Sweden highlighted 4 key priorities for its presidency: security, competitiveness, green & energy transitions and upholding law and democratic values.
Security and unity is prioritised in light of the Russia-Ukraine war, which influences the remaining three key priorities as well. Within this priority, a robust European defence policy and support for Ukraine is emphasized. Prioritising competitiveness highlights the single market and aims to ensure ideal conditions for open economy. Green and energy transitions aims to respond to both short and long term energy challenges (many of which were also caused by the Russia-Ukraine conflict), as well as tackle and mitigate the global climate catastrophe by promoting resource-efficiency, eliminating fossil fuels and transitioning to a circular economy. Lastly, the priority of democratic values and the rule of law is highlighted, as these values serve as a foundation for the European Union.
With regards to research and innovation policy, the presidency will focus on open science and research infrastructures, according to Science/Business. Sweden is to build on previous and existing initiatives and accelerate the transition to open science. As this area overlaps with EuChemS interests, EuChemS participates and participated in the past in a number of relevant initiatives, such as the High Level Open Science Policy Platform and Coalition for Advancing Research Assessment (COARA). The Swedish presidency also aims to provide more funding to research infrastructures, following in the footsteps of its predecessor, the Czech Presidency, which organised the International Conference on Research Infrastructures (ICRI) and signed the Brno Declaration there.
