Ahead of each new rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union (every 6 months), the ministers of the holding country present their priorities in a series of meetings with parliamentary committees related to their political area. On January 2023, the committees of FEMM (Women’s Rights and Gender Equality), REGI (Regional Development) and DEVE (Development) welcomed the Sweden's ministers, including Paulina Brandberg, Minister for Gender Equality and Deputy Minister for Employment, Peter Kullgren, Minister for Rural Affairs, Johan Forssel, Minister for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade.

Brussels

Committee on Development

Committee on Women's Rights and Gender Equality

OMARJEE, Younous (The Left, FR)

Committee on Regional Development

Swedish Presidency of the EU (T)

BIEDROŃ, Robert (S&D, PL)

TOBÉ, Tomas (EPP, SE)

BRANDBERG, Paulina

FORSSELL, Johan

KULLGREN, Peter

Presentation of the EU Council's priorities by Swedish Ministers: extracts from the EP Committee meetings (FEMM - REGI - DEVE)

https://api.multimedia.europarl.europa.eu/documents/20125/68011106/1674646279278_I236223Chapters%5BSD-EN%5D.srt

Title: Presentation of the EU Council&apos;s priorities by Swedish Ministers: extracts from the EP Committee meetings (FEMM - REGI - DEVE) 

Robert BIEDROŃ (S&amp;D, PL), Chairof FEMM Committee and Paulina BRANDBERG, Swedish Minister for Gender Equality and Deputy Minister for Employment (1 shot)

SOUNDBITE (English), Paulina BRANDBERG, Swedish Minister for Gender Equality and Deputy Minister for Employment, The presidency will continue the negotiations on the directive on combating violence against women and domestic violence. Our aim is to find compromises in the interest of all member States. As minister responsible and responsible for gender equality, I will host a high level political meeting on gender equality in Stockholm on the 27th and 28th of February.

SOUNDBITE (English), Paulina BRANDBERG, Swedish Minister for Gender Equality and Deputy Minister for Employment, The aim of this meeting is to continue the work on preventing gender based violence and to advance the implementation of gender budgeting. Every year, over 7000 people become victims of human trafficking in the EU. The majority of victims are women and girls. We must prevent and combat trafficking in human beings, including for sexual purposes. And we must protect the victims.

Arrival of Younous OMARJEE (The Left, FR), Chair of REGI Committee, and Peter KULLGREN, Swedish Minister for Rural Affairs and general view of the meeting room (5 shots)

SOUNDBITE (English), Peter KULLGREN, Swedish Minister for Rural Affairs, The EU Cohesion policy funds played a key role in ensuring that nobody is left behind, and the economic recovery, as well as the green and digital transition, are socially fair, unjust. This includes investments in people, in particular in area of skills and jobs through both the European Social Fund, plus in the 21 to 27 period, as well as the Recovery and Resilience Facility.

Arrival of Tomas TOB&Eacute; (EPP, SE), Chair of DEVE Committee, and Johan FORSSELL, Swedish Minister for International Development Cooperation (3 shots)

SOUNDBITE (English), Johan FORSSELL, Swedish Minister for International Development Cooperation, Even though the war is still ongoing, we cannot limit ourselves here to talk mainly about military and humanitarian aid. Early preparations and planning for reconstruction of Ukraine is key to successfully help Ukraine, and this includes strengthening the economic ties between the European Union and Ukraine. Of course, foreign aid alone will not be sufficient to cover the costs of the reconstruction. Now is the time to lay the foundation for restoring the private sector confidence in the Ukrainian market to mobilise private capital.

SOUNDBITE (English), Johan FORSSELL, Swedish Minister for International Development Cooperation, Another focus area during this visit Presidency is global health, the global pandemic and global health trends in general. The climate crisis and the rapidly evolving geopolitical situations serves as clear incentives for a new approach to global health. COVID 19 serves as a reminder to us all about the importance of working with health on a global scale. If we fight disease and promote higher health standards abroad, it is beneficial for the safety and prosperity of our communities within the European Union.