Sweden's Minister for EU Affairs, Jessica Rosencrantz, has called for the European Union to open negotiations with Ukraine, stating that the bloc should not be the entity responsible for blocking the accession process.
Speaking during a recent visit to France, Rosencrantz emphasized that while any candidate country must complete necessary reforms, the EU needs to facilitate the process. "We should be able to open up negotiations and start the process," Rosencrantz said, according to a report by France 24.
Rosencrantz expressed hope that Hungary would support this move, following the recent unblocking of a €90 billion EU loan to Ukraine. She noted that the change in political leadership in Hungary, following the ouster of Viktor Orban, is a "crucial step," but insisted that more must be done.
"Sweden has a two-point plan, which is quite simple: more support to Ukraine and more pressure on Russia," the minister stated.
Energy security and economic competitiveness
The Swedish minister also addressed the ongoing energy crisis in Europe triggered by the war in the Middle East. While the Swedish government has considered fuel rationing as a potential future measure, Rosencrantz noted that Sweden is currently implementing strategies to mitigate price spikes.
"We are putting in place measures to dampen the effects of the spikes in prices by reducing the tax on electricity, for example," Rosencrantz said.
She argued that long-term EU policy must focus on boosting competitiveness through market simplification and reducing reliance on external fossil fuels. "What's going on now really shows that being dependent on fossil fuels from the Middle East or from Russia; that's a bad strategy," she said, adding that such dependence harms the climate, the economy, and security.
Rosencrantz also highlighted Sweden's position as a leader in innovation, ranking first in the EU and second globally. She advocated for reducing bureaucracy to help European tech companies scale, citing Sweden's active role in digital omnibus packages regarding artificial intelligence as a model for the continent.
