Swedish Government to welcome European Commission to Kiruna

Press release from the Swedish Presidency of the Council of the European Union

The first meeting in Sweden during the Presidency will be held in Kiruna, Sweden’s northernmost city. The Prime Minister has invited the European Commission for talks with the Government on the priorities of the Presidency and current issues on the EU agenda.

The first major meeting during the Swedish Presidency of the Council of the European Union will take place on 12–13 January. As per tradition, Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson and the Swedish Government will invite the European Commission, led by its President Ursula von der Leyen, to an introductory meeting on the Swedish Presidency. It will be held in Sweden’s northernmost city, Kiruna, which is surrounded by magnificent nature and is at the forefront of innovation, space research and green transition.

“We’ve chosen to hold this meeting in Kiruna to showcase a unique area of Sweden – a unique region of the EU where a green industrial transition of historic magnitude is currently under way”, says Mr Kristersson.

A visit by the European Commission to the country holding the Presidency in the beginning of its term is an established tradition, helping promote future cooperation between the Presidency and the Commission.

Sweden took over the Presidency of the Council of the European Union on 1 January 2023.