“Giving Roswall the environment portfolio is a bit like putting an arsonist in charge of the fire brigade,” said Swedish far-left MEP Jonas Sjöstedt via email. “The current Swedish government has consistently failed to meet EU climate targets, while at the same time, it is defunding climate action.”
While the former lawyer doesn’t have a background in environmental policy — something that’s raised a few eyebrows in Brussels — Roswall’s task at her upcoming parliamentary hearing will be to convince MEPs that she won’t drag Sweden’s Green Deal beef into the EU executive.
“That Sweden has been given responsibility for the EU’s environmental work is worrying considering how the government has driven Swedish environmental work to the bottom,” said Green MEP Alice Bah Kuhnke in a written comment to Swedish media.
The Swedes’ bad rep
Over the past two years, Sweden hasn’t been the European Green Deal’s most ardent supporter.
Ruled by a coalition of three right-wing political parties, with support from the far-right, the country fought against anti-deforestation rules set up by the EU and the Nature Restoration Law, sending letters to other member countries to bring them on side. It has repeatedly criticized EU forest policy for being too interventionist, fighting to have national governments keep the upper hand on managing their forests.
The country also isn’t on track to meet its climate goals, according to a 2024 report by the Swedish Climate Policy Council, following policy changes made by the current government.