‘Swedes can be better at influencing EU policy’

You were recently in Brussels. What were you doing there?

The aim of the trip was to deepen our understanding of decision-making and advocacy in the EU and current issues ahead of this summer’s European Parliament elections. We met with partners, stakeholder organisations and political contacts, including our partner agency APCO Worldwide, the Permanent Representation of Sweden to the European Union, Swedish MEP Ilan De Basso (Social Democratic Party), the Confederation of Swedish Enterprise, the Swedish Association of Local Authorities and Regions and the Brussels Office of the Swedish Trade Unions.

What are the most important insights you will take away from the trip?

Swedish actors can generally be much better at influencing EU policy by being more proactive and acting earlier in processes. To be successful, you also need to build alliances, preferably across sectors, and be a constructive partner. Given just how important the EU is to us citizens and Swedish companies, it would make sense to have more media coverage and more debate in Sweden on EU policy. Considering that just over 50 per cent of the agenda of Swedish municipal councils is based on EU decisions, we should care more about what is actually decided in Brussels.

In early June, EU citizens will elect new representatives to the European Parliament. What can we expect from this year’s elections?

The environmental and climate issues addressed in the Green Deal and high on the agenda during the current term will be deprioritised in favour of the economy, internal security, defence and increased competitiveness. The major geopolitical changes that have taken place since the last elections are one of the reasons for this paradigm shift. After the elections, it is likely that the majority in parliament will clearly shift to the right. Exactly what impact this will have is not clear. The European Parliament does not function like the Swedish Parliament. Often a broad consensus is reached in the centre, and coalitions other than those conceivable in Sweden can be formed.

Researchers Julia Lefvert and Hanna Ladstedt were interviewed by Andreas Bergström, Senior Consultant and Partner at New Republic. ‘Three Quick Questions…’ is a series of interviews conducted by New Republic.