At the time where Europe recorded a sad record the loss of 1

Fredrik Reinfeldt, Swedish Prime Minister, and his Foreign Minister, Carl Bildt, want to turn the page of a Czech presidency little organized and weakened. Czech President Vaclav Klaus had quickly made a feature on hyperactivity deployed by Nicolas Sarkozy in preferring to display his Euroscepticism. The Sweden wants to reconnect with an ambitious presidency by setting two priorities for the second half of 2009: the fight against unemployment, spurred by the crisis, and the fight against climate warming, global challenge.

"Together we must confront the financial crisis and tackle unemployment which affects Europe", explained the head of the Government with its parliamentary European work programme. At the time where Europe recorded a sad record, the loss of 1.9 million jobs in the course of the first quarter of 2009 and an unemployment rate of 8.6 in April, the Government of Stockholm does not hide that it should still grow to the re-entry. And only a European response is expected by all the citizens of the Union even if the latter has only little power in the matter, the policies of employment remained essentially national prerogatives.

"We must also bring the world to reduce our carbon emissions," said Fredrik Reinfeldt, to prepare proposals for the Union for the World Conference on climate change to be held in December in Copenhagen. Indeed, Europe intends to continue to put pressure on its major global partners even if its cohesion threatened to crumble when it comes to sharing the burden between the twenty-seven. In Copenhagen, the challenge is to size as it will be for the United Nations for approval by the leaders of the world a new Treaty on climate change replacing the Kyoto Protocol, which expires in 2012.

A "neighbourhood policy".

Other priorities of the new Presidency: the strengthening of European cooperation in justice and Home Affairs in the Stockholm programme, which sets priorities for the next five years on asylum, immigration, visas, border controls and police cooperation. The Sweden wants to also launch a programme for the Baltic Sea region while developing closer ties between the Union and its neighbours through a 'neighbourhood policy', genuine alternative to new enlargements.

But the crisis and the uncertain future of the Lisbon Treaty could upset this work programme. The fight against climate change seems, indeed, one of the first victims of a crisis that did not end. Emerging countries such as China, the India, or Brazil, do not share the ambitious objectives displayed by the Union and several Member States are now questioning the opportunity to go it alone.

The unknown of the referendum

The referendum Irish on the Lisbon Treaty, scheduled for the fall, is far from won despite assurances by EU leaders in Dublin. And Stockholm fears that the European Parliament refer to back renewal of Barroso as President of the Commission, this extension may then wait for the Irish referendum. Meanwhile, negotiations on the future Commissioners and on the choice of the stable President of the European Council and the High Representative for External Affairs may mobilize the capitals of the Union. And the role of arbitrator that might have to play the Swedish Presidency is unconducive to other advances by Stockholm.