June 22, 2009. Copyright 2009, Graphic News. All rights reserved

Sweden prepares for a hard time in the EU hot seat
By Joanna Griffin

LONDON, June 22, Graphic News:  As Sweden prepares to take over the EU presidency on July 1, Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt could be forgiven for thinking that he has drawn the short straw. With the dust yet to settle from the European Parliament polls, the Union is also preparing for a crucial second referendum on the Lisbon Treaty in Ireland, among other thorny issues.

Sweden’s turn in the rotating role also coincides with the end of the current mandate of the European Commission, and Reinfeldt has stressed the “tough and trying times” facing Europe during the global economic downturn. Writing in Britain’s Financial Times newspaper, he said the work on the agenda for growth, and restoring the “functioning of, and confidence” in financial markets would be a top priority.

Yet Reinfeldt, whose centre right Moderate Party brought years of Social Democrat rule to a dramatic end in 2006, is not afraid of a challenge and has outlined an ambitious programme that aims to do far more than keep crisis at bay for the next six months.

Reinfeldt, the son of entrepreneurs, has also flagged up the need to develop the Lisbon Strategy for economic development after 2010 as a priority. As at home, a favourite theme is the challenge of today’s labour market and unemployment.

As well as cooperation on the economic front, Sweden will be hoping that the EU can unite on the environment and climate change before the UN Copenhagen conference in December which, it is hoped, will draw up a new protocol to replace the Kyoto pact. Its logo for the presidency, an S-shaped curve uniting two blue skies, has been interpreted as a sign that the environment and climate change will be a key focus.

One issue on which members rarely agree is, of course, enlargement. Sweden favours a bigger Union but Reinfeldt knows not everyone welcomes the prospective members as warmly. He hopes to make progress on the accession of Turkey -- unpopular with some voters in the European elections -- and has urged Ankara to speed up reforms.

Things look more hopeful for Croatia, whose accession talks could soon resume after being blocked because of a territorial dispute with Slovenia, and Sweden recently extended an invitation to Iceland, where financial meltdown has made EU membership a talking point. Also on the agenda is the Baltic Sea Strategy, which aims to tackle the region’s environmental problems and bolster its competitiveness.

Whatever the problems ahead, there will be relief in some EU quarters that the presidency is passing to steady Sweden from the Czech Republic, whose six-month tenure was interrupted midway by a change of national government.
/ENDS