EU enlargement

The gradual enlargement of the European Union is a uniquely successful process. Enlargement has, in a very tangible way, improved the chances for peace and prosperity in our part of the world, and has created a model for peaceful cooperation and integration that gives inspiration to the rest of the world.

Keeping the enlargement process alive and thus holding the door to Europe open for the countries in our vicinity that aspire to become members is one of the Union's most crucial strategic obligations.

Sweden is opposed to new barriers on our continent. We take this stance out of conviction and with the support of the provisions contained in the Treaty of Rome stating that European cooperation is open to all democracies of Europe that want to and can meet the demands that this cooperation places on them.

The membership perspective for all European countries forms the basis of the Union's 'soft power' for peace, freedom and reconciliation.

The Government is working actively in this spirit so that accession negotiations with Turkey and Croatia may continue at the pace that these countries' preparations allow; the Government also gives its full support to other Western Balkan countries in their efforts to move closer to the European Union.

It is our hope that it will now be possible to accelerate the reform process in Croatia in such a way as to make the conclusion of accession negotiations during Sweden's EU Presidency a realistic possibility.

Similarly, we support an accelerated reform process in Turkey.

The view that Turkish membership of the European Union would be of great importance not only to our joint vitality, but also to the Union's global influence and credibility, is one that enjoys the broadest possible support in Sweden's Riksdag.

This year must be the year in which the issue of overcoming the division of Cyprus is given a real place on the agenda. With the continued and gradually deepening division of Cyprus, there is a risk that serious damage will be caused, not only to opportunities for cooperation and stability in the eastern Mediterranean, but also to cooperation between the European Union and NATO.

In collaboration with other countries, we will support above all the important work of the United Nations on this issue.

Sweden continues to be proactive in efforts to strengthen the European Neighbourhood Policy. This policy provides an opportunity for countries from Morocco in the west to Azerbaijan in the east to move closer to the European Union.

For the countries that aspire to EU membership in the future, it is important that the Neighbourhood Policy is not a replacement for but a complement to the membership perspective.

This applies not least to Ukraine. We welcome the fact that Ukraine is continuing on a democratic path, and we are aiming for wider and deeper cooperation between Sweden and Ukraine. Membership of the WTO will pave the way for negotiations on deeper free trade cooperation.

We are also aiming for closer ties in all areas of society with Russia. It is our hope that the remaining obstacles to Russian membership of the WTO can be overcome.

It is clearly in our interest that Russia develop into a modern, successful and democratic state. Unfortunately, the move in a more authoritarian direction that we have seen over the past few years suggests a different kind of development. We are concerned about developments continuing in this direction.

In the European Union we are now discussing the prospects of beginning negotiations on a broader cooperation agreement once a new president has entered office in Moscow. Such an agreement would have to be based on respect for the fundamental rules and conditions of cooperation between the countries of Europe.

Our ties with the countries in the southern Caucasus should also be strengthened. We recently put forward proposals for a strengthened role for the European Union to support a democratic and stable development in Georgia. After the crisis at the end of last spring, but also the recent presidential election, it is very important that the forthcoming parliamentary election be conducted in line with European norms and standards.