The Swedish Presidency of the Council of the European Union kicked off in January and it is clear that European competitiveness will be an important focus over the next six months.

In order to address the long-term problems facing the EU, promoting economic growth is one of the top priorities for the incoming Presidency. The economic output of Europe is what determines its strength, resilience, and global standing. Therefore the EU should continue to create the ideal conditions for a sound and open economy built on private investment, free competition, and successful digitalisation.

On February 1st, Brussels presented its ‘Green Deal Industrial Plan’ to boost Europe’s clean industries. The strategy follows the US’s recent announcement of its 'Inflation Reduction Act' to subsidise US industries to the tune of €400 billion, and China’s ongoing industrial policy that has seen the country become a leader in solar energy. "Europe is determined to lead the clean technology revolution,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said.

While discussions on the US Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) are still ongoing, boosting transatlantic trade relations will be a vital but challenging objective for Sweden's EU presidency. Geostrategic challenges, such as Russia's aggression against Ukraine, have highlighted how important coordination between the two blocs is.

Relisten to this EURACTIV Presidency Debate to learn about the role of the EU Swedish Presidency in boosting EU’s competitiveness. Discussed questions included:

- What will the EU do to help its companies to be competitive on global markets?
- What is the future of the transatlantic relationship?
- What advancements can be made in the fields of trade and digital cooperation?