For the next six months, Sweden will be at the head of the European Union.
The recent European Parliament election results showed many voters' disappointment with traditional political forces. The fact that José Bové (a radical French farmer rights activist) will also take a seat in the European Parliament indicates that Europeans are looking for new figures who can drastically improve the situation. It is not surprising, given that Europeans on average have a fairly high level of education, plus self-education, video lessons, etc.
And against this backdrop, on July 1, Sweden takes over the baton of leadership from the Czech Republic. According to analysts, the Czech presidency has been called 'unsatisfactory' by many. But, of course, everyone understands that Prague, as a new EU member, could not cope with the threats that arose with the onset of the financial and economic crisis. Will Sweden be able to? It is not clear yet, but it is evident that Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt and Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt are not afraid of the pressures, thereby exuding the confidence that is so needed in difficult times. Among the priorities of the new presidency are fighting the crisis, climate change, and the gradual assimilation of new EU citizens through education in European traditions and language learning.
It is worth noting that Sweden joined the European Union quite a long time ago, in 1995, and in 2001 it already had the honor of being the EU president. One of the most important tasks for Sweden as the head of a powerful transnational structure is the successful holding of the climate change summit in December 2009 in Copenhagen. Everyone understands that just an educational video or advertisement on proper waste disposal will not solve the problem. It is important that mega-states like the United States and China agree to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
In political terms, the main question for Stockholm is holding a second referendum in Ireland. If the citizens of that country finally approve the Lisbon Treaty, then Sweden may become the last country in history to preside over the EU. This practice has long been planned to be replaced by the election of a single EU president, a position for which, among others, Tony Blair is tipped.