Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt wants better EU-US ties
Developments in Russia seen as decisive for Europe
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Carl Bildt has served as Sweden’s new Minister for Foreign Affairs for just a month, and the experienced politician has taken a hands-on approach in his new post. He gives his views on Swedish foreign policy without hesitation or evasion.
After a few years on the sidelines of Swedish politics Bildt, a former Prime Minister and former leader of the Moderate Party is once again in the core of political decision-making. There are those in Sweden who say that Bildt might even overshadow Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt.
"My mandate is foreign policy, so I will not take issue with domestic politics", Bildt emphasised in an interview with Helsingin Sanomat on Monday.
After more than ten years of Social Democratic rule, no great changes are expected in Swedish foreign policy, but subtle differences are likely to emerge.
For instance, on the European Union, the Social Democrats had to accommodate the more Euro-sceptical views of the Greens and the Left Party, whose Parliamentary support was needed by the minority government.
The new government does not have this problem, and Bildt emphasises the importance of a stronger Europe and better relations with the United States in meeting the challenges of globalisation.
Although there is some tension in relations between the US and several EU countries who take a critical view of the invasion of Iraq and the fight against terror, Bildt, who recently visited the USA, says that both sides understand the importance of good transatlantic relations.
Other focal points of Swedish foreign policy listed by Bildt include adjacent areas, the Baltic Sea region, and Russia.
Bildt served as Sweden’s Prime Minister in the early 1990s, and his government brought Sweden into the European Union. At the same time, relations with the Nordic Countries and the Baltic States held a key position in Swedish foreign policy.
Although the Baltic countries have since become members of the EU and NATO, taking it deeper into transatlantic institutions than Finland or Sweden, Bildt feels that cooperation between the Nordic Countries and the Baltics are significant.
"Strengthening the competitiveness of the Baltic Sea region in a rapidly changing world is very important", Bildt says.
Bildt also feels that the Nordic Council is still relevant.
"I feel that unofficial cooperation among the Nordic States is more fruitful than official meetings. I have said that unofficial dinners are of utmost importance, when representatives of different fields meet and exchange opinions", Bildt says.
Russia’s energy and its more active foreign policy are raising concern especially in Europe. Bildt has also had to deal with the matter: after intense debate he was compelled to divest himself of shares in the Swedish company Vostok Nafta, which owns shares in the Russian energy giant Gazprom.
Bildt says that in the long term he is optimistic about developments in Russia, but that for the short term he is "a bit cautious right now".
"In Russia, changes sometimes go forward and sometimes backward. At the moment it is difficult to see any forward movement", Bildt says, in reference to a number of issues, such as the narrowing of freedom of the press.
"Developments in Russia are decisive for Europe", he observes.
Bildt is not too concerned about possible European dependence on Russian energy, which mainly involves natural gas. However, he recommends that alternatives be sought in other parts of the world as well, such as Norway, North Africa, and Central Asia. He also notes that there has been a resurgence in debate about nuclear energy in many countries.
Bildt has visited Finland many times, and has many friends and acquaintances here. Monday’s visit was his first as Foreign Minister. He met with both President Tarja Halonen and Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja.
Bildt also took part in a meeting of the Baltic Development Forum, where politicians and experts discuss matters related to the Baltic Sea area.
Helsingin Sanomat
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| 31.10.2006 - TODAY |
 Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt wants better EU-US ties
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