Permanent Representative of Sweden to the European Union

The Permanent Representative of Sweden to the European Union is Sweden’s top diplomat to the EU, serving as head of the Permanent Representation of Sweden to the European Union [sv] in Brussels, Belgium. This position holds the rank of ambassador and plays a central role in shaping and advancing Sweden’s interests within the EU institutions. The permanent representative works closely with Swedish government ministries and other member states to coordinate policies, negotiate legislation, and represent Sweden in high-level EU meetings, including the Committee of Permanent Representatives (COREPER).

Permanent Representative of Sweden to the European Union
Lesser coat of arms of the Kingdom of Sweden
Incumbent Mikaela Kumlin Granit since August 2023
Ministry for Foreign Affairs Permanent Representation of Sweden to the European Union
Style	His or Her Excellency (formal) Mr. or Madam Ambassador (informal)
Member of	Committee of Permanent Representatives
Reports to	Minister for Foreign Affairs
Seat	Square de Meeûs 30, 1000 Brussels, Belgium
Appointer	Government of Sweden
Term length	No fixed term
Precursor	Permanent Representative to the ECSC/EC
Formation	1994[a]
First holder	Frank Belfrage[a]
Deputy	Deputy Permanent Representative
Website	www.swedenabroad.se/en/embassies/european-union/

Sweden’s engagement with the EU has evolved significantly over the decades, beginning long before its formal accession. The history of the permanent representative’s role stretches back to Sweden’s early diplomatic relations with the EU’s precursors in the 1950s, through to the country's full membership in 1995.

History

The European Union (EU) traces its origins to the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC), established in 1952. On 10 December of that year, a Swedish diplomatic delegation of four presented their letters of credence to the High Authority of the ECSC in Luxembourg. Sweden was the first country outside the union to send a diplomatic mission to its headquarters. Lennart Finnmark was appointed as Sweden’s first Permanent Representative of Sweden to the High Authority of the European Coal and Steel Community.^[1][2]

Starting in 1957, the Permanent Representative of Sweden to the Council of Europe in Strasbourg was also accredited to the ECSC, and from 1959, also to the European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom) and the European Economic Community (EEC). Together, the ECSC, Euratom, and EEC formed the European Communities (EC). From 1972 onward, the position was titled Permanent Representative of Sweden to the European Communities.^[b]

In October 1990, the Swedish Government declared its intention to pursue EU membership. In July 1991, Prime Minister Ingvar Carlsson formally submitted Sweden’s application, and detailed negotiations began in Brussels in February 1993. These negotiations lasted just over a year, culminating in a referendum on 13 November 1994, which determined Sweden's accession to the EU.^[5]

On 24 November 1994, the chief negotiator for the EEA – later EU – negotiations, Frank Belfrage, was appointed as Sweden's first Permanent Representative of Sweden to the European Union in Brussels.^[6]

Tasks

The Permanent Representative of Sweden to the European Union holds the rank of ambassador and serves as head of mission. Together with two other ambassadors and the head of administration, the Permanent Representative leads Sweden’s EU Representation in Brussels. The ambassadors of the EU member states prepare for upcoming Council meetings through the Committee of Permanent Representatives, known as COREPER. Sweden’s permanent representative participates in COREPER II, where ambassadors meet weekly to prepare the work of four Council configurations:^[7]

• Economic and Financial Affairs
• Foreign Affairs
• General Affairs
• Justice and Home Affairs

Sweden's deputy permanent representative, who also holds the rank of ambassador, serves as deputy head of mission and represents Sweden in COREPER I. This group prepares for the following Council configurations:^[7]

• Agriculture and Fisheries
• Environment
• Competitiveness
• Transport, Telecommunications and Energy
• Education, Youth, Culture and Sport
• Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs

List of representatives

Permanent representatives

Name	Period	Title	Notes	Ref
Permanent Representative of Sweden to the High Authority of the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC): 1952–1959
Lennart Finnmark	1952–1956	Counsellor		[2]
Karl-Gustav Lagerfelt	1 May 1956 – 1959	Envoy	Also Permanent Representative to the CoE (from 1957).	[8][9]
Permanent Representative of Sweden to the ECSC, Euratom, and the EEC: 1959–1972
Karl-Gustav Lagerfelt	1959–1963	Ambassador	Also Permanent Representative to the CoE, the ECSC, Euratom, and the EEC.	[10][9]
Sten Lindh	1964–1968	Ambassador	Also Permanent Representative to the CoE, the ECSC, Euratom, and the EEC.	[11][12]
Sven Backlund	1968–1972	Ambassador	Also Permanent Representative to the CoE (until 30 March 1971), the ECSC, Euratom, and the EEC.	[13][14]
Permanent Representative of Sweden to the European Communities (EC): 1972–1994
Erik von Sydow	1972–1978	Ambassador		[15]
Bengt Rabaeus	1978–1983	Ambassador		[16]
Stig Brattström	1983–1991	Ambassador		[17]
Lars Anell	1992–1996	Ambassador		[18]
Permanent Representative of Sweden to the European Union (EU): 1994–present
Frank Belfrage	1994–1999	Ambassador		[19]
Gunnar Lund	1999–2002	Ambassador		[20]
Sven-Olof Petersson	2002–2008	Ambassador		[21]
Christian Danielsson	2008–2010	Ambassador		[22]
Dag Hartelius	2011–2013	Ambassador		[23]
Anders Ahnlid	1 November 2013 – 2016	Ambassador		[24]
Lars Danielsson	7 November 2016 – 2023	Ambassador		[25]
Mikaela Kumlin Granit	August 2023 – present	Ambassador		[26]

Deputy permanent representatives

Name	Period	Title	Notes	Ref
European Communities (EC): –1994
Iwo Dölling	1965–1970	Embassy Counselor		[27]
Iwo Dölling	1970–1972	Minister		[27]
?	1972–1974	Embassy Counselor
Hans-Olle Olsson	1974–1978	Embassy Counselor		[15]
Karl-Vilhelm Wöhler	1979–1984	Minister		[28]
Olof Allgårdh	1984–1988	Minister		[29]
Anders Olander	1988–1991	Minister		[17]
Christer Asp	1992–1994	Minister		[30]
European Union (EU): 1994–present
Christer Asp	1994–1995	Minister
Lars-Olof Lindgren	1995–2002	Minister		[31]
Ingrid Hjelt af Trolle	2002–2007	Ambassador		[32]
Ulrika Barklund Larsson	2007–2009	Ambassador		[33]
Jan Olsson	2009–2014	Ambassador		[34]
Åsa Webber	2014–2019	Ambassador
Torbjörn Haak	2019–2024	Ambassador		[35]
Karin Eckerdal	2024–present	Ambassador		[36]

Footnotes

1. The predecessor to the current post was established in 1952, and Lennart Finnmark was Sweden’s first permanent representative to the EU’s forerunner, the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC).
2. Until 1972, the officeholder served as head of the Delegation of Sweden to the High Authority of the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC), the European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom) and the European Economic Community (EEC) (Swedish: Sveriges delegation hos den europeiska kol- och stålunionens Höga Myndighet (CECA), Europeiska atomenergigemenskapen (Euratom) och Europeiska ekonomiskagemenskapen (EEC)).^[3] From 1972 onward, it was referred to as the Delegation of Sweden to the European Communities (Swedish: Sveriges delegation hos de europeiska gemenskaperna (EG)).^[4]