The Riksdag and the European Parliament host a conference on economic coordination and governance in the EU

Published 3 March | On 27–28 February, the Riksdag, in collaboration with the European Parliament, hosted the Conference on Stability, Economic Coordination and Governance (SECG) in Brussels. Current economic challenges facing the EU and the member states against a backdrop of significant geopolitical uncertainty, high inflation and slow growth were discussed during three parallel sessions. During the second day of the conference, the proposal for a new economic policy framework was discussed, as well as the fiscal challenges of increased remote working. The SEGC Conference is one of the conferences held within the framework of the Riksdag’s part of the Swedish Presidency of the EU Council of Ministers – the parliamentary dimension.

Debate on the EU’s economic challenges and future governance

Parliamentarians from around 30 countries as well as members of the European Parliament participated in the conference to discuss current economic challenges and the direction of the EU’s economic governance. The Speaker and around ten members of the Riksdag attended the conference in Brussels, which brought together around 250 participants overall.

Taking part in the high-level opening of the conference were Roberta Metsola, the President of the European Parliament, Andreas Norlén, the Speaker of the Riksdag, Valdis Dombrovskis, Deputy Chair of the European Commission, and, via a video recording, the OECD’s Secretary General Mathias Cormann. All high-level participants stressed the fact that the conference took place almost exactly one year after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the far-reaching consequences of which have primarily impacted the people of Ukraine, but also to a large extent the EU and its citizens.

“The SECG Conference provided an opportunity for discussions and conversations on the common challenges that we all face in each of our parliaments in current times. Particularly important topics include not only security issues, but also democratic challenges,” says the Speaker Andreas Norlén.

During the first day, discussions were held in three parallel interparliamentary committee meetings which centred on the effects of decreased use of cash in society, policy measures in times of high inflation and continued financial support for Ukraine. Edward Riedl (Moderate Party), Chair of the Committee on Finance and Niklas Karlsson (Social Democratic Party), Chair of the Committee on Taxation, acted as chairs of various sessions. Stefan Ingves, former Governor of the Riksbank, the central bank of Sweden, also participated.

Two plenary sessions were held on the second day. During the first session, the direction of the EU’s economic governance was discussed, as a starting point for the ongoing review of the EU’s economic framework. The Commission’s proposal for a new reform was presented in November and is currently the subject of intense discussions. The session was led by Edward Riedl, (Moderate Party), together with Othmar Karas, Vice-President of the European Parliament. Lars Heikensten, Chair of the Swedish Fiscal Policy Council and former Governor of the Riksbank, and Paolo Gentiloni, the Commissioner for Economy, were also among those taking part.

“It is really valuable to have the opportunity for a broad discussion between parliamentarians from the whole of the EU on the economic challenges which are to such a great extent common to us all,” says Edward Riedl, Chair of the Committee on Finance.

The second plenary session focussed on the fiscal challenges associated with increased remote working and living and working in different countries. This session was led by Niklas Karlsson (Social Democratic Party) together with Dita Charanzová, also Vice-President of the European Parliament. The pandemic has further strengthened a trend where an increasing number of people work in a different country from where they live. This raises a number of challenges, particularly concerning taxation, which demands improved coordination within the EU and globally. Experts from the OECD and the Commission where among the speakers.

“As Chair of the Committee on Taxation, it was especially interesting to discuss the fiscal challenges associated with more and more people working and living in different countries - a trend which has increased due to the pandemic,” says Niklas Karlsson.

The Riksdag to arrange eight conferences during the EU Presidency

Sweden holds the Presidency of the Council of the European Union between January and June 2023. Within the framework of the parliamentary dimension of the Presidency, the Riksdag is arranging eight conferences and meetings during this period, in which members of the national parliaments of the EU member states and of the European Parliament participate and discuss various matters. The conferences are part of continuing cooperation between the parliaments, also known as interparliamentary cooperation in the EU.

Webcasts

Broadcasts from the conference can be viewed on demand on the European Parliament website.

The European Parliament website

Further information

Contact person for the media

Ann-Charlott Tunved, Secretary to the Committee on Finance, telephone: +46 70 381 00 80, email: ann-charlott.tunved@riksdagen.se
The Riksdag Administration Press Service: +46 8 786 62 00