Sweden, which takes over the EU Council Presidency on 1 January, is putting foreign affairs - and the war in Ukraine - at the top of its agenda.
“Russia’s invasion of Ukraine means that the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) will be high on the EU agenda during the Swedish Presidency. It is in the interest of the EU to contribute to counteracting Russia’s aggression”, says the Presidency programme.
While the CFSP is the responsibility of the High Representative of the Union, Sweden wants to contribute to a “united, engaged and effective EU” and will work to strengthen the EU as a global actor. It “will promote a continued active and united EU policy to counteract Russia’s aggression against Ukraine. This involves putting pressure on Russia, Belarus and other responsible parties, including by imposing sanctions and demanding accountability, and providing Ukraine with political, economic, military, humanitarian and legal support, including in its reconstruction”, but also with regard to the EU accession process, cooperation with important partners and strengthening the EU’s crisis management capacity.
For Stockholm, the establishment of an international coordination platform for reconstruction assistance is a “priority task” and the EU has an important role to play.
Sweden also pledges that it will work for the effective and uniform implementation of EU sanctions and coordination with EU partner countries.
In addition to responding to the war in Ukraine, the Swedish Presidency intends to contribute to efforts to promote closer contacts with neighbouring countries, including with regard to enlargement policy.
“Developing well-adapted formats for relations with the countries in the Eastern Partnership will be high on the agenda and, in addition to fostering closer ties with the EU, will also include strengthening the security dimension” the programme says, also stressing the importance of security in the Western Balkans. Moreover, the EU has a “strategic interest” in ensuring that the conditions for stability and security are met in the Eastern Mediterranean, “including cooperative and mutually beneficial relations with Turkey”.
The Swedish Presidency will also actively contribute to the development and strengthening of transatlantic cooperation with the United States, as well as EU-NATO cooperation, and with the United Kingdom, Canada and Latin America. It will continue to support ongoing efforts for a clear, united and effective EU policy towards China, “based on the interests and values of the EU”.
The implementation of the EU’s partnership with its southern neighbours will also be on the agenda, and Sweden intends to help highlight the EU’s added value as a strategic partner for African countries, particularly on development, trade and security issues.
In addition, the Presidency will support the implementation of the European Commission’s communication on the Gulf region. It wants to strengthen the EU’s engagement with the crisis in Yemen, work on the conflict in Syria, continue the EU’s “pursuit” of a coherent policy towards Iran and pursue efforts for a negotiated two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
In general, Sweden will strive to ensure that human rights, democracy, the rule of law, gender equality, peace and security have an impact on the EU’s Common Foreign and Security Policy. It also intends to focus on climate issues.
Furthermore, “if circumstances permit”, the Swedish Presidency will progress discussions on qualified majority voting in certain areas of the CFSP.
See the Presidency’s programme: https://aeur.eu/f/4p5 (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)