Sweden warns UK over risks of EU exit
Published: 23 Jan 13 12:20 CET | Print version
Online: http://www.thelocal.se/45774/20130123/
Sweden on Wednesday warned Britain it would hold less sway in the world if it quits the EU, after Prime Minister David Cameron vowed to hold an in-or-out referendum if his party wins the next election.
- Sweden enters fray in EU data privacy fight (21 Jan 13)
- Brits accused in Sweden garlic smuggling racket (9 Jan 13)
- EU to uphold export ban on Swedish snus (19 Dec 12)
"Soon we Europeans will be only seven percent of global population. We can only promote our values and protect our interests if we work together," Bildt wrote on Twitter.
He quoted Cameron's own reference to the weight Britain's voice carries as a member of the EU, where the British leader said: "We are more powerful in Washington, in Beijing, in Delhi because we are a powerful player in the European Union."
Bildt responded "Yes, so far...," seen as a warning that Britain risked losing that influence if it walked away from the 27-member bloc.
Sweden considers Britain a strong ally in the EU, seeing eye-to-eye on a number of key issues. Both countries have chosen to remain outside the eurozone, and both are in favour of sweeping EU budget cuts.
Sweden's EU Affairs Minister Birgitta Ohlsson said on Twitter: "We cant play pick and choose with the EUs future. Its [sic] about committed collaboration."
"I want a useful union not a noncommittal network," she added.
Cameron on Wednesday promised to hold a referendum by the end of 2017 giving British people the choice of staying in or leaving the EU if his party wins the next election.
AFP/The Local/dl
Follow The Local on Twitter
What do you think? Leave your comment below.
Sweden 'fails to help well-educated foreigners'
The white-collar union Saco has lambasted Sweden's Employment Agency for its failure to help well-educated, foreign-born job seekers, whose unemployment rate is more than three times the average for people born in Sweden. READ () »
Stockholm riots spread south on fourth night
Wednesday night saw more burning cars, smashed windows, and stone throwing at police in at least 15 suburbs around Stockholm, as the fourth night of riots swept the Swedish capital. READ () »
Karolinska joins free online-course community
Swedish medical university Karolinska Institutet has signed up to offer free online courses, joining a network of 27 universities worldwide that reach nearly a million students. READ () »
Mixed results for Sweden refugee job push
Fifteen percent of refugees in Sweden who enrolled in the new establishment system the past two years have gone on to find jobs, new figures show, leading some observers to worry that the low success rate will place a burden on the benefits system. READ () »
Swedish pressure needed on Assange: accuser
One of the women who has accused Julian Assange of sex crimes has called on the Swedish government to increase pressure on Ecuador to hand over the WikiLeaks-founder to authorities in Sweden. READ () »
Stockholm riots: a view from the street in Husby
Following three nights of violence that left cars smouldering in several Stockholm suburbs, The Local travelled to the north-western district of Husby where the disturbances began to see how the riots have affected local residents. READ () »
Bergman auction canned after suspected theft
An auction of memorabilia belonging to Swedish filmmaker Ingmar Berman has been scrapped by authorities after claims the items were stolen from the family. READ () »
Stockholm man lay dead in flat for two years
Workmen in southern Stockholm found the body of man who may have lain dead in his flat for over two years, with the police blaming the belated discovery on society's broken social networks. READ () »
- 19/05 Christian Democrat support drops: poll »
- 16/05 Swedish lobbying boom prompts regulation calls »
- 16/05 More Swedes in favour of joining Nato: poll »
- 15/05 Bildt welcomes China's new Arctic Council status »
- 15/05 Borg drops resistance to EU fiscal stimulus »
- 14/05 Sweden is important to Afghanistan: Kerry »
- 14/05 Russia 'lacks capacity' to attack Sweden: Reinfeldt »
- 13/05 Extend Sweden's Afghan mission past Nato's: Bildt »
- 13/05 John Kerry to talk Syria in Stockholm visit »
- 11/05 Female Swedish MPs subject to threats: report »
| 23/05 | Java Developer (Turku, Finland)Academic Work | Turku |
| 23/05 | Product ManagerSafemind AB | Stockholm |
| 22/05 | Accountant to Bank of ChinaSjr Ab | Stockholm |
| 22/05 | Accountant to Bank of ChinaSJR AB | Stockholm, STHM |
| 22/05 | Accounting ManagerMichael Page | Göteborg |
| 22/05 | Accounting ManagerMichael Page | Göteborg, VTG |
More news from Germany at thelocal.de
- 23/05 Hollande to fete Merkel's political opponents »
- 23/05 French schools must display Republican motto »
More news from France at thelocal.fr
More news from Norway at thelocal.no
- 23/05 Switzerland braces for wet and wintry weather »
- 23/05 Bern seeks new frozen dictator funds law »
More news from Switzerland at thelocal.ch
In cooperation with DoToday
Register now for:
> Free use of noticeboard
> Special discounts
> Weekly news roundup
> Unlimited use of discuss
REFLECTIONS OF A TWITTER VIRGIN…. »
"I confess to having been reluctant to embrace Twitter. But I confess myself a bit of a convert. The great TV critic Clive James once said about “Dallas”, “I came to mock but I stayed to pray”. I wouldn’t go that far, but I have found my first two weeks on Twitter (@hmapauljohnston) both fun and informative. It’s been..." READ »
- 21/5 21:34 WEEK 21 (Stripes News)
- 20/5 15:25 Hockey. Hockey. Hockey. (Boston Blatte)
- 16/5 08:32 Be British, be sincere and be bold (Brits Mean Business)
- 11:21 Markets in Gothenburg
- 11:18 Bank account deposits
- 11:08 Freelancer needed to build a website
- 10:35 Husby Riots and violence against the police...
- 10:04 Lamination or Plastic surgery for Certificate
- 09:49 Restaurant Inspection Scores
- 09:24 Living costs in London
- 08:53 What does Lagom really mean?
- 03:13 Investment market in Sweden
- 01:05 An alternative on the menu
Individuals & Couples - Stockholm Beth Rogerson PhD - Clinical, Marriage & Family Therapist
Click or call 08-5580 1266 now
Create an account with Banc De Binary, the world’s most reputable binary options firm, and start cashing in today! You can start by practicing with our free $50,000 demo account.
www.bbinary.com
Expat counsellor & talk therapist offers counselling for stress, relationship issues, sexuality, culture adjustment & life coaching. Private & confidential. Stockholm or Skype. Contact me today! 08-559 22 636 or
CLICK HERE
Casa Birgitta in Algarve, Portugal. Reduced price in best location. Private estate on white sand beach. All amenities included. Book here today! edward_george1@hotmail.com
Find products and services that are specifically focused on English speakers living in Sweden!
FULL DETAILS
Your comments about this article:
The comments below have not been moderated in advance and are not produced by The Local unless clearly stated. Readers are responsible for the content of their own comments. Comments that breach our terms and conditions will be removed.
Europeans could never work together.
And I'm equally sure Mr Bildt, Miss Ohlsson and the Swedish people will wish the Brits the best of luck in whatever direction they elect to take in their referendum in 2017.
Further, in the ECHR there are un-elected lawyers attempting to set laws that take precedence over national laws. That in itself is too far-reaching.
The inital form of the EU - EFTA would have been a far better setting, dealing - as it did - with trading. Now the eurocrats are wanting a bigger and bigger say in how countries should be run, and wanting an ever bigger budget to do so, without ever producing bookkeeping to show how that budget is being spent.
The future of Europe is where there are several levels where countries can choose their own level that suits their citizens.The EU is a corrupt organisation which have not had their accounts signed off for several years, bureaucratic, wasting money and even wanting inflation busting rises despite a credit crunch and austerity in most of Europe. People feel deatched from the EU...do not understand how it works and the EU MPs make no effort to change that. Ignorance allows them to pass laws without much fighting. I believe most people in the EU would want some say in how their country is integrated into the EU. But the EU are AFRAID of DEMOCRACY and that is what is at the heart of the problem.
It is highly irresponsible for a Swedish government minister to lie so openly to the Swedish viewers. Would she describe a Swedish party who fights for liberty, freedom and fairness for Sweden also "höger extremister"?
"Soon we Europeans will be only seven percent of global population. We can only promote our values and protect our interests if we work together," Bildt wrote on Twitter." Work together is one thing, surrender your sovereignty is another, why europe is getting stupid all of a sudden?
Somebody please tell this fool that it's not the number of people that gives you the power and influence, it's money and technology! Case and point, Israel vs arab world, USA vs China and India, 330 million americans vs 2.5 billion Chinesindians, which one is stronger and more powerful?
Rick 1: Unfortunately that is par for the course for extreme left politically-correct militants. They are already calling the Sverigedemokraterna "extreme right" in Sweden.
It's just one example of the key words or code words used by the militantly politically correct in order to try to shut down debate and cast their opponents as people who are not worthy of inclusion in the debate.
"Right-wing extremist," "Islamophobe," "homophobe," etc. etc. ad nauseum are the kind of meaningless intellectually dishonest political neologisms they are wont to shamelessly cast about.
Instead of criticizing those who are for progress and for a unified, strong EU Federation you should put that energy towards ensuring it is done with transparency, protecting the rights of every EU citizen no matter what state they are from and most of all insure that those corrupt individuals who would like to subvert this process for personal gains never get the chance.
Even if the UK has a referendum and just over 50% want to get out of EU, it is wishful thinking that it is ever going to happen. The UK has a lot more to loose getting out than staying in, and Cameron knows it, this whole referendum is just a PR ploy to get the votes from the ignorant and uneducated who may be swayed by political rethoric.
Carl Bildt - what European solidarity at the EU ideals forced upon us? The only solidarity is within the elitists, and if Europe is shrinking, it's not for lack of mass EU enforced immigration.