By Wan Muhammad Aslah Wan Razali
KUALA LUMPUR, March 1 (Bernama) — Sweden has voiced strong support for a European Union (EU)-Malaysia free trade agreement (FTA), expressing hope that it will be finalised this year, seeing it as a crucial step towards boosting economic cooperation and attracting European investments.
Sweden’s Third Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Kerstin Lundgren, said the agreement could enhance Malaysia’s trade visibility in Europe and serve as a stepping stone for broader ASEAN-EU economic collaboration.
“We will be supportive of that, and I hope it can be agreed upon this year.
“A free trade agreement with the EU could help Malaysia move ahead in a better way and increase its visibility for European foreign direct investments. It could also open doors for other Southeast Asian countries,” she told Bernama in an exclusive interview.
In January this year, Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and EU President Ursula von der Leyen announced the resumption of negotiations for the Malaysia-EU FTA, following a decade-long stall due to concerns over palm oil procurement policies and sustainability clauses.
The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said the renewed engagement marks a significant milestone in strengthening Malaysia’s economic ties with one of the world’s largest trading blocs and underscores the country’s commitment to fostering deeper economic ties with the EU, a major trade and investment partner for Malaysia.
As part of Sweden’s broader commitment to Malaysia, Lundgren emphasised the importance of strengthening cooperation in trade, sustainability, and governance within the ASEAN framework.
She highlighted green technology and academic collaboration as key areas for further engagement, noting that Swedish companies are already investing in Malaysia’s renewable energy and energy efficiency solutions.
“Malaysia has knowledge in various areas from a warmer climate, and as a country in the high north, it is also important to learn from your experiences,” she said.
Lundgren reaffirmed that these investments reinforce Malaysia’s role as a strategic partner in sustainability efforts, adding that Malaysia’s ASEAN chairmanship and sustainability agenda align with Sweden’s priorities for regional economic and diplomatic cooperation.
Beyond trade, Lundgren also shared insights on Sweden’s parliamentary system, comparing its unicameral Riksdag with Malaysia’s bicameral system.
She explained that Sweden’s current system, implemented in 1974, was designed to strengthen parliamentary democracy by ensuring direct voter representation in government decisions.
Lundgren, who has played a significant role in Sweden’s parliament, also underscored the importance of female representation in politics.
She highlighted that women make up 47 per cent of the Swedish parliament, attributing this progress to political parties actively promoting gender equality through election list systems that encourage female participation.
“We try to do our best. We are not at the top, but we have made progress,” she noted, referring to Sweden’s former prime minister, who was elected in November 2021 as the country’s first female leader, as well as the increasing presence of women in leadership positions.
— BERNAMA