Commenting on the results of the Swedish Presidency, GUE/NGL Vice President Eva-Britt Svensson said:"The Swedish presidency gets top marks for its practical organisation. Unfortunately I cannot say the same thing about the presidency's policies. There are two areas that I must criticise.

First of all, openness and transparency. Sweden is usually an example in this area but we have only seen passivity - and that is especially serious when the freedom of citizens is threatened - the Telecoms package, data storage directives and also the secret ACTA treaty. Demands for action have been made so citizens can get an insight into the ACTA negotiations, which the transparency regulation demands: the public shall have access to all documents concerning international negotiations. Why has the Swedish presidency not acted against a Commission violation of the treaties?

The other area - concluded MEP Svensson - is climate change and the deceit of developing nations. They are seeking to use development aid money to remedy the worst of the damages that we in the rich world have caused. In spite of the climate convention, the Bali plan and the Kyoto protocol, that stipulates that funds for climate financing must be new and additional. The most vulnerable will, once again, have to pay the bill. It is those that lack clean water, those menaced by malaria, those struck by HIV, namely world's poorest women and children that are affected. There is only one word for such a policy attack on the developing world and that word is shameful!