At the beginning of his presentation, Ambassador Teppo Tauriainen warned that Sweden assumes the Presidency of the Council of the European Union at a time of economic insecurity, geopolitical turbulence, and historic challenges. Of course, the war in Ukraine will remain a key issue, as it represents a struggle for Europe’s values. Without the need for an official slogan, Sweden aims to achieve three major goals during the semester it holds the EU Presidency: a greener, safer, and freer Europe. To this end, they have identified the following priority areas: external and internal security, competitiveness, ecological and energy transition, and the defense of democratic values and the rule of law.

Regarding security, as there is no immediate end to the war in Ukraine in sight, Ambassador Tauriainen emphasized the need to maintain European unity to support the country and condemn Russia, against which a tenth sanctions package is already under consideration. Following the example of the previous Czech Presidency, the focus will remain on applying the EU’s Strategic Compass while continuing the fight against transnational organized crime. As for the area of competition, the Ambassador believes that a strong, competitive, and economically open European Union is crucial for European well-being. The proper functioning of the EU’s internal market depends on its integrity and the respect for the four fundamental freedoms, and more emphasis should be placed on measures that strengthen competitiveness without falling into excessive subsidies or an exclusive dependence on Russian energy or Chinese minerals.

The area of ecological and energy transition takes up a large part of the presentation. For the Ambassador, Russia’s invasion has revealed deficiencies in the European energy market, where the electrification of transportation and industry needs to be accelerated. The European Union must continue to lead the fight against climate change, and for this, the Swedish Presidency is developing new battery regulations and measures to facilitate the production of energy without fossil fuels. Tauriainen considers the diversity of the member states to be a strength that can help overcome the current crisis. Not only that, but it is also necessary to promote institutional integrity and the strategic interests of the European Union, safeguarding values such as freedom, democracy, and the rule of law.

In response to questions raised during the debate, the Ambassador addressed other relevant issues such as the need to continue working on an immigration pact, paying attention to developments in North Africa and Latin America, and the importance of the EU and NATO working together to respond to cyberattacks. He also urged cooperation to ensure that Ukraine meets the necessary requirements to become a member of the European Union, while not disregarding the requests of other candidate countries.

To conclude, the Ambassador confirmed that Sweden will maintain its disarmament policy even as it joins NATO, an event he hopes will happen soon and at the same time as its neighboring country, Finland. Meanwhile, INCIPE’s Secretary General Manuel Alabart concluded by stating that Spain will receive the Presidency of the Council in an organized manner with concrete prospects for success.

Jaime Osorio

Communication Assistant, INCIPE