Sweden assumes EU Presidency amid crisis, pledges to increase military support for Ukraine

Europe, News January 2, 2023 , by IRIA No Comments

Sweden assumed the European Union’s rotational presidency for the next six months starting from January 1 to June 30, 2023, as the Russian war on Ukraine remains a major challenge to European security.

Sweden is taking over the Presidency of the Council of the European Union during Europe’s most serious security crisis since the Second World War.

Sweden’s Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson laid down his plans for his country’s term of Presidency by stating that “Sweden is taking over the Presidency at a time when the European Union is facing unprecedented challenges. A greener, more secure, and freer Europe is the foundation of our priorities.”

During the course of its Presidency, Sweden will host around 2000 EU meetings in Brussels and Luxembourg, as well as around 150 meetings in various locations in Sweden addressing more than 300 different issues related to European security, trade, migration, climate change, and the economy.

Sweden will also hold talks with various EU bodies and negotiate important issues among the member states, the European Commission, and the Parliament.

🇸🇪 Sweden is assuming the Council presidency at a crucial time.

Dear @SwedishPM, your leadership will be crucial to preserve our 🇪🇺 unity in support of Ukraine.

You can count on me to take forward your ambitious agenda for our Union.

Lycka till @sweden2023eu ! pic.twitter.com/mKClO65Hoh
— Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) January 1, 2023

Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said the war in Ukraine will have decisive effects on his country’s leadership of the Council of the European Union.

Kristersson told Swedish lawmakers in December that under Sweden’s presidency, the EU’s main objective regarding the Ukraine war would focus on “maintaining European unity in our support for Ukraine, expanding the economic, humanitarian and military assistance to Ukraine, continuing to gather countries and resources for Ukraine’s reconstruction, safeguarding international law, demanding accountability; and carefully monitoring Ukraine’s progress as a candidate country.”

Kristersson said in a parliamentary session that “In other respects, we have no idea what the repercussions will be. What will be happening a year after the invasion? Later in the spring or in the summer of 2023? During its presidency, Sweden will be prepared to act quickly and resolutely.”

*^{Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson and President of the European Parliament Roberta Metsola. (Image Credit: Johannes Frandsen/Government Offices of Sweden)}*

Under its presidency, Sweden also plans to address the heated debate regarding migration issues that have continuously created tension between the EU countries.

Sweden recently went through an administrative transition that brought the right-winged bloc into power. The Sweden Democrats, led by Jimmie Akesson, got 20% of the vote in September’s elections. The party holds a strong anti-migration narrative that might reflect on the EU after Sweden takes charge as the president. During the Swedish presidency, works are expected to continue on a series of legislative proposals that lay the foundation for a new migration system in the EU.

The Netherlands and Austria have pushed for an extraordinary summit in February this year, which will be devoted to addressing migration issues. Earlier in December 2022, Austria and Netherlands blocked Bulgaria and Romania’s plea to join the Schengen area citing the countries’ weak migration laws. Croatia, however, received unanimous backing to join Schengen and became a Schengen member on January 1, 2023. Croatia has also adopted Euro as its official currency.