SWEDEN RATIFIES LISBON TREATY

UNCLAS STOCKHOLM 000782


State for EUR/NB

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PINR PREL SW
SUBJECT: SWEDEN RATIFIES LISBON TREATY


1. On November 20, the Swedish Parliament ratified the European
Union's Lisbon Treaty, making Sweden the 25th of the 27 EU member
states to approve the reform text. The debate in parliament lasted
nine hours and dragged into late Thursday evening. The treaty was
approved with 243 votes in favor, 39 against, 13 abstaining and 54
absent.


2. The four center-right governing parties and the Social Democrats
voted to ratify the treaty, defeating efforts by the opposition Left
and Green Parties to use parliamentary procedures to shelve the
bill. The arguments from the governing parties focused on the need
to make the EU's work more efficient, facilitate enlargement of the
Union, and strengthen democracy. Arguments from the opposition camp
revolved around concerns that Lisbon would hinder the "Swedish
model" for collective wage agreements and an insistence that Sweden
ask for a "carve-out" in this area. Although some MPs were
resistant to follow the party line, in the end all but one MP, from
the governing coalition Center Party, voted with their parties.

WOOD