Thursday

28th Mar 2024

Sweden may block EU arrest warrant and terror laws

The big conservative party in Sweden, Moderaterna, is blocking the adoption of the EU framework decision on terrorism and a common arrest warrant. According to the party, the rule of law is threatened when politicians have no way of knowing what they are legislating

Pig in the poke

"We will not vote for something of which we do not know the consequences. There is a possibility that we may end up voting for the EU framework decisions, but not until the consequent Swedish legislation is in order. That would be buying the pig in the poke," says Fredrik Reinfeldt from Moderaterna, president of the legal committee in Riksdagen, the Swedish parliament.

Read and decide

Join EUobserver today

Get the EU news that really matters

Instant access to all articles — and 20 years of archives. 14-day free trial.

... or subscribe as a group

His party is the second biggest, and without its votes there is no majority in favour of the two framework decisions, as the Greens and the Left are already against. This means that Prime Minister Göran Persson (Social Democrat) may be forced to block a decision requiring unanimity among the member states.

No rush just to keep the EU system happy

To the government's accusation that the blocking is incomprehensible, Fredrik Reinfeldt answers: "The decision must be made in December but will only be law in the member states from December 2003. This means that there is ample time. Now the minister of justice must present the proposal for laws that the framework decisions require. But we should not make our decision in order to keep the EU system happy. If this causes problems for the government, it is because it has omitted to tell that it has not got a parliamentary majority behind it," he says to EUobserver.dk.

A question of Sweden remaining under the rule of law

Fredrik Reinfeldt points to two aspects of the framework decisions which he finds doubtful. One is the line of demarcation for terrorism:

"The definition is vague. Among other things we have with assistance from Denmark brought about that demonstrators, shall not be considered to be terrorists, even if they go too far. But this is only a preamble text. We want to know the legal status of this wording before we see it incorporated in Swedish law."

The European arrest warrant may give rise to another problem, according to Mr Reinfeldt: "Today we are 15 member countries, but already next year we may admit 10 more. We need to know whether the conditions in prisons in, for example, Lithuania are of a nature that we can give up Swedish citizens. Fundamentally it is a question of Sweden remaining under the rule of law."

Towards common European legal system

Moderaterna is by tradition Sweden's conservative party, but in practice they belong in the Liberal camp. The party is the second biggest in Sweden after the Social Democrats, and for many years its attitude to the EU has been positive, not least under the influence of the former party leader and prime minister, Carl Bildt.

But now they are asking: "Are we going to have a common European legal system, such as the Commission proposes in its Green Book? This is a debate that will also be brought to the agenda in connection with the Convention and a future Catalogue of Competences. It looks as if this will be the next thing that we are going to decide on," Fredrik Reinfeldt predicts.

Opinion

EU Modernisation Fund: an open door for fossil gas in Romania

Among the largest sources of financing for energy transition of central and eastern European countries, the €60bn Modernisation Fund remains far from the public eye. And perhaps that's one reason it is often used for financing fossil gas projects.

'Swiftly dial back' interest rates, ECB told

Italian central banker Piero Cipollone in his first monetary policy speech since joining the ECB's board in November, said that the bank should be ready to "swiftly dial back our restrictive monetary policy stance."

Opinion

EU Modernisation Fund: an open door for fossil gas in Romania

Among the largest sources of financing for energy transition of central and eastern European countries, the €60bn Modernisation Fund remains far from the public eye. And perhaps that's one reason it is often used for financing fossil gas projects.

Latest News

  1. Kenyan traders react angrily to proposed EU clothes ban
  2. Lawyer suing Frontex takes aim at 'antagonistic' judges
  3. Orban's Fidesz faces low-polling jitters ahead of EU election
  4. German bank freezes account of Jewish peace group
  5. EU Modernisation Fund: an open door for fossil gas in Romania
  6. 'Swiftly dial back' interest rates, ECB told
  7. Moscow's terror attack, security and Gaza
  8. Why UK-EU defence and security deal may be difficult

Stakeholders' Highlights

  1. Nordic Council of MinistersJoin the Nordic Food Systems Takeover at COP28
  2. Nordic Council of MinistersHow women and men are affected differently by climate policy
  3. Nordic Council of MinistersArtist Jessie Kleemann at Nordic pavilion during UN climate summit COP28
  4. Nordic Council of MinistersCOP28: Gathering Nordic and global experts to put food and health on the agenda
  5. Friedrich Naumann FoundationPoems of Liberty – Call for Submission “Human Rights in Inhume War”: 250€ honorary fee for selected poems
  6. World BankWorld Bank report: How to create a future where the rewards of technology benefit all levels of society?

Stakeholders' Highlights

  1. Georgia Ministry of Foreign AffairsThis autumn Europalia arts festival is all about GEORGIA!
  2. UNOPSFostering health system resilience in fragile and conflict-affected countries
  3. European Citizen's InitiativeThe European Commission launches the ‘ImagineEU’ competition for secondary school students in the EU.
  4. Nordic Council of MinistersThe Nordic Region is stepping up its efforts to reduce food waste
  5. UNOPSUNOPS begins works under EU-funded project to repair schools in Ukraine
  6. Georgia Ministry of Foreign AffairsGeorgia effectively prevents sanctions evasion against Russia – confirm EU, UK, USA

Join EUobserver

EU news that matters

Join us