The Presidency is drawing to a close. Minister for Health and Social Affairs Göran Hägglund and Minister for Elderly Care and Public Health Maria Larsson can look back on six busy months. eHealth, antimicrobial resistance, patient mobility and alcohol and health are some of the issues addressed by the ministers. “Chairing the EU meetings has been an incredible privilege”, says Göran Hägglund. “And I think that we have managed to turn things around by putting focus on the patient rather than having the system as a starting point with patients coming second.

During the autumn of 2009, Sweden has been President of the EU Council of Ministers. The climate issue has been highlighted from a broader perspective together with an eco-efficient economy, biodiversity and the marine environment.

At the end of October, the European Council adopted a Baltic Sea Strategy. That the EU now has a strategy for the region in place is one of the Swedish Presidency’s greatest successes. The aim of the strategy is to increase growth in the region and create a cleaner Baltic Sea. Orian Bondestam at the Finnish Ministry for Agriculture and Forestry talks about new feed for cultivated fish, one of the Baltic Sea Strategy’s flagship projects for a better marine environment.

During the Swedish Presidency, Minister for Communications Åsa Torstensson has chaired the Transport and Telecommunications Councils. Here she talks about the greatest challenges the Councils have had to tackle and the successes she sees as most important for the continued development of the EU in these areas. The film is in Swedish and a transcript in English is provided below.

Economic and financial crisis, disagreement on the climate change issue, institutional insecurity and government crisis in the country holding the Presidency at the time, the Czech Republic. When Sweden took over the Presidency of the EU Council of Ministers in 2009, the challenges were many. Looking back on a hectic autumn, Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt notes that the Swedish Presidency has achieved what it set out to achieve.

Herman Van Rompuy was elected permanent President of the European Council at the summit held on 19 November 2009. Less than two weeks later, he took up his post. Here he answers questions on his new role, what he hopes to achieve during his term as President and what issues he will put his energy into.

Negotiations long into the night, a constantly ringing mobile phone and endless versions of every document. But also major successes on the work front and personal satisfaction at contributing to a more climate-smart Europe. This has been the autumn for Anette Persson, Chair of the Council Working Party on Energy.