From 1 January to 30 June 2023, Sweden will hold the Presidency of the Council of the European Union. This is the third time that Sweden holds the EU presidency.
“Sweden will drive the EU agenda forward, for a greener, safer and freer Europe”, says Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson. “Russia’s unjustifiable war against Ukraine, Europe’s second largest country, will define our presidency.”
“The war reminds us that freedom and democracy must not be taken for granted”, says Minister for Foreign Affairs Tobias Billström. “Mr. Putin’s war is also a war on our values, our system of governance, and the norms of international cooperation. Its outcome will shape Europe’s future.”
Annika Ben David, Ambassador of Sweden to Serbia and to Montenegro states:
“The overarching theme of our presidency in the field of foreign and security policy will be to contribute to a united, engaged, and secure EU – to which I the Western Balkans and Serbia very much belong.”
Sweden has set four priorities for its presidency:
– Providing security for EU citizens and strengthening the EU’s role in the world
– Speeding up the climate transition for fossile-free energy, green jobs and innovation
– Strengthening the EU’s competitiveness for the jobs of the future
– Safeguarding the EU’s fundamental values and stopping organised crime and corruption
The presidency’s priorities reflect positions that Sweden has long advocated within the EU. They also respond to the current geopolitical and economic challenges that the Union is facing.
On enlargement, Ambassador Ben David states: “At the summit in Tirana – the first ever outside of the EU – the EU message was clearer than ever: we are firmly committed to welcoming the Western Balkan countries into the EU family.
“We firmly believe that countries outside of the EU, wanting in, should have strong opportunities to do so. However, there are equally strong reasons why those joining should be capable of meeting the tough criteria for membership. It will take dedication by the Western Balkans countries to make a case for themselves that they are ready to join the EU”.
Sweden’s longstanding commitment to the EU path of the Western Balkans is reflected through the development cooperation with most of the countries in the region. In Serbia, Sweden is the third largest donor and the largest donor within the field of the environment.
“Now is the time to speed up reforms, harmonize policies and take new decisive measures for the geostrategic orientation of Serbia and the whole region”, Ambassador Ben David concludes.
Anika Ben David, ambasadorka Švedske u Srbiji i Crnoj Gori Swedish Presidency of the Council of the European Union