This is an important opportunity for Sweden to make its voice heard and to promote the goals we place to the forefront in cooperation. To promote greater cooperation in areas we consider important, particularly with regard to furthering a high rate of growth and employment in Europe, and improving the environment. The EU and the results that are achieved in its cooperation should be democratically founded and live up to the expectations of the citizens of the Union. Countries in the EU cooperate with each other, and democratic legitimacy is created ultimately in the participating states by their respective democratic procedures which, in our case, is the Swedish Parliament and Government. Cooperation within the EU must be created in such a way that it preserves and strengthens, and does not weaken, democracy in the participating countries.
Popular support is crucial.
This was made particularly clear when the Maastricht Treaty was to be ratified, which proved to be a difficult political process in some member countries. It is a challenge to the EU and to Sweden as a member state, to make the integration of Europe into the concern of every citizen and to strengthen democratic influence. The Intergovernmental Conference must also lay the foundations for enlargement with the countries of Central and Eastern Europe, the Baltic States, Cyprus and Malta. Enlargement has already been politically decided but this must be turned into practical reality. Negotiations with the candidate countries cannot begin before the completion of the Intergovernmental Conference.