Sweden’s EU Presidency: a Window of Opportunity for Ukraine

Sweden’s assumption of the EU presidency is positive for Ukraine, as the long-standing amity between the two countries has translated into Swedish support for Ukraine’s European aspirations. Despite its size, the country is an important player within the EU, and its position toward Ukraine differs from those of most other EU Member States. Indeed, it seeks neither to appease nor to irritate Russia, and therefore sees Ukraine as a partner in its own right rather than as an afterthought. In addition, the size of Swedish investment in Ukraine, combined with the country’s economic significance, will ensure that Ukraine is an important part of any approach to dealing with the financial crisis – which Stockholm has made its top priority. Hence, while the new Eastern Partnership will not be the central preoccupation of its presidency, it is clear that the coming months will see Sweden seek to engage Ukraine in these matters.

With the Copenhagen climate summit drawing near and uncertainties about the reliability of Europe’s gas supply persisting, climate change and energy security will also be central to the Swedish presidency. Ukraine, as the world’s most energy-intensive economy and the key gateway for EU-bound Russian hydrocarbons, will inevitably have a major role to play in confronting these challenges; but whether it manages to use this position to affect positive changes at home and engage fully with the EU and the rest of the international community remains, as ever, to be seen.