Aktuelles > EM Germany Newsletter CW 02/2023 | Swedish EU Presidency

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EU-Erweiterung, Außen- & Sicherheitspolitik, Europäische Wertegemeinschaft, Europakommunikation, Institutionen & Zukunftsdebatte, Umweltpolitik, Wettbewerbsfähigkeit

EM Germany Newsletter CW 02/2023 | Swedish EU Presidency

For the third time, Sweden has taken over the presidency of the Council of the EU. We are in the year before the 2024 European elections and so the government around Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson should strive to finalise important EU dossiers without disregarding the current dynamics in European politics and the impact of Russian aggression. 

Soon we – voters – will be putting parties and policies to the test across Europe in the 2024 election campaign. In 2019, after the Brexit shock, the issues of climate policy and also asylum/migration caused a higher voter turnout. 

Despite its domestic u-turn on climate policy, the new government in Stockholm has named energy policy as one of its four priorities. As our #EBDGraphik shows, the three other priorities are also correctly set in view of the war in Ukraine with its economic and political consequences. 

However, what is only mentioned in a few words in the Presidency’s programme is clear progress on the negotiations on the migration and asylum package. The creation of a functioning Common European Asylum System is urgently needed before the European elections, so that the EU and its member states do not lose their credibility as a community of values capable of action. 

Likewise, Sweden should take up the European policy dynamics that have emerged in the EU’s enlargement policy. For it is the perspective of democratic and economic coexistence in the EU that we can most strongly oppose Russian aggression.

I wish you a successful start to the European political year 2023. 

Yours

Dr. Linn Selle

President of the European Movement Germany


#EBDGrafik of the week

On January 1, Sweden took over the Presidency of the Council of the European Union. The new #EBDGrafik gives an overview of the EU2023SE priorities and assesses them from the perspective of the EBD priorities. | Download

EM Germany News

New EBD Council Presidency Calendar at the start of the EU2023SE | Sweden has taken over the Presidency of the Council of the European Union at the start of 2023. Following France and the Czech Republic, the Swedish presidency marks the final chapter of the joint 18-month presidency program. The focus of the presidency, which runs until June 30, will primarily be on security, competitiveness, the environment and energy transition, as well as democratic values and the rule of law. Just in time for the start, the EBD published the calendar for the Swedish EU Council Presidency with a far-reaching overview of dates and events in the coming six months. If you are interested in receiving a print publication, please contact us and we will send you a copy. | Download

Croatia joins Schengen area | The first Schengen enlargement in more than ten years took place on the first of January. Croatia joined both the Schengen area and the Eurozone. From the perspective of the EM Germany, this is a welcome step. Nevertheless, looking at the broader integration landscape, one should not forget Romania and Bulgaria, which meet all the criteria for membership in the Schengen area but have so far been denied membership. | More (in German) 

EM Germany President meets Swedish Ambassador | In the run-up to the Swedish Council Presidency, President Dr. Linn Selle and the Swedish Ambassador H.E. Mr. Per Thöresson met for an internal discussion on the Swedish priorities for the EU Council Presidency. Together, both looked ahead to the upcoming cooperation. | More (in German) 


Upcoming Events

In order to contain the spread of the COVID-19 virus, the EM Germany hosts its events as video conferences whenever possible.

17.01.2023 | EM Germany De-Briefing on the Swedish Council Presidency with H.E. Per Thöresson, Swedish Ambassador in Berlin, Sibylle Katharina Sorg, Federal Foreign Office (AA) and Dr. Kirsten Scholl, Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWi). The first commentary will be given by Jörg Wojahn, representative of the European Commission in Germany, and Dr. Linn Selle, President of the European Movement Germany.

More information

Our Presidency Calendar on the Swedish EU Council Presidency contains all dates of the semester.

Check out former editions of our newsletter here.

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