ABSTRACT
This chapter shows that the Swedes are political fusionists. The country's political parties and interest groups largely adopt a similar line in promoting a closer Europe, but one that does not require major movement of constitutional power to the European Union (EU) level. National EU policy in Sweden therefore incorporates an implicit micro fusion perspective that could be broadly labelled as unofficial fusion. The Persson government has, for instance, often been criticised by political commentators from both home and abroad for lacking a coherent view of how it views Europe and what it wants from Sweden being in Europe. The Swedish public has consequently been confused as to why the government has progressively advocated a stronger role and growing Swedish participation in all spheres of EU activity. The government could be more explicit in outlining the spectrum of alternatives offered by further integration.
