As the presidency of the European Union Council rotates among the EU Member States every 6 months, it is now turn for Sweden to chair this council for six months starting from January 1 to June 30. While embarking on its presidency of the EU Council, Sweden is to focus on key priorities, giving a top priority to Security in the context of the War in Ukraine and its dire consequences for global food and energy supply. During the half year of the presidency, Sweden’s government and government officials are expected to lead around 2,000 meetings in Brussels and Luxembourg. In addition, roughly 150 meetings and conferences will be arranged in Sweden.
On the occasion of the Swedish presidency of the EU council, the Swedish Ambassador to Egypt, Mr. Håkan Emsgård, held a major event where he clarified his country’s key priorities in the presence of host of heads of diplomatic missions of the EU countries and senior officials.
Speaking to the Egyptian Mail, the Swedish envoy stressed the need for more co-operating in light of the challenging times that we are now living in with the Russian aggression towards Ukraine, the food crisis and the global inflation. “We need more trade. We need more business. We need more connections between Europe and Egypt and the rest of the Mediterranean countries. This is what we were going to work for during the Swedish presidency.”
In addition to security and Ukrainian file, the Swedish priorities include competitiveness by strengthening global trade, energy and green transitions, democratic values and the rule of law.
“The EU is Egypt’s biggest trading partner and Egypt is an important neighbour for Europe. Egypt is also the gateway to Africa and the Middle East. Interconnectivity with our southern neighbours is high on our agenda,” said ambassador Emsgård.
As for green transition, the Swedish ambassador told the newspaper that the world now is in the implementation phase, a matter that requires tangible co-operation as ‘no one can do this alone’.
“We live in a global world .We trade with each other. I see great potential for co-operation in this field between Sweden and Egypt.”
The ambassador also hailed the improvements in the investment climate and business environment. “Southern neighbourhood policy is important to us. We have a new agenda for the Mediterranean. We have an investment plan attached to this .We have the concept of a Global Gateway.”
From the Swedish side, the ambassador stressed there will be more attention to enhance the connectivity in areas such as energy and green transition. “We will work very closely with our partners in the European Union together with our partners in Egypt, and we hope that we can make progress in all of these areas that I have mentioned.”
In a related context, Ambassador Christian Berger, Head of the EU Delegation to Egypt, said: “The partnership between the EU and Egypt is based on long-term strategic political and economic relations in all walks of life. The EU is Egypt’s largest trading partner and we are keen to continue strengthening these relations and reinforce our partnership. I am certain the coming period will see significant co-operation in all fields.”
Meanwhile, Ambassador Berger pointed out that Sweden has a long working programme. “So of course they start something but then of course, somebody else will continue. Whenever there’s a new president, there are also new ideas, a matter that helps develop the institutions and the policies,” he added.
Meanwhile, the EU ambassador pointed out that there are many other aspects that should be taken into consideration when the presidency presents its programme, referring to the Russia war on Ukraine, many other things. “There is a very strong emphasis on fighting the impact of this war on the European Union.”
The ambassador also stressed the keenness of the EU on enhancing co-operation with the Middle East and North Africa region. “At the end of the year, we will have a summit between the European Union and North Africa .We will also have a ministerial meeting with the League of Arab States coming up this year, we might have a summit between the European Union and Arab states.”
As green transition is a key priority for the EU in the upcoming period, the German Ambassador Frank Hartmann said that there will be close work with Egypt to implement what we have reached in COP27.
“We will move ahead with the implementation of all our renewable energy and energy transition programmes. For instance, We have a strong share in the NWFE Programme (Nexus of Water, Food, and Energy). We also signed bilateral agreements with Egypt a. It is now time to fill this with the concrete implementation. The money is committed, but we have to implement it now,” he stressed.
For his part, Lithuanian Ambassador Arturas Gailiunas stressed that the European Union and MENA region are natural partners, sharing Mediterranean. “This is not what we expect but what we do already.”
The ambassador referred to the energy co-operation between EU and Egypt in particular and MENA region as a broader part.
Regarding the Swedish priorities, the ambassador said that there is strong emphasis on Ukraine as ‘the priority of priorities’. “Ukrainians fight for the Charter of the United Nations, for the rule of international law and for the people’s right of self-determination.”
As for green energy transition, the ambassador praised the successful Egyptian chairmanship of COP27 and its clear outcomes.
Regarding competitiveness, the ambassador said it means co-operation and exchange of technologies and investments in both directions. “We should not forget cultural and academic exchange,” he added.
Speaking about the priority related to rule of law and democratic values, the ambassador referred to the success achieved by the Egyptian side in imple
