Response to interpellation 2022/23:12 on Sweden's priorities ahead of the EU Presidency
Translated from Swedish by AI; the translation may contain errors. The Swedish text is the original.
Summary AI, written in advance
M emphasizes that there is a broad consensus regarding the five priorities for the presidency, where the principles of the rule of law are a prioritized issue that the government will continue to drive 1 2 3. M plans a symposium to strengthen the principles of the rule of law and considers security, organized crime, climate transition, competitiveness, and fundamental values to be of crucial importance 3 4. M emphasizes the importance of a broad support to deliver on expectations 4. S argues that the principle of the rule of law must be included to ensure legitimacy 5. S believes that climate policy must be anchored to reach climate goals and also prioritizes the EU's migration and asylum package 6.
Written by AI in advance and may contain errors. The numbers lead to the speech a statement builds on; check against the text below.
Statsrådet Jessika Roswall (M)
Madam Speaker! Matilda Ernkrans has asked me what the government's priorities are for the EU presidency, how the government will ensure broad support for the priorities, and whether the EU's fundamental values regarding democracy and the principles of the rule of law will be among the priorities.
Matilda Ernkrans reminds of the anchoring work carried out by the previous government. A direction for the political priorities during the upcoming presidency was thus established during the spring of 2022 after discussions with party representatives in the Riksdag. The direction was presented to the Riksdag on 1 June.
Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson reminded of this when, just a month ago in the government statement, he stated that the Swedish parliamentary parties in broad consensus had identified a number of areas as particularly prioritized. The Prime Minister subsequently received a question from Matilda Ernkrans on October 26 regarding the priorities when he reported back from the European Council meeting the week before. The Prime Minister confirmed that the direction was fixed and underlined the good cooperation with the outgoing government.
Madam Speaker! Intensive preparatory work is underway in the Government Offices ahead of January 1, when Sweden will for the third time assume the presidency of the Council of the European Union. An important part of the preparatory work concerns the Swedish work program. As Matilda Ernkrans points out, the presidency is guided by the European agenda, but there is also room for the presidency's orientation. Therefore, the work programs are traditionally initiated by a more political text that emphasizes such an orientation.
The work on the formulation of the work program is ongoing. Regarding the political priorities, the work is being carried out on the basis of the direction in which there is a broad consensus among Sweden's parliamentary parties.
According to the current schedule, the Prime Minister will present the government program here in the chamber on December 14.
Matilda Ernkrans (S)
Madam Speaker! I thank the Minister for the answer and welcome her to the chamber in the role of EU Minister, a mission for which she has an absolutely excellent background to undertake, as she previously served for many years as Vice Chair of the EU Committee.
Jessika Roswall's representative on this post, Social Democrat Hans Dahlgren, presented, as mentioned, the overall direction for the Swedish presidency. It was very clear there that we would stand guard over the EU's fundamental values and the principles of the rule of law as one of five prioritized issues.
I Ulf Kristersson, Moderaterna, the government statement did not mention the principles of the rule of law with a single word. If it is not to be perceived as a deprioritization, it is important that the rule of law principle is included as a point in the direction that the government will present in a few weeks, as the State Councilor has answered here.
Why is it so important for Sweden? Why is it so important for us Social Democrats? European cooperation rests on a set of values. It is not just any values. It is about freedom and democracy, respect for human rights, justice and diversity, equality, gender equality, tolerance and an independent judiciary.
It is a European cooperation that rests on those values not only because it is important that we safeguard democracy or contribute to a democratic development. It is also a question of legitimacy for the European cooperation.
If Swedish taxpayers are to contribute large sums of money financially to the European cooperation, we must be able to feel secure that the money is used for the right things and goes to countries with similar values. These are countries that have a functioning justice system and free and democratic elections and that work actively to counter corruption.
Recently, the European Parliament established in a report that Hungary is no longer seen as a functioning democracy. They point to the democratic deteriorations in the Hungarian electoral law, the judiciary's diminished independence, and espionage against journalists. It concerns increased corruption where Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and persons in his vicinity have appropriated EU funds.
It is an important submission in the process currently underway against Hungary, where the EU Commission is withholding EU support, EU money, because the country no longer meets the requirements for a functioning rule of law.
All Swedish parties in the European Parliament stand behind the report, except for the Sweden Democrats. The Sweden Democrats' members are also the only ones who have voted against the condition that one must respect human rights and democracy in order to receive EU funds.
Since Sweden is one of the countries that has very firmly, strongly and for a long time pursued the issue of the importance of member states living up to the rule of law principle in order to receive a share of EU funds, it would be very clearly noticeable in EU circles if the new government strikes the point about the rule of law principle from our presidency program.
Therefore, I would like to ask the EU Minister: Has the Sweden Democrats' view on Hungary and the rule of law principle already gained traction in Swedish EU policy?
Statsrådet Jessika Roswall (M)
Madam Speaker! Thank you for the congratulations, Matilda Ernkrans! I congratulate you in return on the assignment in the EU Committee! Both Matilda Ernkrans and I know how important and how enjoyable the work is in the EU Committee.
Let me begin by speaking about the broad consensus we had regarding the five priorities for the work. I had a very close cooperation with the government at that time, in which Matilda Ernkrans was included.
There were five areas that we pointed out from Sweden's side. They were to create security for EU's citizens and strengthen EU's role in the world, to stop organized crime, to accelerate the climate transition, to strengthen EU's competitiveness for the jobs of the future and to guard the union's fundamental values, without internal order.
All those parts - as I have already said once, and as the Prime Minister has also said - will be important parts for the presidency program. But I also want to say - and I think Matilda Ernkrans highlights this in her interpellation - that the Swedish presidency will prioritize and need to work very much on continued support for Ukraine. This is both for the EU to hold together and for it to continue to provide economic and military support to Ukraine.
Why do I say that? Yes, because the chairmanship's priorities need to take the outside world into account. Things are happening in the outside world, and that also needs to be reflected in the chairmanship's priorities.
Let me be extremely clear. The concern that Matilda Ernkrans highlights here is completely unjustified. Regarding the principles of the rule of law, I have always been very clear in various contexts. For me, it is a priority issue. I share Matilda Ernkrans's description of how important it is for trust in the EU. It is a fundamental pillar for cooperation.
The EU is a union built on values. There is no doubt about that. I am pleased – which I believe Matilda Ernkrans also does – that there are now several tools in the toolbox to ensure that the member states follow our common values. I can then return to the conditionality mechanisms that we now have in place and which the government, of course, continues to support. The Commission has already begun the work with, for example, Hungary, which Matilda Ernkrans highlights. The Swedish presidency will complete this.
The issues of values are central for me, the government, and Sweden, and will continue to be so. It will, of course, always be a priority for a chairmanship and will remain so.
Let me just say a few things that the Swedish presidency will work on, in order to dispel the concern that Matilda Ernkrans raises. Among other things, there is a process regarding the Article 7 procedure that we will continue to work on. Work is already underway.
As I mentioned, there is a piece of work on the conditionality mechanism that we will continue to work on. There are also other parts regarding the recovery fund. Matilda Ernkrans does not need to worry. It will be a priority for the Presidency and for the Swedish government throughout the entire period.
I also want to say that it is not a task that ends. It was not started during the previous government either, and it will continue. It is about legitimacy and trust in the EU as an institution. I will ensure that it will continue to be prioritized.
Matilda Ernkrans (S)
Madam Speaker! Thank you, Jessika Roswall, for the answer! The EU Minister has very good ambitions. It also feels good to hear the commitment and clarity from the EU Minister when it comes to the EU's fundamental democratic principles.
I just want to emphasize that it is of the utmost importance that one manages to prioritize precisely the principles of the rule of law and the fundamental democratic principles in the chairmanship program.
It is clear that Ukraine will also characterize the Swedish presidency. It would be strange otherwise. The energy crisis will characterize it, and the climate challenges will characterize it. But we also have other things that must be delivered during the presidency. This applies in particular to migration policy.
In all this, it is important that one stands up and in writing and in all contexts continues to promote the principles of the rule of law. It cannot be ignored that there is a certain inherent ambiguity in how the government has handled the principles of the rule of law so far.
It is about the fact that it is a government that has been appointed from the outside and derives its power from its cooperation with the Sweden Democrats and the Tidö Agreement which is written by the four parties.
EU policy is not an area of cooperation. But it is very clear in the Tidö Agreement that the Sweden Democrats shall be informed when it comes to EU issues. It states in the Tidö Agreement that in EU matters, cooperation parties outside the government shall be informed about the content of the government's fact memorandum before the preparation of EU matters in the Riksdag. The information shall be provided before the processing in the Riksdag's committees, which precedes the preparation in the EU Committee.
As vice chairman of the EU Committee, I cannot interpret it in any other way than that the Sweden Democrats will receive information and have the opportunity to influence the Swedish direction before the processing in the committee and in the EU Committee.
The question of the Sweden Democrats' influence is important to clarify, not least ahead of the Swedish EU presidency. We already know that the Sweden Democrats do not share the view when it comes to the principles of the rule of law and the importance of all of Europe's member countries sharing the same basic values.
It concerns the credibility and the possibility for Sweden's EU Minister to be able to drive the important cooperation we have together within the EU. There is an ambiguity in how the EU policy will be conducted, not least during the presidency.
I would like to follow up on my question to the Minister. What influence do or will the Sweden Democrats have on the direction for the Swedish presidency that will be presented here in December?
Statsrådet Jessika Roswall (M)
Madam Speaker! Let me begin with the part concerning the Swedish presidency. Matilda Ernkrans is correct that it concerns many issues. But my point with raising Ukraine was precisely that it is very many issues we are to handle, and I believe we agree that security is of the utmost importance. It will occupy much of our time, and there are several good reasons for that.
But as also highlighted in the interpellation, the chairmanship is not just about handling the gavel itself, but also about driving negotiations between the meetings. We have calculated that there are approximately 350 acts and 2,000 meetings, of which 150 are in Sweden. It is a very large amount of work, and it is much about ensuring that the work is pushed forward in many issues. Furthermore, we are in the final stage of the commission's mandate period, which will also have a major impact.
I have said here – and in doing so, I have probably imitated the various representatives of the previous government – that a chair is expected to be as impartial as possible and listen to everyone. But in connection with that, it is also required that we are effective and ambitious and that we go as far as possible.
This is not only in the government's interest but also in Sweden's interest. It is not only in all the parliamentary parties' and the Riksdag's interest but also in civil society's and the rest of society's interest.
I believe it is important that we jointly strive for broad solutions, and therefore I want to try to answer a bit regarding the question of what influence the Sverigedemokraterna receive. I think it is somewhat contradictory of Matilda Ernkrans to simultaneously ask in the interpellation how we in the government should anchor the priorities with the Riksdag.
I want to continue the good cooperation that the previous government had with the Riksdag and continue to anchor it. This is partly about what I can do myself in committees, and partly about what my ministerial colleagues can do. It applies broadly in the Riksdag, among all the parties in the Riksdag. I hope that we will be able to continue the good cooperation, because I believe it serves Sweden. It also serves the Swedish presidency, because it is our common task to ensure that it goes in the right direction.
I want to say something more to dispel the concern that I believe is unjustified. In my previous contribution, I highlighted the Article 7 procedure, where we have a plan for how we will continue to have country-specific discussions. We plan to have it with five countries. The first round concludes with Slovakia and Finland, and in the second round, work with hearings of Belgium, Bulgaria, and the Czech Republic will be initiated. We are also prepared to have several hearings within the framework of the Article 7 procedure.
I raised the conditionality mechanism in the previous post, so I do not need to say more about it than that we will continue to follow up on it.
I also want to mention that we are planning a symposium in connection with the informal EU ministerial meeting in June to strengthen the rule of law principles in the EU, and I know that the Riksdag is planning its own such meeting.
I just want to guarantee with this that these questions will be high on the agenda and be prioritized. It must be so for a chairship as long as there are reasons for it, and there are. I do, as I said, what I can to dispel the uncertainty that Matilda Ernkrans feels, and I hope for good cooperation for Sweden's and for the EU's sake.
Matilda Ernkrans (S)
Madam Speaker! Thank you, the EU Minister, for the answer! I also belong to those who think that this is important, not least now when we have war on our continent. In that case, everyone benefits from broad cooperation, not least in the Swedish Riksdag, and from our ability to maintain EU unity when we handle the war in Ukraine but also new sanctions against Russia. That is what I want to emphasize and say.
Then I hope that the EU Minister understands that for me as a Social Democrat, there is still an ambiguity and a concern regarding how the government will choose to cooperate, not least with the Sweden Democrats, based on the agreement that exists in the Tidö Agreement. The difference in substance in this case concerns how one views the principles of the rule of law.
Sweden has a good reputation as a negotiator, and the expectations for Sweden during the EU presidency are great. I think it is reasonable to have great expectations for Sweden when it comes to our ability to land important issues for our common everyday life – issues that are important not only for Sweden but also for the EU and for the world. Here, it is about the climate policy, which we need to land during the Swedish presidency. Otherwise, we will not reach the climate goals and the green transition that we so desperately need.
It is further about the continued support for Ukraine and additional sanctions against Russia. The EU's migration and asylum package will also land during the presidency, and it has been a priority for us Social Democrats.
The Sweden Democrats are, after all, part of your government basis and sit in the Government Offices. They have had what they wanted pushed through in the Tidö Agreement, according to Jimmie Åkesson. I therefore think that Jessika Roswall is downplaying how much influence the Sweden Democrats will actually have on EU policy. We still hope for good cooperation for the future.
Statsrådet Jessika Roswall (M)
Madam Speaker! Thank you, Matilda Ernkrans, for the interpellation! It is good that we do not downplay these questions, for they are of crucial importance for the EU's future and for the union to be able to function.
We also face the incredibly important task of being the chair of the EU Council of Ministers. I have shared a bit here, and I know that the Riksdag has also previously received information on how many meetings will be held and how many acts will be negotiated. The expectations for Sweden are great, and I hope that together we will be able to deliver on that.
For Sweden to be able to deliver and shoulder that responsibility, I believe it is incredibly important that we have a broad consensus regarding the presidency, which I feel we have. I also hope that we will have it throughout the entire time and that I and all other ministers will be able to come to the Riksdag and anchor the priorities that exist and also the work during that time.
As I underlined earlier, it is obvious to the government that the five areas that we both have raised here today will continue to be important for the priorities of the presidency: security, stopping organized crime, accelerating the climate transition - we could of course talk more about that - strengthening the EU's competitiveness and guarding the EU's fundamental values.
As said, the anchoring will take place in various committees, and how the formulations will ultimately read when they are presented on December 14, the Prime Minister will return to here in the chamber. Thank you for the interpellation! I hope that this has dispelled some of the concern.
Source: The Swedish Parliament. The speeches come from the open data of the Riksdag, translated into English by AI, which may contain errors.