Permanent Representative of Sweden to the European Union

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.{{cite news |url=https://www.svd.se/arkiv/1952-12-11/17/SVD |newspaper=Svenska Dagbladet |title=Stålpoolen kommer behöva mer svensk malm |trans-title=The steel pool will need more Swedish ore |agency=TT/Reuter |location=Luxembourg |page=4A |date=1952-12-11 |access-date=20 March 2025 |language=sv |url-access=subscription}}

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.{{efn|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) ({{langx|sv|Sveriges delegation hos den europeiska kol- och stålunionens Höga Myndighet (CECA), Europeiska atomenergigemenskapen (Euratom) och Europeiska ekonomiskagemenskapen (EEC)}}).{{cite book |url=https://gupea.ub.gu.se/bitstream/handle/2077/59463/gupea_2077_59463_1.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y |editor-last=Sköldenberg |editor-first=Bengt |title=Sveriges statskalender för skottåret 1972 |year=1972 |publisher=Fritzes offentliga publikationer |location=Uppsala |language=sv |id={{SELIBR|3682755}} |page=362}} From 1972 onward, it was referred to as the Delegation of Sweden to the European Communities ({{langx|sv|Sveriges delegation hos de europeiska gemenskaperna (EG))}}.{{cite book |url=https://gupea.ub.gu.se/bitstream/handle/2077/59464/gupea_2077_59464_1.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y |editor-last=Sköldenberg |editor-first=Bengt |title=Sveriges statskalender 1973 |year=1973 |publisher=Almqvist & Wiksell |location=Uppsala |language=sv |id={{SELIBR|3682755}} |page=362}}}}

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.{{cite web |url=https://www.government.se/government-policy/30-years-of-sweden-in-the-eu/swedens-eu-membership/ |publisher=Government Offices of Sweden |title=Sweden's path to EU membership |date=7 February 2025 |access-date=18 March 2025}}

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.{{cite news |url=https://www.svd.se/arkiv/1994-11-25/15/SVD |newspaper=Svenska Dagbladet |title=Belfrage ny EU-ambassadör |trans-title=Belfrage new EU ambassador |first=Ingmar |last=Lindmarker |page=15 |date=1994-11-25 |access-date=18 March 2025 |language=sv |url-access=subscription}}

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:{{cite web |url=https://www.regeringen.se/sverige-i-eu/eu-representationen/ledning2/ |publisher=Permanent Mission of Sweden to the European Union |title=Ledning |trans-title=Management |date=22 August 2023 |access-date=28 May 2025 |language=sv}}

• 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:

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

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• {{Official website|https://www.swedenabroad.se/en/embassies/european-union/|Permanent Representation of Sweden to the European Union}} {{lang in|sv|en}}

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Category:Sweden and the European Union