On 1 July this year, Sweden took over the EU presidency. During six months Sweden leads the work in the EU and represents the EU in the world. All this means that Sweden is a "substitute global power". So what does Sweden want with its presidency and what opportunities do Sweden have to influence the EU in the direction that we want? The Swedish Institute of International Affairs, UI, is organizing, in cooperation with SIEPS and the Government Office, a tour of Sweden in six cities with the seminar series Stormakt i sex månader, to discuss various aspects of the Swedish EU presidency.

In this open seminar you will to find out what it means to lead the EU and what Sweden will do during these six months and the opportunities it brings to the Gothenburg region. Come and listen to some of the leading experts in the field and ask your questions. Europa Direkt Gothenburg region offers snacks.

Preliminary programme:

Moderator:
Jan Joel Andersson, programme manager, The Swedish Institut of International Affairs.

Talare:
Fredrik Langdal, researcher, Sieps: The Swedish Presidency and its priorities

Jakub Swiecicki, analyst, The Swedish Institut of International Affairs: EU enlargement and relations with Russia

Commentary:
Niklas Eklund, lecturer, Institution of political science, Umeå University

Questions and discussion with the speakers and the audience.

Tour schedule:
    * Karlstad, August 25
    * Stockholm September 3
    * Vaxjö September 24
    * Umeå October 7
    * Gothenburg October 22
    * Malmö, November 23