Björklund: M and S brakes Sweden in the EU

When the election campaign now begins to pull the trigger before the EUROPEAN parliamentary elections on may 26, it will be the last time that L-leader Jan Björklund leads his party faced a choice.

" don't Say it, it has not been landsmöte than, ha ha, jokes Jan Björklund.

in Order to try to raise the temperature of the election campaign is launching the Liberal party and The sweden democrats, a common valturné. Björklund will meet with Jimmie Åkesson (SD) in order to debate EUROPEAN issues on three occasions, informed the party leaders at a much-publicized press conference on Friday.

the Liberals go to the polls as by far the most EU-friendly party in Swedish politics. L want that Sweden joins the euro, the banking union, extending the defence - yes, even the slightest adjustment to deepen EU cooperation within the areas that are possible. Of Jan Björklund, the membership of the EUROPEAN union a crucial issue that shapes our future.

" We are facing a crossroads - should we have a stronger union or a weaker Europe? There are three reasons to opt for a stronger Europe: it is Putin, it is China, it is Trump. We are challenged by forces in different ways around the world where Europe must stick together in order to assert themselves. To strengthen european co-operation is by far the most important issue for us, " says Jan Björklund.

– Yes, really. But I still want to start with the positive. It is so easy to take everything for granted. In two generations, we have built up the world's most peaceful, the most democratically stable and the continent with the highest standard of living people have ever experienced. This had not been without european cooperation. There are lots of problems also but you have to see that peace, democracy and prosperity - there are no bad results. It is this that is challenged if we would choose a weaker Europe.

– But there are problems. The biggest is that the EU has not been able to deliver on a number of areas. For example, managed to Europe does not face the refugee crisis in 2015 or the financial crisis a few years earlier. I admit that Europe has not succeeded but that's because there was too little cooperation, not too much.

" Yes." It is beslutskraftig in a number of areas, such as the single market. Where we have a large supra-nationalism and that is why it is beslutskraftig. We should do so in more areas, such as foreign policy. We need to have a much larger common police cooperation against terrorism. We propose a european FBI, and enhanced defence cooperation.

– But Sweden is acting as the cousin from the country, we are hesitant and don't know if we want to be with or not. We stay in the waiting room instead of taking place. It is the social democrats and the Conservatives, who have chosen the line. It is unfortunate, for it reduces the role of Sweden.

– part decisions are made best at the municipal level and the other made the best of the nation-state. But then, there are common commitments, in a continent of the size. We are 40 countries in a pretty small area and we must work together to solve some problems. Climate, terrorism, the refugee crisis, jobs and welfare. It hangs together, and we must therefore cooperate more.

– Where we really have worked the internal market and it is a formidable success. Now, when some parties say they are going to reduce the supranationality, it is the internal market, they really mean because that is where supranationality is. It would be a disaster for the Swedish companies, jobs and welfare.

" No. The EU is all about independent nation-states who choose to, in some areas, interact, and collaborate. But it is clear that jobs, welfare, foreign policy and the climate is heavy areas, so there is a comprehensive cooperation. But I do not see in front of me a united states. It is different countries, different cultures, languages, attitudes and different religions. But the historical experience is that if we are not able to cooperate in Europe, so break it sooner or later together.

– Now it works very good. It was subjected to an awful ordeal during the financial crisis. Then was not the legal framework robust enough, but now we've tightened up the regulatory framework properly. There are 340 million europeans who every day use the euro - and to think that none of these countries want to go back to their old currency.

" Politically, we have lost, economically, it is quite equal so far. We are a country that meets all the criteria, but who do not want to be with. In particular, the risk that we get a reduction in influence. Since economic policy is so important for each country, so is the economic cooperation central, this is where the political power ports in the EU. You are not, then you end up in the stands when many of the decisions taken in the EU. And it is the Leaves and Kristersson, which drive up Sweden in the stands with the attitude.

– It is anxiety. There has been a EU-skepticism, and then have the S and M had not dared to. If it is so that those who are for the EUROPEAN union never explains why they are there, but just allow the opponents to criticize, then loses it to end the debate. You must tell us why this is good and important, and it does not S and M. They are too anxious.

– A lesson from 2015 is that the Swedish rules do not deviate too much from the rest of Europe. The way it was then. We were one of the few countries that gave permanent residence permit and had very generous rules for family reunification. That Sweden had such generous rules were made when there were many refugees to Europe, so searched many here. It was too many at one time that we would be able to handle it in a sensible way.

– Now there should be added a migrationsutredning and it will not be possible for Sweden to go back to the rules we had before 2015. They will be more stringent than the rules we had then.

– the decision that other european countries have taken, it is a temporary residence permit that is the basis. I understand that all countries are inside of it. You should have free movement between the countries of Europe and an outer limit, then the countries will also need to have a similar policy.

" We want to keep our two seats, then we are really happy on election night. We have had a tough period after the parliamentary elections in the fall in different ways.

" There was a disagreement on Januariavtalet. But when it comes to the issue of EUROPE, we are very united. So my assessment is purely partiinternt so it is this strengthening of the party. There is an issue where we have a position in Swedish politics, where we stand out. But the turbulence within our party over the fall and winter has led to a förtroendetapp among voters and it is visible in the measurements.

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