Sweden’s tenure at the helm of the Council of the European Union appears to be particularly challenging, thanks to a brewing The economic crisis created by the war in Ukraine and a packed legislative agenda. It will require supreme diplomatic skills for the countries to come to an agreement on a bunch of files with the end of the Commission and the term of the European Parliament fast approaching.
Here are the people Europe needs to know ahead of the Swedish presidency.
Lars Danielsson: Chief Negotiator
As Swedish ambassador to the European Union, Danielsson will steer the Swedish ship through the country’s third Presidency of the Council of the European Union. The career diplomat with more than four decades of experience will lead 200 officials in Brussels in tackling some of Europe’s most pressing challenges, including keeping the bloc united in support of Ukraine and limiting the rise in energy prices, as well as Dozens of other laws are also involved. under construction.
Danielson is no stranger to brokering European deals on controversial issues. Former Secretary of State for European Union Affairs led of his country First Presidency in 2001When Sweden worked to integrate countries such as Poland, Hungary and the Czech Republic into the European Union.
Beyond the European Union, Danielson has gained diplomatic experience in Geneva, the United Nations, Beijing, Hong Kong and Seoul. He also knows Stockholm’s political circles well: he was twice a foreign policy advisor to prime ministers.
He’ll need all that information to navigate what could potentially prove to be a tricky presidency. With European elections due in 2024, Sweden’s top diplomats and their teams in Brussels from 2016 will have to work doubly hard to finalize dozens of laws under instructions from a new government in Stockholm.
“The challenge for us is not to be inundated with crisis management,” Danielson told a European Policy Center event in November.
Jessica Rosewall: European minister for the first time
As Sweden’s new European Affairs Minister, Roswall has made his goals clear: turn His country can again be regarded as a “leading power”.
A former lawyer with a focus on family and criminal law, Rosvall was elected to Sweden’s parliament in 2010 from the centre-right Moderate party. Rising through the ranks, she became the party’s spokesperson on EU relations in 2019.and stylish) skier who has competed for the ski team of Parliament.
The free-trade defender, who will become a minister for the first time in October, will have little time to prepare for her role as EU president, but Having said He felt “as prepared as you can be.” Roswall, who also counts Nordic affairs among his portfolio, will work within the Prime Minister’s Office.
She will seek to advance Sweden’s priorities: increasing security for EU citizens; stopping organized crime; accelerating efforts to limit climate change; doubling the EU’s competitiveness; and to protect the fundamental values of the Sangh.
near roswall Said While Sweden is expected to be neutral, “there will be room to put a certain national stamp on the presidency and to focus on issues in the interests of both Sweden and Europe.”
However, there are concerns in Brussels that this “national seal” will skew far-right, as Roswall’s coalition government is dependent on the support of the Eurosceptic Sweden Democrats in parliament.
Christian Danielsson: Veteran EU advisor
As Secretary of State to the Minister for European Union Affairs, Danielsson will act as an advisor to Rosvall and work on coordination of the Swedish Presidency of the Council of the European Union.
Danielson is a veteran of the Brussels bubble: He has worked in all three EU institutions and built up a hefty contacts book in the process.
During his country’s first presidency in 2001, he was in charge of acceding, or admitting new member states to the bloc. and he was from sweden permanent representative to the European Union in 2009 during the country’s second presidency.
In 2021, he was told by the President of the European Council, Charles Michel to become His envoy will oversee sensitive mediation talks in Georgia To resolve the political impasse between the government and the opposition leaders. was a bargain Welcome as a success.
The nomination came after serving as the Director General of the Commission for Neighborhood and Enlargement Negotiations (DG NEAR). He was also Deputy Chief of Cabinet of European Commission Vice President Günter Verhagen, responsible for relations and competition with Turkey. Prior to becoming Secretary of State, he was Head of Representation of the European Commission in Sweden.
Ylva Johansson: Bullish Commissioner
Johansson, Sweden’s commissioner for home affairs, will feature prominently during her country’s presidency. even though he’s a social democrat, he has hugged Stockholm has many new priorities, from fighting organized crime to securing the EU’s external borders and helping Ukrainian refugees in the bloc.
As a former parliamentarian, Johansson has a fair understanding of the inner workings of Swedish politics. She has also been Minister of Employment and Integration, Minister of Health and Minister of Schools.
In Brussels, she has built a reputation as a spirited politician, pushing her files to give more power to Europol and fighting child sexual abuse material online. Her combative approach has worked well: she was instrumental in fast intervention Commission to secure a historic deal to give protection and rights to Ukrainians fleeing their war-torn country.
Away from politics, Johansson is a Honorary Member of Hammarby Football Club in Stockholm – although she also appears soft spot for liverpool,
Johansson will also rely on her cabinet chief, Asa Weber. A Brussels insider, Weber began working at the Swedish Permanent Representation in 2005 and was Deputy Permanent Representative to the European Union from 2014 to 2019.
Gertrude Ingestad: Head of Human Resources
Want to secure a high and mighty job in the European Commission? Having a good relationship with Gertrud Ingestad, director general of human resources and security, won’t hurt.
The Swede has, since 2020, been overseeing recruitment policy, training and working conditions for the approximately 32,000 permanent and contract staff at the European Commission.
Ingestad stepped in the commission’s door in 1995, when she started out as a translator. Before becoming the HRD chief of the commission, she was then the head of the IT department 82 percent Consultant level employees were men.
She took charge of human resources on the day Belgium entered its first lockdown to contain the coronavirus pandemic. He has since led work policy changes to bid Eurocrats goodbye to their offices – including ramping up teleworking and shared desk access in the open-plan floor.
Some of his goals are increasing gender equality in the commission, increasing the use of digital tools, and making the organization climate neutral by 2030. As the Commission begins to enforce wider technology legislation such as the Digital Services Act, Ingestad will also need to attract the best candidates to do this.
If you encounter Ingestad with a shotgun and a pack of hounds, don’t (too) be alarmed. She hunts game birds with her three short haired Weimaraner hunting dogs: Victor, Max, and Charlie.
Jessica Pölfjärd, Karin Carlsbrough, Sarah Skytedal: The trio of the European Parliament
Of Sweden’s 21 representatives in the European Parliament, three European Parliamentarians from political parties in the coalition government are working on important legislation for Sweden.
Pölfjärd (Moderates, EPP), Carlsbro (Liberals, ReNew), and Skytedal (Christian Democrats, EPP) will be Stockholm’s lifeline for the European Parliament.
Polfjärd has a strong background in Swedish politics. She was a member of parliament from 2016 to 2019 Was Leader of the group of moderates from 2015 to 2017 and spokesperson of the party on two separate occasions on labor market policy and tax policy.
A first-time European parliamentarian, Polfjaard has made a name for herself as a fierce defender of nuclear power. She is a member of the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Security and a member of the Delegation to the Euro-Latin American Parliamentary Assembly. she has also lived chief legislator on national climate targets for EU countries and reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, and is currently working on a law for circular economy and on the old market as well as on a law make battery last longer,
working on Skytedal (Christian Democrats, EPP) hard limit rule And in 2022 there are plans to strengthen the European defense industry through common purchases. She is a member of the Committee on Industry, Research, and Energy, as well as the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice, and Home Affairs. Skytiddle didn’t shy away from making its posts emoji-Obvious on Twitter, including a Rumor dear swedish tax on tobacco pouches snus, The commission later clarified There is no plan to impose such a tax, Before entering politics, Skytaddle was a Miss Sweden entrant in 2006,
Carlsbrough is the Trade Coordinator for the Renew Group as a member of the Committee on International Trade. She is also the Deputy Chairperson of the Delegation for Relations with Belarus. she works on EU law on deforestation, an important file for Sweden and the batteries. Carlsbro’s position in Brussels and at home will be intriguing. The Swedish Liberal Party faced heavy criticism in the Renew group after it entered government with the support of the far-right Sweden Democrats party. Carlsbro has also Express His fears about the views of the Sweden Democrats on EU policy.
Carlsbrough enjoyed hiking and in his youth opposed France’s atomic bomb tests on the islands of the South Pacific. She has also recently acquired a cat, but family talks are currently underway as to whether to name him Carsten, Frans, Bilbo or Stefan.
Wilhelmin Preussen, James Randerson and Tristan Fiedler contributed reporting.