EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - Sweden takes over at the helm of the EU on Wednesday (1 July) for a six-month presidency that will for the most part be held hostage by the bloc's complicated institutional problems as well as being overshadowed by the global economic crisis. Diplomats in Brussels are looking forward to having the bloc under Stockholm's political guidance following a turbulent first half of the year under the domestically strife-ridden Czechs, but the goodwill is unlikely to make Sweden's job much easier. Stockholm: Sweden takes over at the time for the five-year changing of the guard in Brussels Brussels will be in firm wait-and-see mode as it looks ahead to the Irish referendum on the Lisbon Treaty, a new set of institutional rules that streamlines the workings of the EU institutions, removes the veto from most policy areas and gives greater say to the European parliament on law-making. Ireland is due to vote on it for a second time in early October. Opinion polls suggest it will be a Yes this time round. But until the day the Irish vote, it will remain unclear whether the EU will be plunged into political chaos by a No vote or taken over by a frenzy of horse-trading as a Yes vote opens up new posts created by the treaty.
EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - Sweden takes over at the helm of the EU on Wednesday (1 July) for a six-month presidency that will for the most part be held hostage by the bloc's complicated institutional problems as well as being overshadowed by the global economic crisis.
Diplomats in Brussels are looking forward to having the bloc under Stockholm's political guidance following a turbulent first half of the year under the domestically strife-ridden Czechs, but the goodwill is unlikely to make Sweden's job much easier.
Stockholm: Sweden takes over at the time for the five-year changing of the guard in Brussels
Brussels will be in firm wait-and-see mode as it looks ahead to the Irish referendum on the Lisbon Treaty, a new set of institutional rules that streamlines the workings of the EU institutions, removes the veto from most policy areas and gives greater say to the European parliament on law-making.
Ireland is due to vote on it for a second time in early October. Opinion polls suggest it will be a Yes this time round. But until the day the Irish vote, it will remain unclear whether the EU will be plunged into political chaos by a No vote or taken over by a frenzy of horse-trading as a Yes vote opens up new posts created by the treaty.
No region in Europe has been hit harder by the financial crisis than the Baltics. But help for the three countries that went from double-digit growth to double-digit decline is hard to come by. Just a few years ago, the Baltic countries were considered a European success story. Fifteen years after gaining independence from the Soviet Union in 1991, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia were labelled the Baltic Tigers, heralded for their business friendly governments and their highly educated and creative workforce. Perhaps the best symbol of the Baltic rags-to-riches story was Skype, a company enabling its customers to make international telephone calls for free over the internet. Skype soon attracted a large following and today is a leader in international phone calls. While its founders, Niklas Zennström and Janus Friis are Swedish and Danish respectively, the company's technological innovation was masterminded in Talinn, the capital of Estonia, which the New York Times back in 2005 called "a sort of Silicon Valley on the Baltic Sea."
Just a few years ago, the Baltic countries were considered a European success story. Fifteen years after gaining independence from the Soviet Union in 1991, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia were labelled the Baltic Tigers, heralded for their business friendly governments and their highly educated and creative workforce.
Perhaps the best symbol of the Baltic rags-to-riches story was Skype, a company enabling its customers to make international telephone calls for free over the internet. Skype soon attracted a large following and today is a leader in international phone calls. While its founders, Niklas Zennström and Janus Friis are Swedish and Danish respectively, the company's technological innovation was masterminded in Talinn, the capital of Estonia, which the New York Times back in 2005 called "a sort of Silicon Valley on the Baltic Sea."
Today, a small country in northern Europe will take charge of the large and unwieldy European Union. Our protagonist is the bold (and bald) Fredrik Reinfeldt, Prime Minister or Sweden, and his merry band of ministers and assorted political lackeys. Will he succeed, and what constitutes success in the European presidential ring? Will he increase the prestige of our small country? Ah, yes, and what will he actually attempt to accomplish while in charge?
"On 1 July 2009, Sweden will take over the Presidency of the EU......for six months, Sweden will lead the EU's work and be responsible for moving important EU issues forward....The Presidency is a unique opportunity for Sweden to lead and influence work on important EU issues. At the same time, the country holding the Presidency must be flexible and prepared to deal with unexpected issues." So says the Swedish Government. The key is in the last sentence. In current circumstances to say that this is rather an understatement is itself an understatement. The Swedish Government is facing a hurricane of uncertainty - indeed several hurricanes. Mr Reinfeldt, the Swedish Prime Minister, and thus from tomorrow the leader of the Swedish Presidency, however appears calm. Indeed he is noted for his calmness. Perhaps has resolved that the Presidency motto should be "Keep Calm And Carry On." As the young and popular economist who three years ago was deemed `the most admired man in Sweden,' Mr Reinfeldt may already have secured his place in EU history by being the last of the EU's `rotating' Presidents.
"On 1 July 2009, Sweden will take over the Presidency of the EU......for six months, Sweden will lead the EU's work and be responsible for moving important EU issues forward....The Presidency is a unique opportunity for Sweden to lead and influence work on important EU issues. At the same time, the country holding the Presidency must be flexible and prepared to deal with unexpected issues."
So says the Swedish Government. The key is in the last sentence. In current circumstances to say that this is rather an understatement is itself an understatement.
The Swedish Government is facing a hurricane of uncertainty - indeed several hurricanes. Mr Reinfeldt, the Swedish Prime Minister, and thus from tomorrow the leader of the Swedish Presidency, however appears calm. Indeed he is noted for his calmness. Perhaps has resolved that the Presidency motto should be "Keep Calm And Carry On."
As the young and popular economist who three years ago was deemed `the most admired man in Sweden,' Mr Reinfeldt may already have secured his place in EU history by being the last of the EU's `rotating' Presidents.
It was a propaganda poster, printed but never issued, during WWII.
It was rediscovered a few years ago, and has become a poster/T shirt phenomenon.)
