Swedish Presidency of the Council of the European Union, January to June 2023

Summary:

Information Guide providing an overview concerning the Swedish presidency of the Council of the European Union (EU), which runs from 1 January to 30 June 2023.

Further information:

During the first half of 2023, Sweden holds the presidency of the Council of the EU. It is the third time Sweden has held the presidency since it joined the EU in 1995. This is the last of a Presidency Trio which also includes France and Czechia.

The main priorities of the Swedish Presidency include:

• security - unity
• competitiveness
• green & energy transition
• democratic values and the rule of law – our foundation

The Swedish presidency vowed to prioritise continued economic and military support for Ukraine, as well as support for Ukraine's path towards the EU. It also pledged to devote its attention to European competitiveness, reducing risks of volatile energy prices and energy market reform, the green transition and the upholding of the rule of law.

Official

Official Website of the Swedish Presidency of the Council of the European Union (2023) https://swedish-presidency.consilium.europa.eu

Government Offices of Sweden: Sweden's Presidency of the Council of the EU https://www.government.se/government-policy/swedens-eu-presidency-2023/

Official Website of the Parliamentary Dimension of the Swedish Presidency of the Council of the European Union https://parleu2023.riksdagen.se/en/

Twitter: Swedish Presidency 2023 https://twitter.com/Sweden2023EU

General Secretariat of the Council: What does holding the presidency of the Council of the EU mean? https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/presidency-council-eu/

Ukrainian Presidency: News, 28/10/2022: Sweden's Presidency of the Council of the EU should serve as a driving force for continued and comprehensive support for Ukraine by the European Union - Ihor Zhovkva https://www.president.gov.ua/en/news/golovuvannya-shveciyi-u-radi-yes-maye-sluguvati-rushijnoyu-s-78777

EFTA: News, 09/12/2022: Reception with the incoming Swedish Presidency of the Council of the EU at EFTA House https://www.efta.int/EEA/news/Reception-incoming-Swedish-Presidency-Council-EU-EFTA-House-533136

Swedish Government: The Government’s priorities and the programme of the upcoming Swedish Presidency of the Council of the EU (Speech from Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, 14 December 2022) https://www.government.se/speeches/2022/12/speech-priorities-and-work-programme-for-the-swedish-presidency-of-the-council-of-the-european-union-in-spring-2023/

German Federal Government: News, 30/12/2022: An interview with Sweden’s Minister for EU Affairs: “Finding collaborative solutions to shared challenges” https://www.bundesregierung.de/breg-en/news/interview-sweden-minister-for-eu-affairs-2155632

European Commission: Statement by President von der Leyen at the joint press conference with Prime Minister Kristersson on the occasion of the College visit to the Swedish Presidency (13 January 2023) https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/statement_23_205

EU EMCDDA: News, 13/01/2023: Sweden takes over the EU presidency with a promise to be ‘greener, safer and freer’ https://www.emcdda.europa.eu/news/2023/sweden-takes-over-eu-presidency_en

European Council: Remarks by President Charles Michel following his meeting with Prime Minister of Sweden, Ulf Kristersson (16 January 2023) https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2023/01/16/remarks-by-president-charles-michel-after-his-meeting-with-prime-minister-of-sweden-ulf-kristersson/

European Parliament: Press Release, 26/01/2023: Swedish Presidency debriefs EP committees on priorities https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room/20230123IPR68622/

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News

EUObserver: 24/11/2022: Swedish EU presidency: 'Ukraine, Ukraine, Ukraine' https://euobserver.com/eu-political/156466

EurActiv, 14/12/2022: Digital policy ranks low on Swedish EU presidency’s priority list https://www.euractiv.com/section/digital/news/digital-policy-ranks-low-on-swedish-eu-presidencys-priority-list/

Bloomberg, 14/12/2022: Sweden Sets Europe’s Security as Top Task for Its EU Presidency https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-12-14/sweden-sets-europe-s-security-as-top-task-for-its-eu-presidency

Politico: 29/12/2022: Sweden is due to take over the rotating presidency of the Council of the EU on January 1. https://www.politico.eu/article/brussels-eu-fears-spoiler-role-sweden-far-right/

The Guardian, 30/12/2022: Setback for EU migration plans as Sweden assumes bloc’s presidency https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/dec/30/setback-for-eu-migration-plans-as-sweden-assumes-blocs-presidency

France24, 30/12/2022: Sweden takes EU presidency after shift to the right https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20221230-sweden-takes-eu-presidency-after-shift-to-the-right

Deutsche Welle, 01/01/2023: Sweden takes over EU presidency in crisis mode https://p.dw.com/p/4Lbhr

Euronews: 04/01/2023: Sweden has taken over the EU Council presidency. Here are its priorities https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2023/01/04/sweden-has-taken-over-the-eu-council-presidency-here-are-its-priorities

Swedish Radio, 04/01/2023: "High expectations" as Sweden's EU Council Presidency gets underway https://sverigesradio.se/artikel/high-expectations-as-swedens-eu-council-presidency-gets-underway

Politico, 09/01/2023: Stockholm opens door to sponsorship for EU presidency https://www.politico.eu/article/sweden-sponsorship-eu-council-presidency/

Reuters, 09/01/2023: EU should agree remaining climate laws by summer, Sweden says https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/eu-should-agree-remaining-climate-laws-by-summer-sweden-says-2023-01-09/

Associated Press (AP News), 11/01/2023: Far-right shadow looming over Swedish EU presidency https://apnews.com/article/politics-sweden-government-europe-european-union-d6e0caa44d234f822a055998dc6c9ff7

Deutsche Welle, 12/01/2023: Swedish EU presidency at mercy of euroskeptics https://p.dw.com/p/4M6Dn

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Commentary and Analysis

Swedish Institute for European Policy Studies (SIEPS): European Policy Analysis, No 19, November 2022: The Next Presidency of the Council of the EU: what to expect when Sweden takes over https://www.sieps.se/en/publications/2022/what-to-expect-when-sweden-takes-over--the-swedish-presidency-of-the-council-of-the-eu-2023/

Trans-European Policy Studies Association (TEPSA): Recommendations from members of the TEPSA network to the Swedish Presidency (November 2022) http://www.tepsa.eu/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Recommendations_EN.pdf

Chatham House: Interview, 11/11/2022: How will Sweden’s right turn affect its foreign policy priorities? https://www.chathamhouse.org/2022/11/how-will-swedens-right-turn-affect-its-foreign-policy-priorities

European Policy Centre (EPC): Events, 24/11/2022: Sweden’s priorities for the Presidency of the Council [via Youtube] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9hKAlLAu490

Nordic Labour Journal: In Focus, 28/11/2022: Sweden takes on Council of the EU presidency at times of turmoil http://www.nordiclabourjournal.org/i-fokus/in-focus-2022/theme-nordic-cooperation/article.2022-11-27.0380293312

European Consumer Organisation (BEUC): News, December 2022: Swedish Presidency of the EU: what priorities for consumers? https://www.beuc.eu/news/swedish-presidency-eu-what-priorities-consumers

Swedish Institute of International Affairs: Events, December 2022: Swedish Pre-Presidency Conference https://www.ui.se/english/events/previous/2022/december/swedish-pre-presidency-conference/

Politico: 06/12/2022: A wonk’s guide to the Swedish EU presidency policy agenda https://www.politico.eu/article/wonk-guide-sweden-eu-presidency-policy-agenda/

Atlantic Council: New Atlanticist Blog, 07/12/2022: The new Swedish government’s agenda for its EU presidency: Forging unity on Ukraine, defense, and trade https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/new-atlanticist/the-new-swedish-governments-agenda-for-its-eu-presidency-forging-unity-on-ukraine-defense-and-trade/

Information Technology Industry Council (ITI): News Releases, 12/12/2022: ITI Publishes 10 Policy Recommendations for the EU Swedish Council Presidency to Support Competitiveness and Digital Leadership https://www.itic.org/news-events/news-releases/iti-publishes-10-policy-recommendations-for-the-eu-swedish-council-presidency-to-support-competitiveness-and-digital-leadership

EurActiv: 22/12/2022: Swedish EU Presidency likely to be “hostage” of the far-right https://www.euractiv.com/section/politics/news/swedish-eu-presidency-likely-to-be-hostage-of-the-far-right/

Politico: 28/12/2022: The Swedes Europe needs to know https://www.politico.eu/article/sweden-europe-lars-danielsson-jessika-roswall-christian-danielsson-ylva-johansson-gertrud-ingestadjessica-polfjard-karin-karlsbro-sara-skyttedal/

Le Monde: 31/12/2022: Sweden takes over Council of the European Union presidency, with little enthusiasm https://www.lemonde.fr/en/international/article/2022/12/31/sweden-takes-over-over-council-of-the-european-union-presidency-with-little-enthusiasm_6009813_4.html

The Local (Sweden), 31/12/2022: Sweden assumes EU Presidency: Top priorities for the next six months https://www.thelocal.se/20221231/sweden-assumes-eu-presidency-top-priorities-for-the-next-six-months/

German Marshall Fund of the United States (GMFUS): Insights, 03/01/2023: How Sweden Can Use its EU Presidency to Build the Civilian Security Dimension of the Eastern Partnership https://www.gmfus.org/news/how-sweden-can-use-its-eu-presidency-build-civilian-security-dimension-eastern-partnership

EPRS: Briefing, January 2023: Priority dossiers under the Swedish EU Council Presidency https://www.europarl.europa.eu/thinktank/en/document/EPRS_BRI(2023)739277

Euronews, 07/01/2023: Brussels, my love: The EU in 2023 and Sweden's presidency of the Council https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2023/01/07/brussels-my-love-the-eu-in-2023-and-swedens-presidency-of-the-council

EUObserver: Opinion, 13/01/2023: Swedish EU presidency makes their far-right a pan-European threat https://euobserver.com/opinion/156598

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