Zweedse ministers presenteerden begin september prioriteiten Zweeds voorzitterschap (en)

The majority of Sweden’s ministers were in Brussels during the first few days of September to present the Swedish Presidency’s priority issues ahead of the autumn, and to answer questions from the newly elected MEPs in their respective committees.

“There are high expectations for the Swedish Presidency and we have to live up to them,” says Minister for Enterprise and Energy Maud Olofsson.

Sweden may have taken over the Presidency in July, but it is only now, after the holiday period in the EU, that things are really getting going. There are major challenges for the Swedish Presidency to tackle. Besides a newly elected Parliament and a Commission on its way out – with all that this entails – major challenges await, such as combating climate change and dealing with the deep financial crisis.

But the ministers were not in Brussels to talk about obstacles. They were in Brussels to talk about opportunities – opportunities of the kind that arise when two problems are in need of a solution and both solutions seem to coincide.

An eco-efficient economy

“I am convinced that we can confront both the economic crisis and the climate change challenge at the same time,” said Maud Olofsson to the members of ITRE, the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy.

“By working towards a transition to what we call a European eco-efficient economy, we believe it is possible to confront the climate change challenge while at the same time strengthening the competitiveness of the EU.”

These visions of a competitive, green Europe seem to be to the liking of the Committee members. After the meeting, Maud said she was pleasantly surprised by the strong support evident during the hearing.

“It was great, and you must remember that we didn’t have that long to talk about this and present our ideas.”

More efficient coordination

Minister for Communications Åsa Torstensson stressed for TRAN, the Committee for Transport and Tourism, that a well-functioning transport system is a prerequisite for maintaining welfare and developing the competitiveness of the EU. She also takes the opportunity to firmly establish the idea of a transition to an eco-efficient economy amongst the MEPs.

“The transport system today is part of the climate problem, but also part of its solution. It is our conviction that the negative impact of transport on the climate can be reduced if we succeed in coordinating the various modes of transport more effectively,” suggested Åsa.

The EU is about relations

Maud and Åsa took part in two committee hearings each, but this was by no means all they did during their time here. The ministers also arranged seminars, had lunch with cooperation partners and took part in informal meetings to prepare for the autumn’s negotiations in committees and working parties.

“A lot of the EU’s work is, of course, about people, about relations,” said Maud.

“It is an interplay between an awful lot of different people in many different posts who are now wondering whether they can depend on the Swedish Presidency being in a position to deliver what it has promised. If we can trust each other then we can also reach good compromises.”