Response to interpellation 2023/24:724 on safeguarding Swedish interests in the EU
Translated from Swedish by AI; the translation may contain errors. The Swedish text is the original.
Summary AI, written in advance
KD argues that the government has an active EU policy to strengthen competitiveness and industry through low electricity prices 1. KD claims that they enter processes early to ensure Swedish interests 1 and make trade-offs to maximize these 2. KD emphasizes that they work proactively to influence the EU's agenda in the long term 2 3 and denies claims of consistent absence 4. S argues that the Minister for Enterprise's choice to prioritize away from participating in Council meetings is bad for Swedish competitiveness and electricity consumers 5. S claims that it is a betrayal of Sweden not to take every opportunity to advocate for Swedish electricity consumers 6. S considers it obligatory for ministers to be present when decisions are made 7.
Written by AI in advance and may contain errors. The numbers lead to the speech a statement builds on; check against the text below.
Energi- och näringsministern Ebba Busch (KD)
Madam Speaker! Matilda Ernkrans has asked me about how I have prioritized my work at the EU level to ensure Swedish interests that are crucial for Swedish competitiveness, my assessment of the image of Sweden in relation to my absence from meetings with my counterparts at the EU level, and what initiatives I intend to take to increase my engagement and my presence when important Swedish interests such as cheap electricity and competitiveness are negotiated and decided upon at the EU level.
I mean that the question is wrong from the start, and I intend to try to explain why.
Placing long-term competitiveness at the top of the EU agenda was one of the government's most important priorities during the Swedish EU Presidency. Since then, the government has continued to pursue an active EU policy to strengthen competitiveness and create good conditions for our industry, not least regarding low electricity prices. Without access to fossil-free and cheap energy, it will be difficult to carry out the green transition, and if we do not carry out this transition, we lose competitiveness and do not reach our climate goals.
The government has as a clear goal to enter the EU processes early to ensure Swedish interests, which is a clear shift from the previous government's way of working. It is about priorities and political will. But it is also about gathering allies and influencing through all conceivable channels.
As part of this work, I have during the spring invited, for example, the business sector, industry, academia and authorities to EU consultation meetings to gather views and unite us around a common message to influence the EU moving forward. The Government shall also hold regular meetings on upcoming initiatives with representatives from the business sector, trade unions and other interest organizations.
Influencing the EU's direction can happen in different ways. One example is the trip to Paris for a meeting with France's energy minister just weeks after the government took office in the autumn of 2022. At that meeting, the foundation was laid for the nuclear alliance that subsequently came to be under my supervision during the Swedish presidency here in Stockholm. Since the first meeting with the nuclear alliance in the spring of 2023, it can be observed that several legislative files thereafter came to include nuclear power in one way or another. It has been a witnessed successful way to promote Swedish interests, as a direct result of the prioritization I made in the autumn of 2022.
Most recently, in the middle of April, I visited Brussels and had meetings with three EU Commissioners responsible for, among other things, competitiveness issues, energy policy, and the green deal. There, I emphasized the importance of the next Commission prioritizing the implementation of the green and digital transition while simultaneously strengthening competitiveness over time. We touched upon, among other things, nuclear power, mines, and Swedish forestry.
But EU policy is not shaped only by EU processes. COP - the various climate summits - OECD and the Nordic Council are all forums to shape and influence EU policy. These are examples of how the government and I promote Swedish interests at the EU level. By being active and influencing early in processes at different levels, we can maximize Swedish interests in the EU.
Matilda Ernkrans (S)
Madam Speaker! I thank the Minister for Enterprise, as well as Vice Prime Minister Busch, for the answer. I can state that the cozy atmosphere that prevailed here in the chamber just a moment ago between the KD leader and a number of representatives for the Sweden Democrats, where unfortunately SD's troll factory already seems to be forgotten, perhaps is not as convivial right now.
I thank you for the answer, but it prompts me to make a few comments. Firstly, the interpellation is not about a criticism of what the Minister has done, but rather what the Minister has not done. Secondly, it is appropriate to be clear that this debate is a consequence of an investigative journalistic work by two journalists who, for many years, have both followed and reported on EU policy and Sweden's EU engagement, and still do so.
For me, it is obvious and reasonable to follow up on what I perceive as a glaring scrutiny of the Minister for Enterprise, as well as Deputy Prime Minister, Ebba Busch. This concerns her choice to for a long time and consistently have prioritized away participation in the EU's Council of Ministers meetings. I mean that it is bad for Sweden, for Swedish competitiveness and for Swedish electricity consumers.
It is also a strange behavior if we put this in relation to what your boss, Prime Minister Kristersson, claims time and again, namely that the Swedish presidency put EU's competitiveness on the agenda. It is seen as a victory.
Whether it is a Swedish victory or not according to that description, I leave to others to examine. But on the other hand, it is obvious that there is a strong interest from all of the EU's member states to deepen the work on the EU's competitiveness. Otherwise, the issue would not be on the EU's agenda, which it is.
The interests are great, and the wishes are many and sometimes conflicting regarding how competitiveness should be strengthened. In that case, it is remarkable with the Minister for Enterprise's reluctance to safeguard Swedish interests in that work. Minister for Enterprise, as well as Deputy Prime Minister, Ebba Busch shies away from EU ministerial meetings where important issues are discussed on how Sweden can secure cheap electricity and strengthen its competitiveness. For a year and a half, Ebba Busch has consistently chosen corporate meetings and visits to Paris instead of doing her job as the minister responsible for energy and competitiveness issues.
When the EU steps forward in the work to strengthen the EU's competitiveness, Sweden chooses instead to shrink back, when it could have defended Swedish interests in Brussels. It is a dangerous path. Ultimately, it is about Swedish consumers' electricity bills and that the Swedes should have a representative on the spot who stands up for their interests, if it is to become a Swedish victory.
This is the reason for the reasonable questions that I have asked the Minister. The first question that Minister of Enterprise Busch prioritizes answering concerns her work at the EU level to ensure Swedish interests. There, I could still hear that the Minister, in her answer, tried to give a picture of what the Minister has done. It is commendable, but it is also a description of what is normal work for a minister. It is actually nothing beyond the usual. Rather, it is remarkably little considering that it was somehow supposed to compensate for shirking from the EU ministerial meetings.
The Minister has time left to submit the text, so I intend to give the Minister a new opportunity to answer the very reasonable questions about how it is that the Minister has chosen to shrink from the EU Council meetings, how it has affected the image of Sweden, and what new initiatives the Minister intends to take to increase his engagement and his presence in order to safeguard important Swedish interests at the EU level.
Energi- och näringsministern Ebba Busch (KD)
Madam Speaker! For me, it is important to treat everyone correctly and kindly. I note, Madam Speaker, that Matilda Ernkrans speaks of a cozy atmosphere here until now. I do not stand for changing the atmosphere. I respond to everyone I meet here in the chamber in as correct and kind a way as I can, Madam Speaker, and I naturally wish to do so also with Matilda Ernkrans.
I would like to respond to some facts and claims.
I think it is remarkable that one, as an experienced member of this assembly but also in the EU Committee, chooses to spread direct inaccuracies, and furthermore in a rather mocking way. One speaks of visits to Paris as if they were some private croissant-cozy trips.
The reason I specifically brought up Paris was that, already in the question, one expressed themselves in a rather mocking way regarding the trip I undertook just a few weeks after we had taken office in government. I think it is good for those sitting in the gallery here and for those listening to the debate to be able to see that there is a direct correlation between the prioritization I made in the autumn of 2022, the nuclear power alliance that was subsequently formed under my supervision and with my fond memory – where Sweden pulled a heavy load – and that nuclear power is now included in almost all decisive, strategically important EU documents.
This can be put into relation to the Social Democrats' comments almost exactly five years ago, when I, as party leader, raised the nuclear power issue to the EU agenda and we were told that nuclear power does not belong on the EU agenda. Now, as Minister for Energy, I have been able to clearly show how our work safeguards Swedish interests and clearly makes an impact.
I would like to address the factual errors, which are also present in the article that the member is referring to here.
On September 25, 2023, and on March 27, 2024, the government was represented by Minister Forssell. This is because I, as a minister in Ulf Kristersson's government, am responsible for two ministerial circles, one with the energy ministers and the other concerning competitiveness issues. But not least, the competitiveness council has shared responsibility. Sometimes it is certain issues that Minister Johan Forssell is responsible for. Some issues lie with Minister Erik Slottner.
Such a council meeting was held on 5 December 2023. The same applies to 14 February 2024. It was an informal research and innovation minister meeting, where the government was represented by responsible minister Mats Persson.
That is why I think it is quite serious that questions are asked in a somewhat mocking tone - I try to keep it objective and fact-based in return - but also that direct inaccuracies are spread when there is a shared ministerial responsibility.
I am happy to answer other questions, for example regarding the meeting that took place in December last year. I chose then to prioritize the climate summit in Dubai and would instead have been represented by my State Secretary, who unfortunately fell ill on the same day.
I think, therefore, that we have had good reasons for the priorities we have made. I think it is important that we stick to the facts, and I think that I have clearly explained how we safeguard Swedish interests.
Matilda Ernkrans (S)
Madam Speaker! We shall stick to the facts, and we shall treat each other correctly. It is an agreement that we have made here in the Swedish Riksdag, both those who lead the government's work and those who represent the opposition.
If Ebba Busch wants to go into a match against experienced journalists, that is a choice that Ebba Busch makes.
I think that Ebba Busch is trying to talk away and downplay the fact that one has deliberately prioritized not being present to fight for Swedish competitiveness and cheap electricity. Does the Minister mean that it does not matter that ministers participate in the EU Council meetings?
I want to be clear. I have myself been a minister with responsibility for a number of different policy areas, and I can in any case attest that it matters whether the minister is present or not. It is noted which countries are represented by ministers and which are not. Sweden also receives speaking time from outside depending on whether it is represented by a minister or not. No chairperson would shorten a minister's contribution, but that is done with a state secretary's because it matters who represents the country.
It is also quite obvious that if a country is consistently never represented by the minister whose questions it is that one should decide on, it sends no other signal to other ministers and other countries around the table than that it means that Sweden does not prioritize that policy area and also does not prioritize the common work at the EU level.
I do not, therefore, think it is a small matter that the Minister for Energy and Industry and the Deputy Prime Minister, who is responsible for Swedish electricity consumers' sky-high electricity bills and Swedish companies' competitiveness, has consistently chosen to opt out of the EU Council of Ministers. And this debate is, once again, not about what Ebba Busch has done but about what Ebba Busch has not done.
Would it not have been appropriate to be present and take the fight for Swedish electricity consumers and for Swedish industry, which builds its competitiveness on cheap electricity?
Would it not have been appropriate to take every opportunity, for example when the minister met his German ministerial colleague, to raise the work of ensuring that Germany actually follows already made EU decisions and introduces electricity price zones? It would have been good for Sweden and for Swedish electricity consumers and Swedish industry, not least in southern Sweden.
Today, Germany's Federal Chancellor is in Sweden to get Sweden to help Germany with Hansa Powerbridge, a Swedish-German power line that would benefit Germany but perhaps not Sweden. Why is the government's obvious answer to that not that there will be no Swedish-German power line unless Germany first does its homework and introduces reasonable electricity price areas? Sweden needs it.
A Minister for Energy and Business and a Deputy Prime Minister with a sense of reality should have thought that this was an obvious job to do. How on earth did Ebba Busch come to the conclusion that it was better to abstain? And does Ebba Busch really not think that it matters that a minister represents Sweden? I think it does. I think it matters, and I think it will be interesting to hear the Minister's answer.
Safeguarding Swedish interests in the EU matters. It is a hard job. It requires rolling up one's sleeves, being present, and doing the work. But everything else is a betrayal of Sweden.
Energi- och näringsministern Ebba Busch (KD)
Madam Speaker! I stand up for what is right and proper and what is factually correct.
I think it is regrettable, Madam Speaker, that Matilda Ernkrans does not back down here in the chamber from the allegations of consistent absence when they do not hold up anywhere. It is, like, a level that both I and Matilda Ernkrans should be able to rise above.
I do not think any minister should seek to "go a round" with any journalist. But it does happen sometimes that even the most experienced are factually wrong.
The question remains whether Matilda Ernkrans means that I, as Minister for Energy and Business, should represent the government even when it is the responsibility of other members of the government. That is the conclusion that is now being drawn and asserted here in the chamber.
There are individual meetings that I have not attended when it was my responsibility. I am happy to answer that, but that is not what is being asked here.
A concrete example is when we had ongoing Council meetings in Brussels and a Nordic Council meeting in parallel, side by side. I think it can be good for the citizens and for those listening to this debate to know, for example, that we then have a rather thorough discussion regarding what is to be decided at the Council meeting. In this case, it concerned the electricity market design, a large, important and heavy piece that was negotiated almost in its entirety during the Swedish presidency. We also closed Remit under my leadership. If it had not been for the fact that France and Denmark could not manage to reach an agreement, this also would have been finished under our leadership.
This means that I, as the responsible minister during the Swedish presidency, had done the groundwork and that we had a clear product when this reached the Council of Ministers meeting. At that point, we chose to divide ourselves so that Sweden could safeguard its interests both in the Nordic Council circle, where the agenda was not set to the same extent, and at the Council of Ministers meeting in Brussels, where my State Secretary was present. It is therefore these types of trade-offs we have made.
A rather serious claim is also being made, Madam Speaker, that I would mean that it does not matter whether we are present. It does matter, and I think one should be present. But when different interests are pitted against each other - for example, the climate summit in Dubai and, as in this case, the Nordic Energy Ministers' meeting - we look at how we can maximize the Swedish interests in total. I think I have accounted well for this.
I would, however, like to return to the point that correct must be correct. Matilda Ernkrans has, Madam Speaker, sufficient experience to be able to stand by having referred to an article that in itself contained factual errors. The criticism and questions from the Member of Parliament may still be legitimate, even if one chooses not to spread factual errors further.
Matilda Ernkrans (S)
Madam Speaker! Correct must be correct, and this applies in particular to ministers, who must indeed endure being scrutinized by the opposition. It is the minister and the government who themselves prioritize in their work. It is the minister who herself has chosen which meetings she has participated in and has not participated in; that is correct. This is something that the minister Ebba Busch, Vice Prime Minister and Minister for Enterprise, must stand for and take responsibility for.
It would be interesting to know how many times Ebba Busch has sat down with her German counterpart and put forward a very reasonable demand from Swedish electricity consumers and Swedish industry, which are dependent on cheap electricity, that Germany actually must do the work themselves and introduce reasonable electricity price zones. How many times has Ebba Busch chosen such a meeting and chosen to put forward that very reasonable position from Sweden, when we know that Germany wants our help in another matter, which perhaps would not be as favorable for Sweden?
I want to conclude by saying that we face an EU election that is only a few weeks away. It is an election in a restless time, where we need to choose cohesion and cooperation, not division or abstaining from cooperation.
The EU can give us security in uncertain and restless times. We can secure support for Ukraine so that Ukraine wins the war and Russia loses. We can build a cooperation that secures cheap electricity and strengthened competitiveness also in Sweden. But then we must be prepared to roll up our sleeves and do the work - and send politicians and parties who are prepared to do the work.
I do not think the KD leader here has shown leadership for this. I think the KD leader seems to have chosen to refrain from something that is clearly mandatory for every minister and parliamentarian - to be present when the decisions are made.
TREDJE VICE TALMANNEN
I must remind that this is an interpellation to Minister for Energy and Business Ebba Busch and nothing else.
Energi- och näringsministern Ebba Busch (KD)
Madam Speaker! I would nevertheless like to conclude by thanking you for the interpellation. This is part of the working methods in the Swedish Riksdag and is part of the oversight function that the Riksdag has in relation to the government, which is important and something to safeguard. I want to emphasize that I completely share the view that this is also how one can apply accountability towards the ministers we have in the government – quite rightly so.
I also want to thank you for the opportunity to correct some of the inaccuracies that have been reported here, which are very easy to check, but also the media reports that have occurred. And I want to thank you for the opportunity to provide a justification to those citizens who think, "When it has been your responsibility as Minister for Energy or Minister for Enterprise, why have you then chosen not to be there?". I have, for example, been able to speak about the climate summit and the energy ministers' council meeting with the Nordic ministers.
I have also been able to demonstrate effective work to push forward when it is not about sharp negotiations during the Council meetings – to be able to safeguard Swedish interests early on. One such example was the visit I made to Brussels just a few weeks ago, where it was mentioned openly in the margins that it is quite unusual to have a Swedish minister on the ground in that way. It was said that it had been a long time since someone worked so proactively, when it is not about current, ongoing discussions during Council meetings, to influence the EU's agenda in the long term. I believe we should do more of this, regardless of what political color the government has.
Most recently today, I also, as Minister for Energy and Industry, had the opportunity to sit down with Germany's Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz and convey what I have many times conveyed, both at actual meetings and bilaterally via SMS and telephone to my German colleague, about how we can achieve a functioning market where we are not negatively affected by countries having chosen to dismantle a functioning base power.
Source: The Swedish Parliament. The speeches come from the open data of the Riksdag, translated into English by AI, which may contain errors.