The Swedish EU Presidency

On 1 July 2009, Sweden took over the Presidency of the EU. This means that for six months, Sweden is leading the EU's work and is responsible for moving important EU issues forward.

The Presidency of the Council rotates between the Member States. The Presidency rotates on a half-yearly basis. The country presiding over the Council functions as the driving force in the EU's legislative and political decision-making process.

The Presidency is a unique opportunity for Sweden to lead and influence work on important EU issues. At the same time, the country holding the Presidency must be flexible and prepared to deal with unexpected issues.