News - 02/07/2009 | Sweden starts half-year Presidency of the European Union
Sweden assumes EU Presidency
On 1 July 2009, Sweden took over the Presidency of the European Union (EU) from the Czech Republic. The key challenges during the Swedish presidency will be managing the economic crisis, addressing climate change and the Lisbon Treaty, announced Swedish Ambassador to Serbia Krister Bringèus at the press conference in the Media Centre in Belgrade, organised on the occasion of the start of the Swedish Presidency of the European Union. The Western Balkans will be one of the challenges of the Swedish Presidency, pointed out Bringèus.
According to Ambassador Bringèus, in the next six months Sweden will organise various outreach activities in different regions of Serbia in co-operation with the EU Member States’ embassies. Sweden has also started to look into the possibility of creating on exchange programme between Serbia and European MPs. A cultural attaché started work in the Embassy of Sweden in Belgrade on 1 July, which proves Sweden’s great interest in establishing cultural liaisons with Serbia, emphasised Bringèus.
According to Ambassador Bringèus, in the next six months Sweden will organise various outreach activities in different regions of Serbia in co-operation with the EU Member States’ embassies. Sweden has also started to look into the possibility of creating on exchange programme between Serbia and European MPs. A cultural attaché started work in the Embassy of Sweden in Belgrade on 1 July, which proves Sweden’s great interest in establishing cultural liaisons with Serbia, emphasised Bringèus.
According to Ambassador Bringeus, Serbia should accelerate the process of reforms in order to get closer to the Union. Particularly important issues are the environment protection and preservation, consumer protection and food safety.
Head of Delegation of the European Commission to Serbia Ambassador Josep Lloveras welcomed Sweden, highlighting the importance of continued co-operation. Delegation of the European Commission to Serbia will support the Embassy of Sweden in making its activities visible to the Serbian public, said Lloveras.
He agreed with the Swedish Ambassador that the process of reforms should be accelerated and that, as he put it, the economic crisis should not be allowed to jeopardise and slow down the reforms because, as he said, accelerated reforms are the best protection against the crisis. Lloveras added that the pace of reforms was of great importance and that the EU would help Serbia implement the necessary political reforms with a view to bringing Serbia closer to the EU.
The press conference was also attended by Charge d’Affairs of the Embassy of Spain in Belgrade Gabriel Cremades Ventura, whose country will assume the Presidency of the EU on 1 January 2010. Spain’s priority during its Presidency of the EU will be the European future of the Balkans, said Ventura, adding that Spain’s aim was to help the Balkan countries become members of the large European family.
For further information on the Swedish Presidency of the EU, please follow this link: www.se2009.eu
Head of Delegation of the European Commission to Serbia Ambassador Josep Lloveras welcomed Sweden, highlighting the importance of continued co-operation. Delegation of the European Commission to Serbia will support the Embassy of Sweden in making its activities visible to the Serbian public, said Lloveras.
He agreed with the Swedish Ambassador that the process of reforms should be accelerated and that, as he put it, the economic crisis should not be allowed to jeopardise and slow down the reforms because, as he said, accelerated reforms are the best protection against the crisis. Lloveras added that the pace of reforms was of great importance and that the EU would help Serbia implement the necessary political reforms with a view to bringing Serbia closer to the EU.
The press conference was also attended by Charge d’Affairs of the Embassy of Spain in Belgrade Gabriel Cremades Ventura, whose country will assume the Presidency of the EU on 1 January 2010. Spain’s priority during its Presidency of the EU will be the European future of the Balkans, said Ventura, adding that Spain’s aim was to help the Balkan countries become members of the large European family.
For further information on the Swedish Presidency of the EU, please follow this link: www.se2009.eu
