Sweden assumed the EU presidency on January 1 with the desire to promote free trade and avoid any protectionist reflexes, a priority that could create tensions at a time when Paris and Berlin want to toughen their tone against the United States and its ” Inflation”. Law of reduction”.
The role of the Sweden Democrats, the great unknown
Formed in mid-October, the new Swedish government must first, at the start of its six-month rotating presidency until June 30, overcome questions about the impact of its unprecedented alliance with the nationalist Sweden Democrats (SD), big winners of the legislative elections in September. After eight years of the left in power, Conservative Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson leads a coalition made up of his Moderate party and his traditional allies, the Christian Democrats and the Liberals.
But the government is based on a parliamentary majority that also includes the SD. If the latter no longer mentions leaving the EU on his programme, friction seems inevitable, particularly on the sensitive issue of immigration.
“There are a lot of fine words when you read the prime minister’s article about the priorities of the Swedish EU presidency. But the concern is great when, in practice, it is the SD who rules the roost,” says Helene Fritzon, MEP for the Social Democrats, now the main left-wing opposition party.
The government agreement of Tidö -the castle where it was negotiated- between the four formations of the majority provides that the SD be informed of all the decisions that the executive makes in relation to the EU. “But in general, EU subjects are excluded from this agreement,” says Göran von Sydow, director of the Swedish Institute for European Studies (Sieps). For him, the fact that “most of the ministers and their close collaborators have very little experience in European meetings” is nevertheless cause for concern.
EU historical distance
Priorities shown by Stockholm beyond “economic competitiveness”? Maintain the unity of the Twenty-seven on Ukraine in the face of Russian aggression, the climate and the defense of “fundamental values”, in particular in the face of the controversial measures adopted by Hungary and Poland.
Sweden, which is not part of the euro zone, “maintains a rather distant relationship with Europe”, underlines Sébastien Maillard, director of the Jacques Delors Institute, who predicts a rotating presidency that “will do its duty” but “will not be jealous”. ” and “will not have prominence”. If some take the opportunity to put their country in full light on the continent, the Nordic country has opted for a form of restraint.
Unlike the last two presidencies, French and Czech, marked by summits of heads of state in Versailles and Prague, no solemn mass is scheduled in the country. As for the ministerial meetings, they will take place in a modest conference center near Stockholm’s main airport.
A “cantilever” presidency
As for the substance, Sweden, which wants to relaunch the negotiations of international trade agreements with several countries and regions, could face an unfavorable calendar and the Franco-German couple, which seems to be regaining color in its search for a common response in Washington. The Swedish presidency coincides with the entry into force in the United States of theInflation Reduction Law (GO TO). This $420 billion plan, largely devoted to climate, also takes on a protectionist character strongly denounced by French President Emmanuel Macron during a recent trip to Washington.
With exceptional aid reserved for companies located on the other side of the Atlantic, it will lead to “distortions of competition at the expense of EU companies”, in the words of Thierry Breton, European Commissioner for the Internal Market.
“The Swedish presidency will undoubtedly be at odds with the Franco-German steps that are being prepared” in response to the US plan, predicts Sébastien Maillard. “Stockholm will have to manage the tensions between the Twenty-seven over the degree of response and aggressiveness” of the EU to the US plan, he adds, stressing that the Franco-German Council of Ministers, scheduled for January 22 in Paris, could send a strong signal about this dossier.
After 2001 and 2009, this is Sweden’s third presidency since joining the EU in 1995. Although the political line of Swedish parties remains fairly pro-European, Europe has aroused limited enthusiasm in the Nordic country in recent years. Two decades after the “No” vote in the referendum on joining the euro in 2003, polls estimate that two out of three Swedes reject the single currency.
Source: BFM TV
