Swedish Gov't Agreement Could Derail Council Of EU Presidency Aims

Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson is set to meet with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in the northern city of Kiruna later today for talks and a press conference as Sweden takes on the sixth-month rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union.

• The significant influence that the right-wing nationalist Sweden Democrats (SD) have on PM Kristersson's minority centre-right gov't (which it props up in parliament) is likely to notably restrict the scope of the Swedish presidency over the coming months, with areas such as migration policy and climate change unable to be addressed.
• The presidency allows the chair to determine agendas for the Council, set work programmes, and facilitate dialogue within the Council and other EU institutions.
• SD have reined in their eurosceptic rhetoric from previous years, but remain a party broadly opposed to EU integration. While illegal migration remains a major issue for the bloc, any hint at a common migration policy would almost certainly risk SD withdrawing support from the Kristersson gov't. The party has also voiced doubts over the science of climate change.
• One area where the gov't will have the support of SD is over Ukraine, where the party has sought to eliminate perceptions of being sympathetic to the Kremlin and has voiced full support for backing Kyiv.
• As such, the Swedish presidency could focus heavily on the war in Ukraine, leaving more thorny issues to Spain, taking on the mantle in July.