A Green Mission –
Swedish EU Presidency 2009 in London

To mark the start on July 1, 2009, the Embassy of Sweden in London joined forces with the City of London Festival, as well as other partners, in presenting a series of exciting and innovative events in London.

The inaugural week of festivities included a concert at the Guildhall by the Nordic Chamber Orchestra, featuring world renowned trombonist and conductor Christian Lindberg, an open fun filled family day at Hampstead Heath with amongst others The Benny Andersson Band (of ABBA fame) and an extensive Ingmar Bergman film season at the Barbican.

Global climate change was high on the agenda of the Swedish EU Presidency. During 2009 there will be a number of “green” features promoting environmental sustainability and contemporary Swedish society in the UK. The opening event of the Presidency was a debate on sustainability at the Swedish Residence. The Swedish-Czech Jazz-evening was a unique event celebrating the end of the Czech Presidency and the beginning of the Swedish, on the ship appropriately named HMS President...

If you would like to refer back to the inaugural June and July events please see
> Inaugural Events - June/July 2009

We hope you enjoy our reports and picture gallery from the various events. For the picture gallery -  see 'Related files'.

Gala Opening and Concert
Seminar and Bergman Evening
The City of London´s Guildhall provided a historic setting for the inaugural gala event marking the beginning of the Swedish Presidency of the EU in the United Kingdom. It was a grand and festive occasion, added to by the presence of HRH The Crown Princess of Sweden.
 
Speakers for the evening were Ambassador Staffan Carlsson and the Minister for Europe Glenys Kinnock. In her speech, Baroness Kinnock described  Sweden as deeply committed to important issues on the EU agenda, such as climate change and human rights. After the reception, invited guests enjoyed a concert by the Nordic Chamber Orchestra, led with great energy by world renowned conductor and trombonist Christian Lindberg. The programme featured music by Nordic Romantic composers as well as a new piece by the conductor.

During her stay in London, the Crown Princess also attended a seminar on sustainable cities and an Ingmar Bergman evening at the Barbican. After a screening of Bergman’s‘Summer with Monika’ the actress Harriet Andersson took part in a screen talk with Bergman expert Stig Björkman.

Sweden on Stage

Approximately 15-20.000 Swedes and Londoners spent a sunny Saturday afternoon and evening on Hampstead Heath in London where they enjoyed Sweden on Stage, the climax of the first Swedish EU Presidency week in London.

A number of young Swedish artists and Benny Andersson’s Band with singers Tommy Körberg and Helen Sjöholm performed. From a vantage point high up on Parliament Hill, there were spectacular views across the assembled crowds and Benny Andersson’s Band on stage against the London skyline. To underline the green theme of the Swedish EU Presidency and of this event Ambassador Staffan Carlsson and the Vice President of the EU Commission, Margot Wallström, together with a group of EU Ambassadors cycled up the hills of northern London to the venue at Hampstead Heath. A number of Swedish organizations and UK based Swedish companies participated in a truly European and green event.

For a report on Media coverage of Sweden on Stage, see 'Related Files'.

Example of media coverage
Sweden on Stage - Hampstead Heath
> Article and short film

Beating the Bug – Securing Effective Antibiotics
Seminar:  25 November, 2009

As part of the Swedish EU Presidency in London, the Embassy  hosted a high level seminar at the  Swedish Ambassador´s Residence in London on 25 November.
Against the background of the rise of superbugs, antibacterial resistance, the current lack of effective antibiotics and the need for sustained research, The Embassy hosted a seminar at the Swedish Ambassador´s Residence in London on 25 November, 2009 in cooperation with AstraZeneca
The  problem of antibacterial resistance is currently receiving close attention in the EU and the Swedish EU Presidency is focusing on the need to develop new pharmaceuticals against infectious diseases.

The aim of the seminar was to give high level British and Swedish experts from the fields of science and politics the opportunity to examine current research and development, focus on the challenges ahead and discuss future initiatives and incentives with an invited audience of some 70 guests from academia, the medical profession and industry. Speakers for the evening were Swedish State Secretary Karin Johansson, Swedish Ministry of Health and Social Affairs, Professor Otto Cars of Uppsala University, Professor Emeritus Ragnar Norrby,
Dr Chantal Morel, London School of Economics and Professor Brian Duerden, Department of Health. A lively, hour long debate followed the speeches
 
An expert conference on measures needed to stimulate the development of new antibiotics was hosted by the Presidency in Stockholm on 18 September. During the autumn, discussions have continued and the conclusions will be presented to the Council of the European Union on 1 Dec, marking the high priority given by the Community to the problem of antibacterial resistance.

For further reading please see
> Innovative Incentives for Effective    Antibacterials - Stockholm Conference
> EU Commission paper on anti-microbial resistance.
> European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control
> Swedish strategic programme against antibiotic resistance
> Department of Health
> World Health Organisation