Thursday, May 26, 2022

Sweden ‘can count on the EU’, Michel says in Stockholm amid tensions with Turkey

 

Sweden ‘can count on the EU’, Michel says in Stockholm amid tensions with Turkey

Although it has been a week since Finland and Sweden handed over their NATO applications to Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, Turkey continues to oppose accession for both. [EPA-EFE/FREDRIK SANDBERG]

European Council President Charles Michel visited Stockholm to meet Prime Minister Magdalena 

Andersson on Wednesday to discuss the NATO applications of Sweden and Finland 

amid tensions with Turkey, the TT press agency has reported.

Although it has been a week since Finland and Sweden handed over their NATO 

applications to Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, Turkey continues to oppose accession 

for both.

“It comes at an important time for Europe. We respect and support your decision 

[to join NATO]. It will make Europe more secure,” Michel said at a press conference in 

Stockholm.

Andersson, for her part, said talks with Turkey were ongoing and that her staff would go 

through Ankara’s list of requirements and “clear up some ambiguities.”

“There are some ambiguities about the fact that we sell arms and where our aid money 

goes,” she said, referring to Turkey’s demands that Sweden and Finland abandon the 

arms embargo the Nordic countries instated after Ankara’s incursion in Syria in 2018.

“We look forward to a positive resolution to discussions among NATO allies,” Michel said.

He concluded his speech by saying, “we are convinced that we must stay strong and 

united against Russian aggression. I know that we can count on Sweden, and Sweden 

can count on the European Union.”

On the same day, Finnish and Swedish delegations travelled to Ankara to meet with 

Turkish authorities to find common ground ahead of the upcoming NATO summit in June.

Issues such as Ukraine, security in Europe, and the possibility of continuing to maintain 

unity in the EU vis-à-vis Russia as food and energy prices soar were on the agenda during 

Michel’s visit, who is expected to face a difficult task at next week’s extraordinary summit in 

Brussels on 30-31 May.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has played down the prospects of 

getting the go-ahead for a new sixth sanctions package to freeze imports and phase out 

Russian oil as there is currently no consensus among EU countries.

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