Swedish Prime Minister, Fredrik Reinfeldt, received praise from MEPs and the European Commission on the outcome of the Swedish Presidency. The President of the European Commission, Jose Manuel Barroso, welcomed Sweden’s commitment to issues such as the Lisbon Treaty, the financial crisis and the fight against climate change.

Overall, MEPs considered the evaluation of the results of the Swedish Presidency of the European Union to be very positive.

The Chairman of the EPP Group appreciated the honest and responsible management of European affairs by the Swedish Presidency. The representative of the ECR Group welcomed efforts to avoid the temptation of being populist, in a time of crisis.

The leader of the S&D expressed a more reserved view stating that the Presidency had failed to exert enough influence on issues such as the Copenhagen conference. The representative of the EFD group criticized the Swedish Presidency on the lack of influence on issues such as illegal immigration, refugees and organised crime. In this context, he regretted the criticism by the EU as regards the Swiss referendum on banning minarets.

On climate change , another major concern for the MEPs, the President of the European Commission recalled that a consensus was reached at the European Council of 10 and 11 December, stating that the EU should pull its weight in this area. Therefore, the Commission will propose a new strategy in early 2010 to develop a "green" economy to help overcome the crisis.

The President of the EPP Group recalled that he expected the Copenhagen commitments to be balanced and verifiable, accompanied by financial sanctions for non-compliance. The leader of the ALDE Group stressed the need for the EU to cooperate closely with the United States and China to obtain a proper basis of an agreement to convince others. He also proposed that the EU should increase its offer of 20% greenhouse gas cuts by 2020 to 30%. The Greens sent a warning highlighting that the reduction targets were not sufficient enough and that many loopholes existed in the EU and that the objective of limiting global warming to 2°C would be impossible to achieve if the EU was to stick to its current proposals.

As regards the 2020 EU Strategy , Members felt that the EU had to be careful not to make the same mistakes as in the past. In this regard, the leader of the EPP Group recalled that the Lisbon Strategy, by setting unrealistic goals, had led to disappointment. The representative of the GUE/NGL insisted that priority be given to social and economic needs of citizens rather than economic profit.

The President of the European Commission called for a debate to be held with MEPs on the 2020 EU Strategy.

Debate in Parliament

The European Council of 10 and 11 December 2009 adopted the following conclusions:

Institutional issues : the European Council welcomes the entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon on 1 December. The Treaty will allow the Union to fully concentrate on addressing the challenges ahead. Work will continue in the coming months to ensure its full implementation, particularly as regards the setting up of the European External Action Service and the adoption of legislation on the citizens' initiative.

Economic situation : noting that the economic situation is starting to show signs of stabilisation, the European Council stressed the importance of developing credible and coordinated strategies for exiting from the broad-based stimulus policies once the recovery is fully secured. The fiscal exit strategy will be implemented within the framework of the Stability and Growth Pact, which remains the cornerstone of the EU's budgetary framework. It will include a consolidation of well beyond the benchmark of 0.5% of GDP per year combined with structural reforms underpinning long-term fiscal sustainability. Fiscal consolidation should start in 2011 at the latest, earlier in some Member States where economic circumstances make this appropriate.

Financial markets supervision : over the past months the EU has made good progress in strengthening its regulatory framework, in particular with the agreement reached by the Council on a fundamentally new structure for financial supervision in Europe. A new European Systemic Risk Board will provide the European Union with a system for monitoring macro-prudential risks and issuing risk warnings and recommendations for remedial action when such risks are significant. The three new supervisory authorities for banks, insurance and securities markets will develop common technical standards, will have a strong co-ordinating role in supervisory colleges, be able to act effectively in case of financial emergencies, and ensure the consistent application of EU law particularly through binding mediation.

A new EU 2020 strategy and sustainable development : given the important structural challenges facing the EU, it is necessary to evaluate the impact of the Lisbon Strategy, launched ten years ago, and develop a new strategy which also responds to new challenges posed by ageing populations, increasing inequalities and climate change. This entails examining ways to ensure sustainable public finances whilst preserving investment and social welfare, to establish inclusive and efficient labour markets, to strengthen the internal market and to exploit fully the reciprocal benefits of external trade and openness. The shift to a safe and sustainable low-carbon and low-input economy will require a stronger focus in the future.

Freedom, security and justice : five years after the Hague Programme, the European Council adopted a new multi-annual programme for the years

2010-2014, the Stockholm Programme, which will continue the development of an area of freedom, security and justice. The Stockholm programme focuses on the following priorities:

promoting citizenship and fundamental rights; achievement of a European area of justice; development of an internal security strategy in order to improve security in the Union and thus protect the lives and safety of European citizens and tackle organised crime, terrorism and other threats; more efficient access to Europe for persons recognised as having a legitimate interest to access EU territory (Integrated border management and visa policies); development of a forward-looking and comprehensive European migration policy, based on solidarity and responsibility, and based on the European Pact on Immigration and Asylum; strengthening of the external dimension of the EU's policy in the area of freedom, security and justice.

Climate change : the European Council exchanged views on how the EU could best contribute to a successful outcome at the Copenhagen Conference on climate change. The agreement forged in Copenhagen should lead to finalising a legally binding instrument, preferably within six months after the Copenhagen Conference, for the period starting on 1 January 2013. Reconfirming the position it had agreed at its October meeting, the European Council stated the readiness of the EU and its Member States to contribute with fast-start funding of EUR 2.4 billion annually for the years 2010 to 2012 .

External relations : the European Council reaffirms its Official Development Assistance commitments and will return to the issue at its meeting in June 2010 in advance of the UN Summit. It underlines the European Union’s commitment to further the implementation of the Eastern Partnership and to promote political and socioeconomic reforms of the partner countries, facilitating approximation towards the European Union. It also underlines the importance of the enhanced partnership between the EU and the Mediterranean partner countries.

Lastly, the European Council adopted declarations on Iran and on Afghanistan .