Response to interpellation 2023/24:29 on veto in EU negotiations
Translated from Swedish by AI; the translation may contain errors. The Swedish text is the original.
Summary AI, written in advance
The debate concerned Sweden's role in EU budget negotiations and the consequences of a potential veto. M argues that the government is pursuing a well-anchored budget-restrictive line to protect the Swedish fee and secure support for Ukraine 1 2 3. M emphasizes that Sweden negotiates from a known position and that cooperation with the Riksdag is important 2 4 3. S agrees on budget restrictiveness and reprioritizations 5 6. S criticizes, however, that the government base wants to use a veto and investigate the membership, which could damage Swedish influence 5 7 6. S argues that the threat of a veto from the coalition partner may be empty words 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 President! I have been asked how a Swedish veto against the EU budget would affect the process of negotiating a new long-term budget, whether the government will do as SD has stated and use its veto against the EU budget, and whether a veto against the EU budget in this situation is really the best way to defend our low EU fee and at the same time secure support for Ukraine and the migration agreement.
Sweden's approach and starting values in this budget negotiation correspond in all material respects with the approach and starting values that Sweden had at previous occasions of this kind. The Government pursues a budget-restrictive line well anchored with the Riksdag, which is additionally well known among other member states. Previous Swedish positions have in no way affected our ability to actively and effectively participate in the negotiations currently at hand, why I also do not see any impact regarding upcoming budget negotiations.
The review of the multiannual budget is one of the decisions that, according to the EU treaties, is taken by unanimity. This means that an agreement needs to have the support of all member states.
Negotiations are currently underway, and the government is promoting Swedish interests in line with the position anchored in the Riksdag. In addition to working for a budget-restrictive line, the government is acting decisively to secure long-term funding in support of Ukraine, namely liquidity support and support for reconstruction, particularly linked to Ukraine's EU integration. Sweden is working for the Ukraine facility to be managed as a separate instrument.
Sweden's position on an agreement will, as always, be anchored with the Riksdag.
Regarding what is the best way to defend our EU fee and discount, it can initially be stated that the proposal does not affect the Swedish discount. The discount is established in the budget framework agreement from 2020 and is part of the current regulatory framework.
To keep the Swedish fee down, it is therefore a matter of limiting cost increases and working for reprioritization and funding from the existing EU budget. We achieve this by conducting active advocacy work and promoting Swedish interests jointly with like-minded [parties].
Matilda Ernkrans (S)
Madam President! It is not possible to begin a debate with the EU Minister on a day like this, the day after a terrorist attack against Sweden and Swedes in Brussels, without saying that our thoughts naturally go to the victims and their relatives. A national unity against terror is truly needed.
With that said, I will move on to today's interpellation. Thank you, Minister Jessika Roswall, for the answer!
When the Social Democratic-led government negotiated the EU's long-term budget nearly three years ago, when we also negotiated the rebate, we were able to keep down the Swedish EU fee through cooperation with like-minded countries. Together with other countries, we also pushed through the conditionality mechanism: All EU countries must now live up to basic democratic principles in order to receive a share of the EU's money.
By negotiating and discussing, one can get very far and very close to a negotiated result that benefits Sweden and European cooperation. Sweden has succeeded in doing this before.
Now, the EU's long-term budget is to be negotiated again, as said. We agree with the EU Minister that the EU should primarily solve its challenges through redistribution instead of increasing the budget framework. We agree on the budget restrictiveness.
When Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson is about to travel to the summit in Brussels, it is however the Sweden Democrats who are setting the pace, and when the Sweden Democrats are allowed to rule over EU policy, no alliances should be built. It should not be negotiated or discussed, but when we at the upcoming summit are to discuss continued economic support to Ukraine, how we can build Europe's security stronger and how we can handle migration, the Sweden Democrats want us to paint ourselves into a veto corner together with Hungary.
I think the EU Minister needs to develop their answer on whether it really is a good way to secure Swedish interests in the EU.
Statsrådet Jessika Roswall (M)
Madam Speaker! I am happy to elaborate. But I perceive it as that Matilda Ernkrans, just like the government, safeguards a strong Swedish influence on the EU in general, on the budget in particular, and on the ongoing review of the long-term budget.
I can elaborate on my reasoning regarding how we work to anchor and negotiate the Swedish position, which is well-anchored in the Riksdag. We work at all levels. We work with Sweden in focus. And we work for continued support for Ukraine.
The Swedish position remains very budget-restrictive. It is a position that is well known among the other member states. It is also well-established from previous negotiations, which Matilda Ernkrans refers to. I, the Finance Minister, and our officials are working to ensure that the scope of this budget framework remains unchanged and that the ceiling of the budget framework is not opened.
How do we do that in our negotiations? First and foremost, we have discussions with the Spanish presidency. We present our views and input together with what has emerged in the negotiations we have had here in the Riksdag. We also have regular check-ins with our like-minded group, which is now a bit larger than the last time it was negotiated.
I personally have bilateral meetings with like-minded people and others. I have personally had meetings with representatives from Denmark, Finland, Slovenia and Slovakia. And I plan to have meetings with representatives from Belgium, France, Ireland, Czech Republic, Germany and Austria.
At the same time, of course, I and my colleagues have meetings with the commission and negotiate. That is what we work with. I have also anchored that in the Swedish Riksdag.
The priorities for Sweden's government in these matters are well known. It is, as said, about continued support for Ukraine. We also considered that to be the reason for opening up for a new review of the long-term budget, because precisely that was not included in the budget agreement from 2020.
I also perceive from Matilda Ernkrans that we agree on the starting point that the funding shall primarily be carried out through reprioritizations of existing funds. That is also what we put forward in our negotiations at different levels. In tough times, we are clear from the Swedish side that everyone must prioritize. That is what we do in Sweden. It also applies to our various EU institutions. That view is also shared by many other member states.
It is no secret that consensus is required for this type of decision. All member states and all those negotiating know this. One is not in agreement until everyone is in agreement. But my and the government's mandate, and the mandate that I feel I have received from a broad majority in the Riksdag, is to ensure that Sweden achieves maximum impact in the negotiations, in the sense of ensuring that long-term support for Ukraine is protected. I hope and perceive that Matilda Ernkrans and the Social Democrats stand behind that view and line.
Matilda Ernkrans (S)
Madam President! In the uncertain world we live in, EU cooperation is extremely important for Sweden - for our security, for our safety and for our economy.
The Social Democrats and the Moderates have previously stood close to each other in Swedish EU policy. There has been a broad anchoring in the Riksdag when Swedish ministers have traveled to Brussels to represent Sweden and drive Swedish positions in the EU. The big difference right now between the Social Democrats' EU policy here in the Swedish Riksdag and the Moderates' EU policy is the Sweden Democrats.
The Sweden Democrats are Sweden's most EU-critical party. They want to place Sweden in the veto corner, together with Hungary, when it comes to the budget issue. They have stated this publicly. Jimmie Åkesson also wants us to investigate Swedish EU membership. He has put forward this during the midst of a burning war on our continent.
It would still be interesting to hear how the conversations are going in the Government Offices. Is a rapid investigation of the Swedish EU membership underway? Where does it stand in relation to the veto? How does the government base affect Swedish EU policy, and what does it do to the Swedish influence in the EU circle?
Statsrådet Jessika Roswall (M)
Madam President! I have been in Matilda Ernkrans' position, in the role of opposition leader in the EU Committee. I was also there when the long-term budget was negotiated in 2020. It is correct that the government and opposition at that time had a good cooperation. It is my hope and experience that we still have that.
Only this type of question is informed about and prepared in a specific body in the Riksdag. It is something that I safeguard. I hope that the Social Democrat Matilda Ernkrans also places great value on it. It is extra important in these times.
We think, as said, that it is important to conduct a review to secure the long-term support for Ukraine. We know that the consequences of the war will be long-term and costly. Both the political support and the reconstruction will cost money. In these difficult times, we see that the support for it may not always be equally strong. For example, parties in Slovakia, including the social democratic Smer, have questioned the support for Ukraine.
It is therefore extra important to put forward the Swedish discussions for continued support. I am glad that I have a strong support for it from Sweden. That Sweden can stand united in this in the continued discussions is, of course, an important signal to the Ukrainians but also to our international partners, such as the USA. I hope that Matilda Ernkrans also shares that view.
I am proud to belong to a government that has continued the strong bilateral support for Ukraine. During our presidency, we also secured a broad consensus for Ukraine.
I just received a question from Matilda Ernkrans about how the perception of Sweden is affected. During the Swedish presidency, we demonstrated, in both act and meaning, our strong support for Ukraine. We also conducted a very successful presidency. My view is therefore that the perception of Sweden is very good and that the perception of the Swedish position regarding the budget, which goes back several budgets, is well known. We negotiate from the known position.
I thank you for the interpellation already. It is good that I get the opportunity to lay out the text on how we negotiate the position anchored in the Riksdag. But I hope that the Social Democrats, just as we did last time, will continue to take joint responsibility for the fact that we will succeed this time as well.
Matilda Ernkrans (S)
Madam President! The Social Democrats agree with the EU Minister that new economic challenges should primarily be solved through redistribution, and we stand for strong budgetary restraint. Smer is excluded from the Party of European Socialists. It is important to have order and clarity.
It is still fascinating that we can have this interpellation debate when the Minister has so far not touched upon with a single word what has been publicly put forward by that which is the government's coalition partner and government base, namely the Sverigedemokraterna, who want to exercise their veto in the budget negotiations and who want a review of the EU membership. It is about how it affects the Swedish government and the Swedish interests in the EU circle to put forward strong Swedish positions. It should be reasonable that the EU Minister, who is the one sitting in the negotiations with the government base, actually answers the questions.
I want to repeat that in the uncertain world we live in, EU cooperation is important for Sweden, for our security and development. But based on what the Council of State has said so far, or has not said, my concluding comment is the following. It means that the Sverigedemokraternas publicly stated threat of a veto against the budget was therefore just empty words, something to provide newspaper headlines and not an issue that one is actually pursuing.
Statsrådet Jessika Roswall (M)
Madam President! I thank Matilda Ernkrans for the interpellation debate.
Let me say that I and the government are focusing on ensuring that we achieve the best possible negotiating results for Sweden, which I also perceive that we have received a strong mandate for during our deliberations with the Riksdag. Matilda Ernkrans and I have been present at just as many meetings where the position has been prepared, and all parties have been represented. It has not harmed Sweden's reputation to have the clear and broadly anchored Swedish position.
The questions in the interpellation did not in themselves concern a potential review of EU membership, but I have previously said that one should always evaluate different parts. We do that all the time, and the Riksdag has its various preparations where previous decisions are reviewed. With that said, I completely agree with Matilda Ernkrans that the EU is our best way to secure peace, security, and growth. In the EU, we have our common value base, and there we do our best work and continue to provide support to Ukraine, and so on.
I look forward to us continuing to have a good cooperation with the Social Democrats and with the Swedish Riksdag in this difficult situation, in order to achieve a favorable negotiating result in the best possible way when it finally comes.
Source: The Swedish Parliament. The speeches come from the open data of the Riksdag, translated into English by AI, which may contain errors.