Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson outlined Tuesday in Paris a possible partnership with France for the construction of new nuclear power plants in Sweden.
"
The Franco-Swedish partnership has good potential in terms of nuclear energy
", he underlined in the courtyard of the Elysée, alongside French President Emmanuel Macron, on the occasion of his first trip to European Union since Sweden took over the rotating presidency on 1 January.
"
The new Swedish government is determined to build new nuclear power plants and we are very impressed by the French experience
" in this area, he added.
Formed in mid-October, this government is based on an unprecedented alliance with the nationalist Democrats of Sweden (SD), the big winners of the September legislative elections.
Sweden “
needs to buy two nuclear reactors,
” Ulf Kristersson also told Swedish journalists during his trip to Paris.
“
And I am completely open to France being one of the countries that ensure that Sweden has more nuclear
“, he then added.
Currently, Sweden has six reactors in operation at three different power plants, commissioned during the decade 1975-1985.
Several other reactors have been shut down since 1999. The Nordic countries have long been one of the hopes of the French nuclear industry to revive the civil atom in Europe.
At the end of a construction site of more than 17 years, the French Areva built the first EPR reactor in Europe in Finland.
Strengthen cooperation between countries
The Swedish Prime Minister also expressed his desire to strengthen cooperation with France in the defense and space sectors.
The two leaders also reaffirmed Europe's determination to support Ukraine in the tenth month of the Russian offensive, as winter sets in in this country.
"
The Ukrainians need our support more than ever
," said Emmanuel Macron.
"
The victory of Ukraine is existential for Europe and for the whole world
", added Ulf Kristersson.
Read alsoIn Finland, the EPR takes a major step
The French president also reaffirmed his desire to see the accession of Sweden and Finland to NATO, currently blocked by Turkey, materialize “
as soon as possible
”.
"
You can count on the support and solidarity of France
," he insisted.
He also pleaded for a common European “
response
” to the massive American investment plan, particularly in environmental matters, in order to defend European industrialists and “
jobs
”.
"
We need a strategy + made in Europe +
“, he reiterated.
The Swedish presidency of the EU intends above all to emphasize free trade and rule out any protectionist reflex, enough to fuel tensions at a time when Paris and Berlin want to toughen their tone against the United States and their plan (“
Inflation Reduction Act
”).
