any new joint borrowing to finance potential measures is not an option. It is also the case that there is currently a lot of money from the EU's recovery fund in the system.

The European Council shall return to these issues at the meeting that will take place at the end of next week.

Madam Speaker! The energy crisis is affecting Europe's economies broadly: We see inflation and interest rates rising at the same time as purchasing power and future prospects decline. The uncertainty is great, and it is naturally particularly tough for households that previously had small economic margins. Here, it is important that the measures now being taken at the national level do not drive inflation further, but that we all pursue a responsible economic policy. National measures should be designed in such a way that we support those who have it toughest but ensure that disruptions to the internal market are avoided.

At the same time as crisis measures are now being taken, we must safeguard and develop the basic prerequisites for Europe's growth, namely competitiveness and welfare. This is central to Europe's long-term resilience. It is also obvious that this is a situation where Europe must take major steps to reduce its dependence on fossil energy that we import from countries outside the EU; it is currently obvious to everyone that the dependence on individual states that this entails is not good for European security.

With that, I conclude the report on last week's meetings.

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Martin Kinnunen (SD)

Madam Speaker! Thank you for the report, Prime Minister!

From the Sverigedemokraterna side, we welcome this determination from the member states; it is important that Russia's illegal acts of war continue to be met with determination. It is particularly important that the countries have been able to agree on new sanction packages, but it is not enough. One will need to continue to tighten these sanctions, and one will need to deliver new sanction packages.

Madam Speaker! One question we believe needs to be highlighted moving forward is the question of the potential Russian deserters and whether the EU should coordinate the work regarding this. From the Sweden Democrats' side, we see that it is important with coordination at the EU level and that it is above all important with coordination with Finland. A wonder from my side is therefore if these are questions that have been raised informally in the Council or if the Prime Minister believes that it is something that will come up moving forward.

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Statsministern Magdalena Andersson (S)

Madam Speaker! This was nothing that was up for discussion around the table at the meeting, but it was naturally something that was talked about in the corridors.

Different countries have slightly different approaches. The countries that have a direct border with Russia have acted in different ways to reduce the possibilities for Russians to enter these countries. Other countries have a different view and think it is important that people who now want to leave Russia in order not to be forced to fight against Ukraine should have the opportunity to leave Russia.

I predict that these discussions will continue during the autumn to see if a coordination can be achieved. That being said: All the countries that share a border with Russia have acted similarly.

When it comes to Sweden, there is an opportunity to apply for a visa at the Swedish embassy, but this opportunity has been severely restricted recently. The number of appointments to apply for a tourist visa to Sweden is severely limited.

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Martin Kinnunen (SD)

Madam Speaker! I thank the Prime Minister for the answer.

In addition to the acts of war, the meeting was obviously characterized by the consequences of the war. Here, the energy issues are at the center.

My wonder is, above all, how the negotiations are actually going. The government communicated a few days before the election that great successes had been achieved in the negotiations and that southern Sweden could expect halved electricity prices. Now, however, about a month has passed, and nothing concrete has happened. No concrete proposals have been delivered. In the media, we can see a great disagreement between the countries regarding how this is to be financed and the choice of methods.

My question to the Prime Minister is whether the Prime Minister today has any self-criticism regarding the fact that these pieces of information, which perhaps were not entirely truthful, were put forward during the election campaign.

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Statsministern Magdalena Andersson (S)

Madam Speaker! A breakthrough occurred in the negotiations just before the election when the countries were able to agree that measures should be taken. An agreement has also been reached between the energy ministers in that council. They have come up with concrete measures that can be taken, including what concerns trying to cooperate to cut the highest peaks. The agreement that has been made in that council will have an impact on Swedish electricity prices.

In addition, we have now tasked the commission to come up with further proposals to lower gas prices and thereby also electricity prices in the entire EU in various ways. This is of great importance for Sweden.

The Sweden Democrats have clearly promised, together with the Moderates, that Swedish households will be able to receive a high-cost protection as early as November 1, and everyone naturally expects that they will now deliver this.

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Jan Ericson (M)

Madam Speaker! I thank the Prime Minister for the report, which was most likely her last in her capacity as Prime Minister. I would therefore like to begin by thanking her for many good discussions with the Prime Minister in the EU Committee over the years, both when she was Finance Minister and when she was Prime Minister. Not infrequently we have had common starting points in issues for Sweden's best.

At this summit, the EU once again showed great and welcome unity in its support for Ukraine and in its condemnation of the Putin regime. Monday's and Tuesday's Russian missile attacks against Ukrainian targets, many of which were civilian, show that the EU must have perseverance in its efforts and make them even more powerful, as nothing indicates that Putin intends to stop the hostilities in the near future. On the contrary, Putin now once again shows with this continued escalation what values his regime stands for: terror and brutality.

Against this background, the kick-off meeting of the European Political Community format, with 44 European countries but not Russia and Belarus, was particularly welcome, and that a line was laid out to make this community a recurring format.

The Moderates see that there is great potential in handling common problems and challenges in a broader European circle, not least regarding security issues. Therefore, I would like to begin by asking the Prime Minister if she sees that this European political community could contribute to further putting pressure on the Putin regime.

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Statsministern Magdalena Andersson (S)

Madam Speaker! The answer to the question is yes, to be brief.

This was a French initiative that was taken during France's presidency this spring. At first, there was some skepticism - was this something instead of one being able to become a member of the EU, and would it be a way to delay or prolong those types of processes? My impression, however, is that everyone who was at this meeting thought that we had very good discussions and that it was effective to be able to sit together.

There is a big difference between the countries. We who are in the EU meet regularly - or, as during the spring, very often - to make updates on how we view the situation. Other countries, both those in the eastern partnership as well as Norway, the United Kingdom - now - and Iceland, thought it was very meaningful to be able to sit and produce an updated and common picture of how the countries view the situation.

The answer is an absolute yes. This was a meaningful forum. There was also a great enthusiasm to continue with this.

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Jan Ericson (M)

Madam Speaker! I thank you for the answer; it was a positive answer.

The sabotage against the Nord Stream pipelines was also discussed at the summit. We do not yet know who is behind the sabotage, but there are reasons to believe that this type of operation or hybrid attacks may become more common. Therefore, it is welcome that, among others, the President of the European Commission has clearly stated that the EU must do more to protect critical infrastructure. It would be excellent if the EU could jointly strengthen the protection of this infrastructure.

Energy issues were also discussed at the summit, which the Prime Minister touched upon in her speech, particularly the gas market. This was done partly in order to reduce Europe's dependence on Russian gas, and partly to find ways to lower gas prices. But given that the member states have such vastly different conditions and energy mixes, I would like to ask the Prime Minister if she can elaborate a bit more on how the discussions went regarding Europe's energy supply this coming winter, as well as the possibility of jointly protecting important energy infrastructure. Does the Prime Minister see opportunities for unity in the EU on these issues?

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Statsministern Magdalena Andersson (S)

Madam Speaker! Regarding this winter, many countries in Europe are completely dependent on gas both to heat homes and factories and to produce electricity. What is being done in the short term is to try to find other sources of gas than those that go through the Russian gas pipelines. In that case, it is about LNG, i.e., liquefied gas, which is being attempted to import from other parts of the world in various ways. This, combined with reducing electricity consumption, is the short-term solution.

In the longer term, it is about reducing the dependency and ensuring that we can have fossil-free electricity production on the European continent. This is a discussion that will continue.

In conclusion, I would like to thank Jan Ericson for good cooperation in the EU Committee and many exciting interpellations debates.

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Ilona Szatmári Waldau (V)

Madam Speaker! Thank you, Prime Minister, for the report!

Russia's war against Ukraine has created great suffering for the Ukrainian population, and it must come to an end. Sweden, Europe, and the rest of the world can go further in the isolation of and sanctions against Russia. Therefore, it is very welcome that the EU now sees that Europe is larger than the EU.

But the war does not only affect Ukraine, it affects the entire world in terms of energy shortages and food shortages. The developing countries are those that are hit hardest when food prices skyrocket. In what has come out from the meeting, I see that this was raised at the meeting, but it seems to have been without aid or measures being discussed. I therefore wonder if solidarity with the poor countries was discussed.

The energy shortage is, in many ways, about a shortage of fossil energy. Therefore, it is of the utmost importance that all EU countries both save energy and invest in developing renewable energy. The transition must go much faster than it does today.

When energy prices are based on the price of gas, the margins for the energy companies increase. A situation where we have a shortage of energy must not lead to the energy companies receiving higher profits. The EU has begun work on this.

There must also be exceptions for pricing within the EU's electricity market, for example, so that we in Sweden get access to the electricity we produce at reasonable prices. Therefore, I want to ask if the Prime Minister raised Sweden's situation and how we can press the prices for Swedish consumers, for example, by introducing Swedish prices.

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Statsministern Magdalena Andersson (S)

Madam Speaker! The food situation in the third world was discussed in substance, and also the fact that there is a war over the narrative: What is this due to? Is it due to the sanctions or to Russia's war in Ukraine? Here it is important that the EU acts in unison to clarify that the EU in no way targets sanctions in terms of food, but rather that it is about Russia blocking the possibility for Ukraine to export the food that is there and which needs to be exported to the third world, not least wheat.

It is of course extremely important that we in different ways support the countries that are now having difficulty ensuring food supplies for their population. Here, the national aid is obviously crucial, and I assume that a new Swedish government also ensures that the war in Ukraine does not lead to famine in Africa.

Regarding electricity prices in Sweden and the possibilities of decoupling them from the European electricity market, it is all experts' assessment that it is not compatible with the existing legislation. It would mean that we would be perceived as starting a trade war within the EU, which would not be the most appropriate in a situation where we need our unity in both supporting Ukraine and imposing sanctions against Russia in various ways. It is therefore not a way forward.

On the other hand, we shall, with all available means compatible with the legislation, ensure a reduction of the high electricity prices. I assume that the new government will also live up to its promise of a high-cost protection from November 1.

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Ilona Szatmári Waldau (V)

Madam Speaker! I would like to thank the Prime Minister for the answer and be clear that the Left Party will not let go of the issue of Sweden prices and low electricity prices for Swedish consumers.

I could have many follow-up questions on the Prime Minister's excellent answer. I may not agree with everything, but it was a good answer. I also want to thank the Prime Minister for her work in the European Council, and she has most often had good and clear answers to the questions that we in the chamber ask on the reports.

I will not prolong the debate but thank the Prime Minister for this time because much indicates that this is the last time we will meet in this manner. Thank you!

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Statsministern Magdalena Andersson (S)

Madam Speaker! Let me thank Ilona Szatmári Waldau for the many relevant questions that have been asked in both the Chamber and the EU Committee during these years. They have given me reason to reflect on issues that I perhaps have not reflected on before. I have also received many tricky questions, and I have tried to answer to the best of my ability. I am pleased that this has been appreciated.

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Malin Björk (C)

Madam Speaker! I thank the Prime Minister for the report.

In these difficult times, unity within the EU is important. This applies both to the support for Ukraine against the aggressor Russia and to the measures being taken otherwise within the union. We are struggling with a dependence on Russian gas, where measures are being taken, as well as rising prices for households and companies in the wake of this energy crisis.

A decision has been taken at the EU level regarding the so-called solidarity contribution, which means that parts of the revenues from certain electricity producers are taken to compensate households and companies for sharply increased costs. This has met with sharp criticism from several sides, and several member states have stated that the solidarity contribution is not to be seen as a contribution but is de facto a tax, which means that the decision was formally taken on incorrect grounds through a qualified majority instead of unanimity. The regulatory framework would thus have been bypassed.

How does the government view this, and what was said at the last meeting in this regard? Is there a risk that this action and the criticism from several member states undermines the unity within the union, sows division or undermines the legitimacy of decisions made?

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Statsministern Magdalena Andersson (S)

Madam Speaker! This issue was not on the agenda of the European Council. But as Malin Björk emphasizes, it is important that if it is judged to be a tax issue, unanimity shall apply. That decisions are made on the right basis is also something that the government has truly stood up for over the recent years. Sometimes it is not obvious where a decision should be made, and in those cases, one must naturally be restrictive in its interpretation.

With this said, it is however entirely reasonable that in this exceptional situation, with an electricity market that is not designed for this situation, ensure that a part of the companies' excess profits can be returned to the consumers, which has also made it possible for us to accept such a solution.

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Malin Björk (C)

Madam Speaker! I thank the Prime Minister for the answer.

Now comes a question that may possibly be answered by the next government, but I am asking it anyway. With regard to the solidarity contribution, how can this decision be implemented and effectuated in a good way at a national level? Could it also involve targeted support for energy-efficient measures?

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Statsministern Magdalena Andersson (S)

Madam Speaker! That will be a question for the next government, but the officials in the Government Offices are, of course, already working now to prepare this. There is a lot of technology involved in these issues, and it is about seeing how this can best be implemented in Sweden and how the resources can be used. The question also concerns whether all the money should stay in the country where the electricity is produced or if it should also benefit countries where electricity is consumed but not produced to the same extent. There is, therefore, a great deal that will need to be sorted out in the coming weeks.

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Magnus Berntsson (KD)

Madam Speaker! Let me first thank you for the report on Russia's war against Ukraine, the effects on Europe, and the current situation.

I would, however, like to raise the situation in Iran, which, despite not being on the official agenda, concerns us all.

Mahsa Jina Amini, 22 years old, Hadis Najafi, 20 years old, and Hananeh Kia, 23 years old, are just some of the people who have been deprived of their lives. We do not know today how many have been killed because the Islamist oppressive regime shuts down the internet so that the world will not see when security forces shoot at the protesters.

The list of systematic violations of human rights can be long. Women are forced to wear the veil, dissidents are imprisoned without trial, minorities are persecuted, and apostasy from Islam is punished by hanging.

The regime does not only pose a threat to its own population, which has been forced to live under a reign of terror for 43 years, but has also contributed strongly to the war in Yemen and is a destructive force in the Middle East. The regime also carries out espionage here in Sweden, not only against us as a country but also specifically against Swedish exiles.

The European Parliament adopted a resolution in recent days that in strong words condemns the regime and demands an independent investigation and that those responsible be held accountable.

In light of that, I would like to ask the Prime Minister: Was the situation in Iran nevertheless discussed by the heads of state and government between the program points in Prague?

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Statsministern Magdalena Andersson (S)

Madam Speaker! It was, of course, one of the things that was discussed in the margins, as they say, during coffee breaks and also during dinner. The Swedish government has, in the contacts we have had with the Iranian regime, been clear about our view on human rights, freedom of religion, and women's rights, as recently as when the Foreign Minister met Iran's Foreign Minister in New York.

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Magnus Berntsson (KD)

Madam Speaker! I thank you for the answer!

If I may elaborate on this, I would like to ask: Does the Prime Minister consider that we should do more from the Swedish side to ensure that the issue is officially placed on the agenda? I do not believe there is anyone who questions our Swedish position on this issue, but a common position from the EU could perhaps have even more impact through a clear condemnation that can lead to further measures.

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Statsministern Magdalena Andersson (S)

Madam Speaker! I assess in this situation that this will be a question for the next government. There, Magnus Berntsson has good opportunities to have influence over which initiatives are taken in that government. I assume that people are currently working very hard to ensure that we have a new government in place as soon as possible, for this would be good for the country.

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Rebecka Le Moine (MP)

Madam Speaker! Thank you, Prime Minister, for the report back!

One of the points on the agenda for the meeting concerned energy. It is about how we can guarantee deliveries and prices that allow consumers to afford it and that no one should have to freeze this winter. A question that I and all the Greens in the EU ask ourselves is: How does this crisis management affect climate policy? I wonder if the Prime Minister could elaborate on how crisis measures are not designed in such a way that they make the EU's common and agreed-upon climate goals impossible.

The Green Party's entry point into this is that we must be able to handle the crises in parallel by saving and streamlining, but also by investing in a resilient and renewable energy system.

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Statsministern Magdalena Andersson (S)

Madam Speaker! Rebecka Le Moine raises an extremely central issue. We must use the crisis to accelerate the climate transition. This crisis shows that our dependence on fossil fuels is not only bad for the climate and for future generations and irresponsible towards our children, but also a security policy issue. There is therefore an additional dimension to how important it is to get rid of the fossil dependence that we have.

It is not just about the Russian gas. It is also about gas and oil coming from other countries towards which we do not want to end up in a blackmail situation. Therefore, there is every reason in the world to reduce our dependence.

In the acute situation we are in now, it is not just about looking at how we can bring in fossil fuels from all sources, even though this will also be important, but also about that we really must take this opportunity to try to save electricity. Every saved kilowatt-hour is worth as much as a kilowatt-hour that can be imported from elsewhere. It is something that is often cost-effective in situations like this, so it will be an important part.

It is also about accelerating the climate transition that can be achieved, and what is good there is that there is money in the recovery fund. One of the areas one can invest in with these resources is precisely to accelerate the climate transition. This is positive.

I naturally expect that the new Swedish government now supports Swedish households and companies so that they can quickly transition away from fossil fuel dependency and be able to reduce their electricity consumption.

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Rebecka Le Moine (MP)

Madam Speaker! Thank you, Prime Minister, for the answer and the commitment! We are in complete agreement on that.

The Prime Minister has mentioned and underlined that we must reduce our fossil dependency. At the same time, we highlight fossil gas, which is mentioned as natural gas but is de facto fossil. I wonder and am curious about how the discussions went regarding how we can replace as large an amount as possible of fossil gas with other types of energy, for example biogas, while we can reduce our need for fossil gas.

I would like to thank the Prime Minister and also thank you for the effort.

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Statsministern Magdalena Andersson (S)

Madam Speaker! Different countries have slightly different approaches to this, but there is now an increased awareness across Europe that we must break the fossil dependency. It is very welcome.

Compared to the Swedish discussion, there is a very positive view on the potential of wind power. There are ambitious plans in many countries to powerfully expand wind power, not least in countries that have coasts where offshore wind power can be expanded, which can provide a lot of energy. It is also about wind power on land, even though many countries are significantly more densely populated than Sweden is.

Then there are several countries that plan to build new nuclear power but see that it will take a long time. It is also known that it will not provide the cheapest electricity, but several countries still judge that it will be necessary.

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Romina Pourmokhtari (L)

Madam Speaker and Prime Minister Andersson! The situation with the war against Ukraine is very serious, and it is a worrying time for Europe. Russia bears full responsibility for this war which they have started and consistently escalate through further aggressions and bombs against innocent people and children, whose bloody schoolbooks lie in shattered parks.

Madam Speaker! It cannot be emphasized enough how every decision from Europe's leaders and every action resulting from the course of events has major consequences. The right decisions regarding this war save the lives of Ukrainian people.

The question I would like to ask the Prime Minister is: What preparedness does the Prime Minister see Sweden and Europe having to handle further Russian escalation of this war?

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Statsministern Magdalena Andersson (S)

Madam Speaker! My assessment is that there is a readiness for this to get worse before it gets better.

The recent illegal annexations from the Russian side, which have escalated the situation, have increased the consensus among the EU countries and also the realization that we must stick together. We cannot let Russia win this war. If there is a strong conviction of this.

With this said, it is important that one is prepared to put this into practice. Therefore, I welcome the eighth sanctions package that has now been agreed upon. Here, it is important that there is readiness for further sanctions, but also that we ensure a full implementation of the sanctions packages that we have already decided on.

Furthermore, Ukraine needs continued support. This concerns purely military support, where we from the Swedish side have a mandate to the Armed Forces to conduct an in-depth review of what defense materiel we can spare. The assessment is that we will need to have a long-term plan for this. Here, discussions are taking place between a number of countries on how one can work in a more structured way to support Ukraine militarily.

In addition to this, it is about pure financial support that Ukraine will need, as their revenues are not in parity with the expenditures required during a war. There, Europe will need to scale up the financial support to Ukraine, and it will be one of the important tasks for a new government to ensure continued both military and financial support to Ukraine.

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Romina Pourmokhtari (L)

Madam Speaker! Thank you for that answer, Prime Minister Andersson!

Of course, it is important that the Armed Forces do a proper job and that Sweden has a long-term plan for the support that we offer. But at the same time, it is important from our side to emphasize that this extraordinary situation requires prompt action. The Swedish bureaucracy and the order and tidiness that we so gladly cherish must not become a convenient tool for Putin to exploit.

We in the Liberals view the development of European cooperation that has occurred as a result of this situation positively. Our party has long pointed out the importance of a deepened European cooperation. It is appalling to us that it is only in this situation that more people have realized the importance of this.

Good and free democracies need to stick together and cooperate to the greatest extent possible to stand firm against firm when the world looks the way it does. I hope that this deepened cooperation gives momentum to Europe's democracies.

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Statsministern Magdalena Andersson (S)

Madam Speaker! I truly agree on the importance of Europe's democracies standing united in this situation and that we can also discuss it in a circle that is larger than the European Union, i.e., also with countries that do not participate in the European Union. It is very valuable.

I completely share the view that prompt action is important. And I assume that the Liberals are acting in that way now also in the government negotiations, so that we will soon have a new government in place.

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Jytte Guteland (S)

Madam Speaker! I thank the Prime Minister for the report.

Next week is, as is known, time for the European Council again. With the current situation, we do not know who will represent Sweden at this summit.

EU leaders meet often in these times. It is no coincidence, because we need these meetings. The prime ministers meet in a historically difficult time. We have a war in our absolute immediate vicinity, and we have a galloping energy crisis in its wake. At the same time, we experience how global warming leads to unimaginable catastrophes such as the one in Pakistan.

As Magdalena Andersson herself emphasized during the consultation last week, joint solutions and an EU that holds together are now required. The EU needs to stand strong against Putin, this ruthless dictator and warlord who will stop at nothing to achieve his goal of erasing the nation of Ukraine from the world map. The EU needs to hold together in the acute energy crisis, and responsibility must be taken for the climate while simultaneously mitigating the economic effects in the present for ordinary people.

Sweden has since Russia's invasion on February 24 supported Ukraine humanitarily, economically, and militarily. Sweden's voice to maintain the high ambitions in the EU's joint support for Ukraine and a continued hard line against Russia must remain.

When a new Prime Minister is to travel to the summit next week, what does Magdalena Andersson see as the most important task to mitigate the consequences of the war, stand up against Russia, stand up for the climate, and ensure that the EU stands strong?

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Statsministern Magdalena Andersson (S)

Madam Speaker! I believe that what is absolutely most important for a new government is to make it completely crystal clear that the new government and the entire government base are just as clear in their position towards Russia as this government has been. It would be important for Europe if this message can be given. I believe that is the absolute most important thing for a new Prime Minister. But it is naturally also important that one continues to be clear in its support for Ukraine, not least considering the horrific attacks that we have seen this week.

The second thing that is important is that one works to bring down gas prices in Europe and thereby also electricity prices here in Sweden and ensure that the EU can hold together in this cooperation.

The third is to continue to point out in Europe that the long-term answer to avoid being in the hands of Putin is to accelerate the green transition and make us independent of fossil fuels and to push this issue very hard in the EU.

A new government will need to do this because it is now clear that our fossil dependency, among other things, is about the climate transition because we have a climate crisis. A new government and its government basis must also be clear that we have a climate crisis. But this is also about security policy now. Therefore, we need to speed up the green transition. Furthermore, we see that it is creating jobs all over Sweden right now.

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Jytte Guteland (S)

Madam Speaker! I thank the Prime Minister for this answer. It is very welcome, not least what she said about linking the security situation we have with global warming and that this policy is connected in every way.

I would like to take the opportunity to ask the Prime Minister what advice you would give the new government ahead of the upcoming presidency of the EU. It would have been desirable to have a government in place that one can talk to about that. But I want to hear from your side what you see as Sweden's most important task as well, when the large climate package is on the table.

Then I would like to thank the Prime Minister for the important work she has contributed to both in the role of Prime Minister and in the role of Finance Minister, and for the fact that Sweden has always been a very progressive and driving voice in climate work in the EU.

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Statsministern Magdalena Andersson (S)

Madam Speaker! I share Jytte Guteland's view that it would be good to have a new government in place. It is something that the Swedish people would have expected given how it sounded before the election.

But given the situation, I and my government are, of course, working with full force both to prepare for our presidency and to promote Swedish interests in the EU while awaiting a new government.

I do not know if I should be the one to give advice to my successor. But one thing is clear, namely that as Prime Minister, one always needs to work hard. But when Sweden holds the presidency in the EU, it will require a few additional hours of work beyond the usual long working days that apply to a Swedish Prime Minister. Hard work for many hours is, therefore, what will be required.

The reporting was hereby concluded.

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)