Response to interpellation 2023/24:553 on the EU's fundamental values
Translated from Swedish by AI; the translation may contain errors. The Swedish text is the original.
Summary AI, written in advance
1 2 3 M considers that the government stands up for the principles of the rule of law and welcomes the Polish government's ambitions to restore confidence in the judiciary 1 2 3. 1 2 3 M emphasizes that Sweden is an active party in the rule of law dialogue and that the government continues to represent Sweden in Article 7 processes 1 2 3. 3 M argues that the government does not waver on these issues and that the principles of the rule of law are important for competitiveness and expansion 3. 2 4 M argues that cooperation in the European Parliament is important as long as one shares the same views 2 and that the government will cooperate with those who think like 4. 5 S claims that M and SD waver and turn away from democracy by cooperating with right-wing nationalist forces 5. 5 S argues that SD acts as megaphones for parties that have undermined the rule of law 5.
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 if I and the government share the description of the new Polish government that has been presented publicly by the government's coalition party in the Riksdag and if I, in that case, intend to take any measures. Matilda Ernkrans also wonders if I consider that the principles of the rule of law in the EU are threatened by the Sverigedemokraternas sister parties in the EU. Finally, Matilda Ernkrans wants to know if I and the government intend to take any new initiatives to uphold the principles of the rule of law in the EU cooperation.
As Matilda Ernkrans is well aware, the principles of the rule of law are a priority for the government. During Sweden's EU presidency, both Article 7 inquiries with Poland and Hungary and a rule of law symposium were organized, which resulted in recommendations for the Commission and the upcoming presidency.
The EU is a unique, deep and broad cooperation between independent states - politically, economically and legally. A prerequisite for the cooperation to be able to function is that the rule of law principle and other values on which it rests are upheld in all parts of the union. The Government has therefore warmly welcomed the Polish government's clarity when it comes to resolving the situation regarding rule of law issues.
In connection with the General Council's meeting in February, the Polish government presented an action plan and measures to restore confidence in the justice system. It was received very positively within the circle of member states, and I welcomed the Polish government's ambitions and intentions. The Commission has since adopted a decision which means that Polish applications for the payment of previously frozen funds can now be examined.
It should be emphasized that regardless of what resistance the reform work in Poland may encounter, the expectation is that it is carried out in a manner that is compatible with the values that the reforms ultimately aim to safeguard.
The development in Poland is a pleasing and positive aspect of the situation for the fundamental values in the EU. In other parts of the union, there are still worrying elements and unfortunately also signs that the development is heading in the wrong direction. It is therefore necessary to continue the work to ensure that all member states live up to these values and the entirely voluntary commitments they made by becoming members of the union.
Against this background, the government will remain an active participant in the work to safeguard the EU's fundamental values. For my part, I continue to represent Sweden in the general council of the Council's rule of law dialogue, which includes all member states. I will also ensure that Sweden's voice is heard in ongoing Article 7 processes in a manner that is adapted to the situation in each respective process. The government will also continuously assess when there is reason for Sweden to engage in ongoing cases in the Court of Justice of the EU. Last but not least, we also want the work to safeguard the principles of the rule of law to be reflected in the EU's strategic agenda and permeate the next Commission's work.
Matilda Ernkrans (S)
Madam Speaker! EU cooperation rests on a number of fundamental democratic values that every member state signs up for and must deliver on. One of these fundamental values is the principles of the rule of law, a central part of how the union is to function. It is about us being a union where we can trust one another, where we can be confident that our EU funds are used for the right things and where we stand up for our common democracy.
The EU Minister has himself expressed concern in the chamber of the Riksdag that the principles of the rule of law are threatened within the EU cooperation. Among the EU's member states, there are two countries where the EU Commission has open cases against the country because the country does not live up to the principles of the rule of law. Orbán's Hungary has 27 open cases. Poland also has open infringement cases because the country's previous government, among other things, abolished the independence of the courts and reduced freedom of the press. Poland has thus for eight years been governed by the national-conservative party Law and Justice, a party that sits in the same party group in the European Parliament as our Swedish Sverigedemokrater.
In the last election, Poland received a new government under Donald Tusk. I believe that almost all parties in this Riksdag welcome the new government in Poland, in the sense that Poland is now moving towards a more democratic development with a stronger rule of law. This also applies to the EU Commission, which has now released the funds to Poland that were previously withheld to show the EU's support for the reforms that the new Polish government is now implementing.
Many therefore welcome this, but the government's own coalition partner, Sverigedemokraterna, does not fully. In the foreign policy debate a couple of weeks ago, the Sverigedemokratisk member Markus Wiechel chose to direct harsh criticism towards the newly elected Polish government. The SD member, who also serves in the parliamentary Committee on Foreign Affairs, stated that the change of government in Poland threatens the Polish people's freedoms and that the newly appointed Prime Minister Donald Tusk "is doing his utmost to eliminate critical media by using government power."
With this, Wiechel acts as a spokesperson for the Polish national-conservative party Law and Justice, a party that has done everything in its power to undermine the election result in Poland. By his side, Markus Wiechel has Björn Söder of the Sverigedemokraterna, who, not in this chamber but publicly, has highlighted his "dear friend," a politician from SD's sister party in Poland and his indignation over precisely the debate that we have here and now in the chamber of the Riksdag.
In June, Europe goes to the polls. It is an important election. Our time needs a strong and democratic Europe that supports Ukraine against Putin's Russia. We need to send representatives to the EU who are for cohesion, cooperation and who, in contrast to the right-wing nationalists' divisive forces, stand up for democracy.
The government coordinates its EU policy with the Sweden Democrats. In the European Parliament, we can already sense a movement towards more cooperation between Minister Roswall's parliamentary group EPP and Jimmie Åkesson's parliamentary group ECR, where the Polish national-conservative party is the largest party. Not least, it is a fact that Jessika Roswall herself figures in the speculations about being Kristersson's candidate for a new Swedish EU commissioner.
In view of this, I firmly assert that it is of great value to receive answers to all the questions that I have posed to Sweden's EU Minister.
Statsrådet Jessika Roswall (M)
Madam Speaker! Matilda Ernkrans and I, as well as the government, completely agree that the principles of the rule of law and our fundamental values are the basis for the good cooperation that the EU must build upon.
Let me still speak briefly about the Article 7 proceedings that are ongoing and which I raised initially. As Matilda Ernkrans well knows, we pushed this hard during the Swedish presidency with hearings with exactly those two countries that Matilda Ernkrans highlights.
It is important that these discussions do not become routine, but that an active discussion is actually held at the meetings. At the general council held most recently, when Poland raised the issue of Article 7, a very lively discussion was held. I gave my full support to Poland's government, which I had anchored in the EU Committee.
Matilda Ernkrans mentioned the Commission's decision to grant Poland the payout of the frozen funds. I think it is important to point out that we now have the conditionality mechanism. We also have the possibility to set specific requirements on member states for them to receive money from the recovery fund. Furthermore, there are conditions that member states must fulfill in order to receive a share of the structural funds.
Another part, which Matilda Ernkrans did not take up but which is sometimes up for discussion, concerns when one sees that member states systematically threaten the rule of law principle. In those cases, there is an opportunity to go to court. Matilda Ernkrans mentioned open cases. Here, Sweden is an active party. We intervene in many cases that we consider important from a Swedish perspective - when it is called for that we intervene from Sweden's side.
Let me also say that it is not an end in itself that we have these different formal processes. The goal is, of course, that we should be able to avoid having them and that all member states follow the common values that they committed to when they joined the union. It is obvious that all member states should follow them.
It is correct that I have said that I see a worrying development in several member states. The rule of law reports of recent years show that all member states receive recommendations from the Commission. That is why the Swedish government is a very clear and active party when these issues come up for discussion in the Council.
I would like to conclude by saying two things.
One concerns the EU Committee, which I visited in February. Matilda Ernkrans was also present then. I informed that Poland would take the initiative for a discussion on Article 7 in subsequent general advice. I can state that all parties supported the government's view that Poland's intentions regarding the reform of the rule of law and regarding the judiciary should be welcomed.
The second matter concerns Matilda Ernkrans' claims about different party groups. It is no news that this government cooperates with everyone on different issues. In the European Parliament, a broad cooperation occurs between different party groups, for example when it comes to the support for Ukraine. This is very important. I have no problem cooperating with anyone as long as we have the same opinion. We can think differently about different things, but we can cooperate in the issues where we think alike.
Matilda Ernkrans (S)
Madam Speaker! The Social Democrats stand on the side of democracy and stand up for the principles of the rule of law. It is Minister Roswall, her government and her chosen friends - the coalition party Sverigedemokraterna - who are wavering. It is quite obvious that it is Sverigedemokraterna and their party family who are turning away from democracy and eroding, not least, the EU's fundamental values. We see it in Hungary, and we have seen it in Poland.
Here and now, we in the Swedish Riksdag have leading Sweden Democrat representatives who act as megaphones for the national-conservative party's interests in Poland. These right-wing nationalist and populist forces held power in Poland for eight years. They restricted civil liberties and rights, dismantled the independence of courts and judges, and attacked freedom of speech through control of the media. These are the forces that the Sweden Democrats cooperate with in the European Parliament. The Sweden Democrats ally with them in the fight against liberal democracy and social democracy.
A former minister from the national-conservative party Lag och rättvisa, backed by Sverigedemokrater in social media, argues that all of us who have criticized how Poland's former government dismantled the rule of law are brainwashed. I argue that we must continue to scrutinize the forces around Europe that threaten democracy, not least ahead of the upcoming EU election.
The development in Poland under Law and Justice was a textbook example of how to build an autocracy. When Law and Justice took office in 2015, one of the first things they did was to enact laws that would politicize state organs and maximize control over state media, the judiciary, and public administration. They changed Poland's media law and appointed journalists and officials within the state administration who clearly sympathized with the government's policies. They have been judged a number of times by the EU Court of Justice for the interventions they made in the judiciary.
The Polish election campaign this autumn was unusually dirty. Law and Justice staged a hate campaign against the opposition leader Donald Tusk and enacted laws that could have prevented him from running. When Donald Tusk and his Civic Coalition nevertheless emerged as the clear winners of the autumn election, Poland's president, who belongs to the national-conservative party Law and Justice, refused to appoint him as government-formateur.
At the same time, the Sweden Democrats and the party Law and Justice are working closely and trustingly to shape Europe from their ideals - to the extent that the Sweden Democrats want to act as spokespersons for the Polish right-wing nationalists in Swedish media and in the Swedish Riksdag. One can ask why.
I want to assert that these are very reasonable questions that I have posed to the EU Minister regarding the new Polish government under Donald Tusk and the criticism that has been voiced by SD. Will the Minister take any actions in view of this?
Does the Minister of Justice consider that the principles of the rule of law in the EU are threatened by the Sweden Democrats and their sister parties in the EU? What is the EU Minister's position on cooperating with more such right-wing nationalists in the European Parliament? I and many others wonder how the EU Minister views a cooperation between her own European group in parliament, EPP, and the Sweden Democrats' and the Polish Law and Justice's group ECR after the election. Can she close the door to that?
What happens to the principles of the rule of law and fundamental democratic values together with these right-wing nationalist forces? Is it not time to close the door to this, EU Minister Roswall?
Statsrådet Jessika Roswall (M)
Madam Speaker! I will say this twice; it is just as well that I reveal it: The Government does not waver and has not done so.
I am here because I am the EU Minister in Sweden's government, which stands up for the principles of the rule of law. I am very proud of what we have done during the time – one and a half years – that we have sat in government.
For me, there are not many issues that are as important as the EU's fundamental values. This issue is so important that we had it as a priority during the Swedish presidency. We had inquiries, according to Article 7, of Poland and Hungary. We organized a symposium where we invited broadly - the invited were, for example, representatives for civil society, judges and commissioners. Good discussions were held with several other member states. The Riksdag was, of course, also present. This symposium resulted in recommendations that the Spanish presidency, as well as the Belgian, have followed up on.
As I said initially, the government also intervenes continuously in various cases that are before the Court of Justice of the European Union.
We do everything we can to defend the fundamental values and the principles of the rule of law. We have also been clear that we support and welcome Poland's intention to re-establish the principles of the rule of law, which I feel very satisfied and proud about.
We had, as mentioned, an incredibly good discussion at the latest general council, where Poland's Minister of Justice and Poland's EU Minister accounted for the work that is being done. They were also receptive when we said that these changes will take time and that it will not be easy. They were aware of this.
The government is therefore not wavering at all; I think that has been clear. We have shown it.
What do we do moving forward? I have discussed this with Matilda Ernkrans several times. It is about the next strategic agenda and what the next commission shall deal with.
For Sweden, the question of the principles of the rule of law is important. This is also well-anchored in the EU Committee. It is an extremely important issue regarding both competitiveness and the expansion that is at the door. This is something that we all - not just the government - need to work on. I assume that Member Ernkrans, in connection with Cosac and other meetings, also highlights Swedish priorities in this matter.
We are therefore working both with what we have done and with what we do strategically moving forward. I feel very secure that the government is not wavering on these issues.
Matilda Ernkrans (S)
Madam Speaker! I thank the Minister for EU Affairs for the debate, but as I began with, EU cooperation rests on a number of fundamental democratic values that every member state signs up for and must deliver. One of these fundamental values is the principles of the rule of law, which is completely central to how the union functions. It is about us being a union where we can trust one another and be secure that our EU funds are used for the right things and that we stand up for democracy.
In Sweden, the EU Minister and her party have shown that they are willing to let themselves and the entire government be ruled by the Swedish right-wing nationalists who refuse to welcome the democratic development in Poland and seem to want to keep Poland in a regime that sidelined the principles of the rule of law. For that very reason, I will continue to wonder if we can really trust the commitment to the principles of the rule of law. What is the EU Minister's actual stance on cooperating with more such right-wing nationalists in the EU Parliament? Will the door be kept closed there or not?
Furthermore, speculations are flourishing that Minister Roswall is Kristersson's candidate to become an EU commissioner, and in that case, it becomes even more important to get answers. What does Jessika Roswall actually think? What values will she promote in the EU cooperation?
Statsrådet Jessika Roswall (M)
Madam Speaker! I turn slightly towards Matilda Ernkrans' description that certain parties would refuse to welcome the developments in Poland. In the EU Committee in February, I raised the issue that Poland wants to include its Article 7 procedure as a special item, and there it was exactly the opposite. All parties in the Swedish Riksdag welcomed the Polish government's ambition to ensure that Poland lives up to the fundamental values that EU member states shall respect.
Matilda Ernkrans and I completely agree that these are very important issues, and it is in line with Swedish tradition. It is not the first and probably not the last time we have this discussion, and I thank you for the opportunity to account for what the government has done and intends to do, and what I, as EU Minister, intend to do.
I am positive that the new tools on the EU's table will be used and that we can discern successes in Poland's Article 7 procedure. I have probably never seen two EU Commissioners so satisfied as at that meeting.
Madam Speaker! Once again, and it is nothing new: Sweden's government and I will cooperate with all those who we think alike, and if we do not think alike, we do not cooperate. This is what I believe in, and it has proven to be successful.
Source: The Swedish Parliament. The speeches come from the open data of the Riksdag, translated into English by AI, which may contain errors.