Sweden as EU leader will top the Balkans

Sweden, diplomatic sources in Brussels say, will work on strengthening ties and co-operation with neighbouring EU countries, both those in the enlargement process and those not involved in the process.

Sweden promised that it would continue with granting EU membership candidate status to Ukraine and Moldova, but with other countries, including those in the Western Balkan region.

“The presidency will continue working after European Council decisions to grant candidate status to Ukraine and Moldova and European perspective bid Georgia. It will also continue the process of integrating Western Balkan countries“, the Swedish Presidency priorities reported.

The future of these countries and their citizens is in the European Union. The EU must continue to support these countries in their efforts to implement reforms, which are part of the integration process. Reforms in the field of justice and rule of law are key to“, said in Swedish documents.

It is expected that the Swedish presidency will continue working even around two Kosovo-related issues. One is the formal conclusion of the visa liberalisation decision, while the other concerns considering Kosovo's EU membership bid.

As far as visa liberalisation is concerned, much of the work has been carried out during the Czech Parliament chairmanship has been approved by member states on the European Council, then agreement has been reached on the decision in the European Parliament as well.

Now it is only expected that this agreement will be approved in the European Parliament, and then once again in the Council. This is expected to happen in the first part of Sweden's chairmanship with the EU.

Under the decision the EU member states have agreed on, visa liberalisation for Kosovo will enter into force no later than January 1st 2024.

While diplomats in Brussels expect visa liberalisation for Kosovo to be an easy file for Sweden, as only formal work remains and there are no political obstacles, the most difficult one is expected to be considering Kosovo's application for membership in the European Union.

This requirement, according to EU rules and procedures, was handed over to the Czech Presidency on 15 December. However, Chekhia was unable to do anything more than inform member states of this act.

Now, the file is expected to take over the Swedish EU Presidency, which promised it would launch consultations with member states about opportunities for further action. The problem remains that Kosovo has not been recognised as a state by five of the 27 EU member states, while decisions in the enlargement process are approved by the reconciliation of all member states.

Sweden, traditionally, has been a country that has strongly supported the European Union enlargement process. At the same time, it has been an open state for the admission of immigrants. But recent changes have taken place on the political scene there, which, according to diplomats in Brussels, may also affect Sweden's EU behavior. In the last elections, the largest number of votes has won the far-right party “Swedish Democrats”, which has had critical attitudes towards the EU, and especially towards asylum policy and migration.

This party is not part of the government, but it provides the current government of Prime Minister Kristersson with the necessary majority of votes in Parliament what makes this Government totally dependent on this party.

Co-operation in the area of migration control is expected to take priority in reports with Western Balkan countries.

Another change that took place in Sweden's policy, as a result of Russia's aggression against Ukraine, was to renounce the principle of military neutrality and application for NATO membership. Her neighbor Finland did the same.

Sweden, actively, has also supported NATO's peacekeeping mission, KFOR, in Kosovo.

In the second part of 2023, Sweden will hand over Spain the rotating chairmanship with the EU Council. / REL