Milan. It makes Stefan Löfven entrance on his first EU summit – almost an hour and a half late.
When German Chancellor Angela Merkel came to greet Sweden’s new prime minister, he had not time.
– I did not get it. She was up to the table and would be health, but then I sat in the meeting with President Hollande, admits Löfven for Expressen.
He also comments on Hitler Bråket in parliament, Israel Criticism, “the abominable sect” IS, questioning of the Minister of Culture Alice Bah Kuhnke – opening up for more efforts to Ebola affected countries.
Stefan Löfven arrived as several other leaders of the Congress Hall in Milan in a retro-Fiat 500 Because of the party leader debate in parliament, he was almost an hour and a half late for Italy and had to run on the “red carpet” that this day was blue.
– I’m a little later, he noted with a laugh.
After the summit Expressen met the Prime Minister for a longer interview. He came directly from a bilateral meeting with French President François Hollande.
– We talked about the upcoming state visit. Sweden’s king and queen travel there later this fall. France is also the host of the Climate Change Conference held in Paris in 2015, and we foresee a good cooperation.
When asked how important it is to have allies at a summit like this, answers Löfven:
– I think I have a good relationship already, especially with the Italian Prime Minister, Matteo Renzi.
Many congratulated
It was, moreover, he who invited to the summit in Milan yesterday.
The first summit done. How was it?
– It was good. It is very important for Sweden that we are involved and are active in the EU. We intend to pursue. This was about jobs and bring down unemployment. It is crucial for Europe’s future.
According Löfven there were many who came forward and congratulated him during the meeting. One of those who tried were mighty German Chancellor Angela Merkel. But according to the Prime Minister did not greet each other.
You’ve talked youth unemployment and jobs – which EU countries are role models when it comes to jobs?
– Now you should respect the fact that we have different rules and different conditions. But it is clear that Sweden is no more than mediocre when it comes to youth unemployment. There are many countries that are better than us, including Austria and Germany. They have other systems, with apprenticeships and other things, but I think that the Swedish part so it is important to find a much closer contact between secondary education and the labor market. This can be done in different ways, but where I think we have more to dig into.
So, Austria and Germany are examples
– We can not translate what they do straight off to Sweden. We will do it according to the Swedish model, but the link between employment and secondary education needs to be closer. There we have a common denominator. So I think we can discuss more in Sweden.
It’s been a few days since you presented your government. How do you think that the ministers received?
– I think it was received well. I saw Ardalan Shekarabi on TV tomorrow morning.
Took care of himself?
– He behaved very, very good. I’ve never been worried about it. This is a talented bunch, a skilled bunch, and they’re very dedicated. So for me it’s a privilege to work with such dedicated people.
Alice Bah Kuhnke worry
The fact that the new Minister of Culture, Alice Bah Kuhnke diminished in different contexts of commentators and pundits Dont worry Stefan Löfven.
– On the other side are those who think this is very good and that she is just the right person in the right place. Then it is my opinion that it is. She is very knowledgeable and has good experience with exactly this role. But it can certainly be very divided opinions, it would think that it has done with all the ministers of culture through the years.
During the party leader debate in parliament stated Stefan Löfven that the terror group IS must be crushed. Following the Summit in Milan, he repeats:
– We must first realize that this is a disgusting cult that must be stopped. We see what is happening now in Syria, and also in Iraq. Then it applies. This is not a sect which can be reached by diplomacy. But you should have great respect for how this should be done. Now we bombings and air that wants to. But most say that this is not enough, we must have something on the ground too. And that’s exactly what it is delicate, it is difficult. How will this be done, so that we get results of such an effort. But the IS must be stopped. We already see what they have accomplished. The regime that they want down there promotes never the people who are there and not any part of the world community.
But you are the Prime Minister – what should you do to stop IS
– It makes Sweden’s humanitarian assistance. It is quite important down there. Within the international community, we have to discuss what can be done to stop IS. I can not do it personally, as I think most people understand. But the international community must discuss it, for the people who are down there and throughout the Middle East and the entire world’s sake.
The fight against Ebola
On Tuesday, the government decided to allocate additional 105 million kronor to fight against Ebola in West Africa. But money is not the whole solution.
The organization Doctors Without Borders and the Medical Association requires that Sweden also contributes with specially trained staff to judgment affected countries. What do you answer?
– Yes, it will certainly not be ruled out. Many countries have to help each other so that we can stop this epidemic, so we do not get a pandemic. It is incredibly important. Health Minister Gabriel Wikström working on the issue and see what can be done, but we must ensure that our authorities and the other is with a sense of security in the development.
Doctors without Borders says that the armed forces could play a big role here, helping to organize the work in place. Could it be the case?
– It should also not be excluded. Now working several ministers involved in the issue from different perspectives. Obviously, it is health care, but it is also interior minister and defense minister. We look at this wide and see what we can do, both to assist in the location but also to ensure that Sweden is well prepared if it would be an Ebola case in our own country.
Hitler Bråket
When Expressen meets Stefan Löfven on Wednesday evening, he comments also quarrel with the Sweden Democrats party leader Jimmie Åkesson in parliament.
– You see a part of the Swedish citizens as a threat comparable to Hitler’s terror, said Löfven to Åkesson.
What did you mean by that?
– When they say that Muslims are the most dangerous since Hitler was, then it is they who compares Muslims in this way with Hitler terror. That’s enough reason for me to say that one of those party, we do not have any cooperation with.
But is not that few do well to involve Hitler in a Swedish party leaders debate?
– The Sweden Democrats, who have used the term. They say that the Muslims are the most dangerous thing that has happened since World War II and thus compare our friends with Hitler’s terror. There are those who make it, not me. But it is to me an argument that does not have any cooperation with the party.
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