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BREXIT VOTE

EUROPEAN UNION

Swedish PM swats aside calls for EU renegotiation

Sweden’s prime minister, Stefan Löfven, said on Friday, that it had been “totally irresponsible” for the Left Party to bring up the question of a Swedish EU renegotiation at a time when the EU was in such need of stability, after the UK had voted to leave the community.

Published: 24 June 2016 15:16 CEST
Swedish PM swats aside calls for EU renegotiation
"Sweden will now lose an important partner in the EU," Löfven said. Photo: TT

The Left Party leader Jonas Sjöstedt, who cooperates with the Social Democrat-led government on budgetary matters, said earlier on Friday that the British EU exit meant a golden chance to renegotiate Swedish membership.

“We want to reduce the EU's powers and to be able to have the Swedish collective agreements. It is also important that the EU budgets properly so that the membership fee goes down and not up. We also want to abolish the common agricultural policy,” he said.

Sjöstedt’s suggestion was shot down flames by Löfven who called the comment “totally irresponsible”.

The prime minister continued, “It is easy to be populist in this situation. It is not the time now to demand renegotiation as we have before us five or ten years of insecurity in the EU and we need long-term perspective and stability.”

“In Sweden, membership of the EU is firmly anchored,” Löfven said. “I have spoken with the other party leaders this morning.”

Earlier the prime minister had released a statement expressing sadness at the result of the UK vote.

“It is now clear that the people of the United Kingdom have voted to leave the European Union. We respect their decision, but it is a serious one – primarily for the people of the UK, who had a great deal to gain by remaining, but also for the EU.”

“Sweden will now lose an important partner in the EU. We have often pursued issues together, not least important trade issues. The UK will remain an important partner for Sweden in its new role outside the EU.”

“The fact that the UK is leaving the EU will have major repercussions.”

“But we remain convinced of the importance of European cooperation. Our need for effective European cooperation has never been greater. This is particularly true for Sweden, which is a small, export-dependent country.”

“The EU offers us greater opportunities to resolve the problems of our time, but it also enhances the conditions for more jobs and higher growth. And it safeguards peace and security.”

But Löfven cautioned that the EU could not ignore the ramifications of the UK vote.

“The debate and campaigning in the run-up to the referendum should serve as a wake-up call for Europe. They elicited stark polarisation and disturbing nationalism. This shows that EU cooperation must be developed and improved.

“We must be able to demonstrate that our cooperation is actually capable of tackling our common challenges in the way that people expect it to.

“We must have fair conditions in the European labour market. Climate and environmental challenges know no borders. And all EU Member states must take responsibility for the refugees fleeing to Europe.”

In recent polls, more than 70% of Swedes have signalled that they prefer to stay within the EU.

For members

DRIVING

EU countries to extend range of offences foreign drivers can be fined for

The EU has agreed to extend the number of driving offences for which motorists from other member states can be fined for and to make it easier for authorities to chase up the fines and make foreign drivers pay.

Published: 13 May 2024 17:28 CEST
EU countries to extend range of offences foreign drivers can be fined for

In the last voting session of this term, in April, the European Parliament passed new rules to ensure drivers who breach local traffic rules in another EU member state are found and fined.

The cross-border enforcement (CBE) directive was first adopted in 2015 after it was found that non-resident drivers were more likely to commit speeding offences. The European Commission estimated that in 2008, foreign drivers accounted for about 5 percent of road traffic in the EU but committed around 15 percent of speeding offences.

The directive partially improved the situation, but according to the Commission 40 percent of traffic violations committed in other EU countries are still unpunished “because the offender is not identified or because the fine is not enforced”.

In March 2023, the Commission therefore proposed updating existing measures.

New rules extend the type of offences that will trigger assistance from another member state and seek to improve collaboration among national authorities to identify and fine offenders.

The European Parliament and Council agreed in March on the final text of the directive, which is now being formally approved by the two institutions.

André Sobczak, Secretary-General at Eurocities, a group representing European cities in Brussels, said: “While the final outcome of the discussions is not ideal, we are pleased that EU policymakers have at least put the issue of the enforcement of local traffic rules on foreign vehicles on the table. As we approach an election year, I believe such a practical example can demonstrate why a European approach is necessary to address local issues.”

Which traffic offences are covered?

The previous directive covered eight driving misconducts that would require member states to cooperate: speeding, not wearing seat belts, failing to stop at a red traffic light, drink-driving, driving under the effect of drugs, not wearing a helmet (motorcycles / scooters), using a forbidden lane and using a mobile phone or other communication devices while driving.

The Commission proposed to add to the list not keeping a safe distance from the vehicle in front, dangerous overtaking, dangerous parking, crossing one or more solid white lines, driving the wrong way down a one way street, not respecting the rules on “emergency corridors” (a clear lane intended for priority vehicles), and using an overloaded vehicle.

The Parliament and Council agreed to these and added more offences: not giving way to emergency service vehicles, not respecting access restrictions or rules at a rail crossings, as well as hit-and-run offences.

Despite calls from European cities, the new directive does not cover offences related to foreign drivers avoiding congestion charges or low emission zones. In such cases, information about vehicle registration can only be shared among countries with bilateral agreements.

Karen Vancluysen, Secretary General at POLIS, a network of cities and regions working on urban transport, called on the next European Commission to take other local traffic offences, such as breaches of low emission zones, “fully at heart”.

Collaboration among national authorities

For the traffic violations covered by the directive, EU countries have to help each other to find the liable driver. The new directive further clarifies how.

Member states will have to use the European vehicle and driving licence information system (Eucaris) to get the data of the offender.

National authorities will have 11 months from the date of the violation to issue the fine to a vehicle from another EU member state. However, they will not have to resort to agencies or private entities to collect the fine. This was requested by the European Parliament to avoid scams or leaks of personal data.

Authorities in the country of the offender will have to reply to requests from another EU member state within two months.

When the amount of the fine is more than €70, and all options to have it paid have been exhausted, the member state where the violation occurred can ask the country of the offender to take over the collection.

The person concerned will be able to request follow-up documents in a different official EU language.

When will the new rules will be enforced?

Now that the EU Parliament has passed the law, the EU Council has to do the same, although there is no date set for when that will happen. Once the directive is adopted, EU countries will have 30 months to prepare for implementation.

Last year the Commission also proposed a new directive on driving licenses, but negotiations on the final text of this file will only take place after the European elections.

This article has been produced in collaboration with Europe Street news.

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