Sweden on Tuesday weighed into the growing debate over protectionism in Europe by pledging to make combating anti-free trade practices a cornerstone of its presidency of the European Union next year.

In a speech in Sweden's parliament, Ewa Björling, trade minister, accused unnamed EU member states of abusing trade policy to "stop imports rather than promote trade".

"Protectionism leads to resources being locked in activities that are not viable in the long term and to consumers being affected by more expensive goods and less choice," Ms Björling said.

Her comments followed a warning in the Financial Times by José Manuel Barroso, president of the European Commission, that protectionist pressures were increasing across Europe.

Ms Björling's speech was the first parliamentary statement on trade policy for 10 years and represented a ratcheting up of Sweden's rhetoric to ensure its six-month EU presidency between July and December 2009 is not toothless.

"It is important to stand up and show that Sweden is the EU's watchdog," she said in an earlier interview, adding Stockholm planned during its presidency to team up with other "free trade-minded" EU members to press countries that abused the system.

She said other countries likely to line up behind Sweden could include the UK, Germany, Finland, Denmark, the Netherlands, the Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania and new members such as Slovenia and Slovakia.

Ms Björling declined to name EU members guilty of abusing the existing rules for protectionist reasons, saying they were usually referred to as the "Mediterranean club".

She suggested the EU introduce a more open system for putting in place anti-dumping measures than was used at present.

"You need to have more countries participating and be able to comment on another country, [asking whether] this is a real situation or just hidden protectionism?" she said.

Ms Björling also expressed deep discomfort with anti-free trade statements by the Democratic candidates for the US presidency, both of whom have reservations over the North American Free Trade Agreement.

"I am really concerned about what is going on in the US. [What is happening] in the US, combined with more protectionism in the EU, makes me really scared," she said.

By David Ibison in Stockholm

Published: 3/3/2008 | Last Updated: 3/3/2008 18:25 London Time

Source: www.euro2day.gr