Agreement on enhanced partnership and cooperation between the European Union and its Member States, on the one hand, and the Republic of Kyrgyzstan, on the other hand

The plan wants Sweden to consistently drive human rights and realize the UN declaration fully, and it is critical of agreements that strengthen authoritarian regimes or restrict the space for democratic decisions. Rejecting a deepened partnership agreement with a country where democracy is weakening, in order instead to use the relationship to push for rule of law and human rights, is in line with this. The plan does not however address this particular agreement, so the conclusion is derived.

• human rights fully realizeddecisive»rättigheterna var ett historiskt framsteg vi vill förverkliga fullt ut.« (party programme ↗)“rights were a historical step forward that we want to realize fully.”
• against agreements that restrict democracy»mot handelsavtal som inskränker utrymmet för« (party programme ↗)“against trade agreements that restrict the space for”
• strict demands on dictatorships»förbjuda vapenexport till diktaturer, stater som för angreppskrig och« (party programme ↗)“ban arms exports to dictatorships, states waging wars of aggression and”

The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.

The plan wants the EU to conclude more agreements where our values about social dialogue, human rights and environment are guiding, and stands up for open and fair trade. Rejecting the partnership agreement with Kyrgyzstan is the opposite of that line: the plan uses agreements as a tool to advance human rights, not something to refrain from. The demand for respect for international law and democracy is instead addressed through the agreement's terms.

• values-based agreementsdecisive»EU behöver sluta fler handelsavtal där också våra värderingar om social dialog, mänskliga rättigheter och miljö är vägledande.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The EU needs to conclude more trade agreements where our values about social dialogue, human rights and environment are also guiding.”
• open and fair trade»Vi står upp för en öppen, fri och rättvis handel.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“We stand up for open, free and fair trade.”
• free trade against protectionism»Insatser för att främja svensk export, värna frihandeln och motverka protektionism.« (party programme ↗)“Efforts to promote Swedish exports, protect free trade and counter protectionism.”
• international law and rule of law»Försvar för folkrätten och en regelbaserad världsordning.« (party programme ↗)“Defence of international law and a rules-based world order.”

The counter-proposal's requirement is that the partnership agreement with Kyrgyzstan be rejected. The plan by contrast wants Sweden to be a driver for democracy and human rights precisely in cooperation between states and sees trade and cooperation agreements as tools for democratisation. Rejecting an agreement rather than using it does not thereby align with the plan's line, even though the conclusion is derived.

• driver in state-to-state cooperationdecisive»för demokrati och mänskliga rättigheter både inom internationella organisationer och i« (party programme ↗)“for democracy and human rights both within international organisations and in”
• trade as a democratisation tool»Sveriges och EU:s handelspolitik ska vara ett verktyg för« (party programme ↗)“Sweden's and the EU's trade policy shall be a tool for”
• more state-to-state cooperation»Vi är övertygade om att det behövs mer samarbete mellan länder för att lösa« (party programme ↗)“We are convinced that more cooperation between countries is needed to solve”
• universal human rights»Vår solidaritet är global. Mänskliga fri- och rättigheter är universella och en förutsättning« (party programme ↗)“Our solidarity is global. Human freedoms and rights are universal and a prerequisite”

The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.

The counter-proposal wants to reject the partnership agreement. The plan's core commitment goes the other way: Sweden needs more free trade and international cooperation, not protectionism and closed borders, and the world should be seen as an opportunity rather than a threat. The party programme lifts cooperation and dialogue as the way to defend oppressed people's rights. The plan supports making tougher demands within the framework of agreements, not stopping agreements.

• free trade and international cooperationdecisive»Sverige behöver mer frihandel och internationellt samarbete, inte protektionism och stängda gränser.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Sweden needs more free trade and international cooperation, not protectionism and closed borders.”
• openness towards the world»Sverige behöver också ett politiskt ledarskap som ser resten av världen som en möjlighet, inte som ett hot« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Sweden also needs a political leadership that sees the rest of the world as an opportunity, not as a threat”
• cooperation and dialogue»Dagens internationella ekonomiska beroende ökar betydelsen av fredsinsatser, samarbete och dialog.« (party programme ↗)“Today's international economic interdependence increases the importance of peace efforts, cooperation and dialogue.”
• demands within agreements»Ställ hårdare krav på arbetsvillkor, miljö och klimat i handelsavtal.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Set tougher demands on working conditions, environment and climate in trade agreements.”

The plan sees information exchange and contacts with the rest of the world as decisive precisely for democratic forces in unfree states, and makes Sweden a strong voice for free trade through agreements. To reject a partnership agreement with Kyrgyzstan would close that channel instead of opening it. The plan's requirement for democracy and rights conditions in agreements speaks for tightened conditions, not rejection.

• contacts strengthen democratic forcesdecisive»Informationsutbyte och kontakter med omvärlden är avgörande för demokratikrafterna i världens ofria stater.« (party programme ↗)“Information exchange and contacts with the rest of the world are decisive for democratic forces in the world's unfree states.”
• free trade through agreements»Sverige ska vara en stark röst för frihandel, i första hand genom globala avtal men annars genom regionala överenskommelser.« (party programme ↗)“Sweden shall be a strong voice for free trade, first and foremost through global agreements but otherwise through regional agreements.”
• rights conditions in agreements»EU:s grannskapsavtal med unionens grannar söderut måste innehålla samma krav på demokrati och mänskliga rättigheter som avtalen med grannarna österut, och tydliga krav om respekt för kvinnors, barns och minoriteters rättigheter ska ställas.« (party programme ↗)“The EU's neighborhood agreements with the union's neighbors to the south must contain the same requirements for democracy and human rights as the agreements with the neighbors to the east, and clear requirements for respect for women's, children's and minorities' rights shall be set.”
• cooperation for freedoms and rights»Därför vill vi att Sverige gör mycket mer, både som enskilt land och inom internationella samarbeten, för fri- och rättigheter, frihandel, fria val och samarbete i den fria världen.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Therefore we want Sweden to do much more, both as a single country and within international cooperations, for freedoms and rights, free trade, free choice and cooperation in the free world.”

The plan establishes that positive means such as cooperation projects, talks and dialogues shall be used primarily to promote human rights, and that boycotts are only a last resort. Rejecting a partnership agreement with Kyrgyzstan is the opposite of that order. The plan also wants the EU's relations with the world to be characterized by respect and dialogue.

• positive means firstdecisive»I främjandet av mänskliga rättigheter ska i första hand positiva verkningsmedel användas,« (party programme ↗)“In promoting human rights, positive means shall be used primarily,”
• sanctions as a last resort»mänskliga rättigheter. Som en sista utväg kan bojkott och sanktioner bli aktuella.« (party programme ↗)“human rights. As a last resort, boycotts and sanctions may become relevant.”
• bilateral human rights dialogue»En dialog om mänskliga rättigheter bör även föras bilateralt med enskilda länder.« (party programme ↗)“A dialogue on human rights should also be conducted bilaterally with individual countries.”
• dialogue with the world»omvärlden präglas av respekt och dialog.« (party programme ↗)“relations with the world are characterized by respect and dialogue.”

The plan is based on Sweden together with others building political and economic cooperation and the state facilitating trade and internationalisation. To reject a partnership agreement that rests on democratic principles and rule of law lies outside that approach. The plan's method for promoting democracy and human rights is engagement and prioritised measures, not absent cooperation. The requirement is rejected.

• cooperation as foreign policy methoddecisive»Sverige ska fortsätta att tillsammans med likasinnade nationer« (party programme ↗)“Sweden shall continue to together with like-minded nations”
• facilitate trade»och underlätta för handel och internationalisering.« (party programme ↗)“and facilitate trade and internationalisation.”
• democracy support through initiatives»Prioritera insatser som stödjer arbetet för demokrati och mänskliga rättigheter« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Prioritise initiatives that support work for democracy and human rights”
• Swedish interests guide foreign policyweak support»Svensk utrikespolitik ska värna svenska intressen.« (party programme ↗)“Swedish foreign policy shall protect Swedish interests.”

flags: citat_svagt

The plan wants Sweden to trade and maintain good relations with other states and for Sweden's position in trade to be improved, which speaks for approving rather than rejecting a partnership agreement. The plan is fundamentally positive toward free trade and interstate cooperation. Rejecting the agreement as leverage for democracy lacks support in the plan, even though it wants to make a distinction in support for undemocratic regimes.

• promote tradedecisive»Förbättra Sveriges ställning på den internationella marknaden och i handel« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Improve Sweden's position on the international market and in trade”
• cooperation and good relations»Sverigedemokraterna vill arbeta för att Sverige skall handla, samarbeta och upprätthålla goda relationer med alla demokratiska och fredliga nationer och stater i världen.« (party programme ↗)“The Sweden Democrats want to work for Sweden to trade, cooperate and maintain good relations with all democratic and peaceful nations and states in the world.”
• free trade friendliness»Sverigedemokraterna är i grunden positiva till frihandel« (party programme ↗)“The Sweden Democrats are fundamentally positive toward free trade”
• distinction based on democratic values»Sverige bör göra större åtskillnad i sin hållning till demokratiska värden och upphöra med finansiellt eller politiskt stöd till länder eller rörelser som varken bidrar till svenskarnas intressen eller har en genuin sekulär rättsstatlig strävan eller respekt för mänskliga fri- och rättigheter för alla oberoende av kön, religion eller sexuell läggning.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Sweden should make greater distinctions in its stance toward democratic values and cease financial or political support to countries or movements that neither contribute to Swedes' interests nor have a genuine secular rule-of-law aspiration or respect for human freedom and rights for all regardless of gender, religion or sexual orientation.”