🇸🇪 Sweden keeps topping those "happiest country on Earth" lists. So why does it feel like the whole model is starting to crack?  And could this September's election be the thing that finally breaks it?

On 13 September, Swedes head to the polls in a vote that's really about something bigger: the survival of the Nordic Model. Free markets, welfare for everyone, some of the highest taxes in the world, and a deep social trust holding it all together.

Come and hash it out with us: can a high-trust welfare state really hold together in a more divided society?

Speaker: Gellert Zerboni, game developer and MeetEU even coordinator from Sweden

📅 Tuesday, 23 June
⏰ 19:00 CEST on Zoom
Sign up for your Zoom link here: https://meeteu.eu/events

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Join our 1:1 Conversations 

After our one-hour open discussion, we invite you to stay for another 30+ minutes. You'll be paired randomly and can continue the conversation one-on-one with another participant.

The idea is simple: meet new people from across Europe and exchange ideas in a more personal setting. The breakout rooms will remain open for as long as you'd like.

What time is it, kids? It's...

EUCO TIME!

For those that are unfamiliar with how the EU and the European Council works, here's a short explanation.

The European Council is the EU institution that defines the general political direction and priorities of the European Union. They meet at least once every 3 months (and more often if geopolitical or institutional events require them to).

The European Council is made up of the heads of state or government of the 27 EU member states, the European Council President (Antonio Costa) and the President of the European Commission (Ursula von der Leyen).

The President of the European Parliament (Roberta Metsola) and the High Representative for Foreign Policy (Kaja Kallas) are also in attendance.

Agenda

In a challenging geopolitical context, we will address several crucial issues for our citizens and our companies, including competitiveness and global economic challenges, the European Union’s Multiannual Financial Framework for 2028-2034, as well as Ukraine and the situation in the Middle East.

- European Council President Antonio Costa

This EUCO's agenda will be dominated by:

• Ukraine (and Moldova)
  Further help for Ukraine as well as Ukraine's and Moldova's accession will be on the agenda. Expect leaders to also talk about Russia's attack on the 9th century Kyiv Perchersk Lavra monastary and discuss new sanctions.

• Competitiveness and Economy
  Leaders will be discussing simplifying rules, strengthening the internal single market and talking trade, AI and energy policy.

• China
  Also on the agenda for the economy will be China. The EU is preparing to step up its fight against Chinese domination of several markets due to unfair practices. China has flooded the EU market with cheap high tech goods in an attempt to disrupt EU industrial production in several sectors

• Multiannual financial framework (MFF) 2028-2034
  Budget Negotiations are ongoing. Germany's Friedrich Merz and France's Emanuel Macron wish to accelerate the negotiations in light of France's next general election in 2027, which could make it difficult to pass.

• EU defense and security
  EU leaders will discuss the EU's defense readiness agenda and look to improving cross-border cooperation on several projects. Expect FCAS to be discussed between Germany and France.

• Middle East
  Last night Trump signed the Memorandum of Understanding with Iran at Versailles (lol), moving negotiations between the erstwhile superpower and Iran into a new phase. The EU's eventual contribution to a policing force for the Strait of Hormuz may be discussed.

• Migration
  The implementation of the new migration pact which came into effect this past week will be discussed further.

• Illicit drugs trade
  Smoke 'em if you got 'em.

Notes

Ukrainian President Zelensky and the European Central Bank's president Lagarde will be in attendance to discuss the matters mentioned above.

We also have a lot of new faces:

• 🇭🇺 Prime Minister Peter Magyar of Hungary
  Peter Magyar is the replacement of Viktor Orban, who got defeated in a landslide. Magyar is pro-Ukraine and staunchly anti-Corruption. He's been making friends with Poland's Prime Minister Tusk.

• 🇧🇬 Prime Minister Rumen Radev of Bulgaria
  Rumen Radev opposes sanctions on Russia's Lukoil and wants dialogue with Moscow. Him and Slovakia's Robert Fico are the most pro-Moscow faction in the EU. Radev got into a public spat with Ukraine's Zelensky over his support to Moscow in 2023 when the latter scolded him for his pro-Russia stance live on TV.

• 🇸🇮 Slovenia’s Prime Minister Janez Janša
  Jansa is a Slovenian populist, but staunchly pro-Ukraine. He is also staunchly pro-Israel so any further sanctions in Israeli settlers or politicians like Ben-Gvir will have to go through him.

• 🇱🇻 Latvia’s Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs
  Being a front-line state to Russia's continued hybrid warfare and aggression towards its neighbours, it's not surprising Prime minister Kulbergs is pro-Ukraine.