Permanent Representative of Sweden to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development

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Permanent Representative of Sweden to the OECD
Coat of arms of Sweden.svg
since 24 August 2023
Ministry for Foreign Affairs
Delegation of Sweden to the OECD
Style His or Her Excellency (formal)
Mr. or Madam Ambassador (informal)
Reports to Minister for Foreign Affairs
Seat Embassy of Sweden, Paris
17 rue Barbet-de-Jouy,
75007 Paris,
France
Appointer Government of Sweden
Term length No fixed term
Formation1949
First holderErik von Sydow
Website www.swedenabroad.se/en/embassies/oecd-unesco/

The Permanent Representative of Sweden to the OECD heads the Delegation of Sweden to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) in Paris, France. The permanent representative, a diplomat with the rank of ambassador, also serves as the Permanent Delegate of Sweden to UNESCO and heads the Delegation of Sweden to UNESCO, also located in Paris.

Contents

History

In 1948, 18 European countries, including Sweden, formed the Organization for European Economic Cooperation (OEEC) to administer the Marshall Plan. On 22 April 1949, during a council meeting, First Secretary Erik von Sydow  [ sv ] was appointed as an additional trade counselor at the Swedish legation in Paris, assigned to Sweden's delegation to the OEEC. [1] This made him the first head of the Swedish delegation. [2]

In 1953, the head of the delegation was granted the title of minister with the appointment of Ingemar Hägglöf  [ sv ]. [3] On 6 November 1953, it was decided that the head of Sweden's OEEC delegation in Paris would also serve as the country's permanent representative to the Council of Europe. [4] In February 1957, this combined role was revised when Karl-Gustav Lagerfelt was appointed as Sweden's permanent representative to the Council of Europe, succeeding Ingemar Hägglöf, who from then on served solely as the head of the OEEC delegation. [5] From June of that year, the head of the delegation held the title of ambassador instead of minister. [6] On 30 September 1961, the OECD officially replaced the OEEC.

Since 1965, Sweden's Permanent Representative to the OECD has also served as the country's Permanent Delegate to UNESCO in Paris. [7]

Tasks

OECD

The Swedish permanent representative, a diplomat with the rank of ambassador, heads the Swedish delegation and represents Sweden in the OECD Council, which is the highest decision-making body. [8] The Swedish delegation's mission is to represent Sweden in the OECD and its affiliated organizations, including the International Energy Agency (IEA), the Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA), and the International Transport Forum (ITF). It advocates for Swedish interests and provides reports on the organization's activities in areas relevant to Sweden. Key priorities include economic analysis, trade, energy, development issues, and gender equality. [9]

UNESCO

The Swedish permanent representative to the OECD also serves as the Swedish permanent delegate to UNESCO. The ambassador heads the Swedish delegation which represents Sweden in UNESCO, advocating for Swedish priorities such as human rights, education, freedom of speech, and journalist safety. Its work includes attending meetings, negotiating, and collaborating with the EU and Nordic delegations. The team, comprising diplomats and local staff, works closely with the Swedish government, Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA), and the Swedish National Commission for UNESCO (Svenska Unescorådet). [10]

List of permanent representatives

No.PortraitAmbassador [a] Took officeLeft officeTime in office OECD Secretary-General Ref.
Organisation for European Economic Co-operation (OEEC)
1
No image.png
Sydow, Erik vonErik von Sydow
(1912–1997)
194919533–4 years Robert Marjolin [2]
2
No image.png
Hägglöf, IngemarIngemar Hägglöf
(1912–1995)
195330 September 19617–8 years Robert Marjolin
René Sergent
Thorkil Kristensen
[2]
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)
2
No image.png
Hägglöf, IngemarIngemar Hägglöf
(1912–1995)
30 September 196119631–2 years Thorkil Kristensen [2]
3
No image.png
Platen, Carl Henrik vonCarl Henrik von Platen
(1913–1995)
196419727–8 years Thorkil Kristensen
Emiel van Lennep
[2]
4
Finnish-Ambassador-Tarjanne-in-talks-with-State-Secretary-Leif-Belfrage-391848814950.jpg
Belfrage, LeifLeif Belfrage
(1910–1990)
197219763–4 years Emiel van Lennep [2]
5
No image.png
Colliander, Hans Hans Colliander
(1924–2013)
197619858–9 years Emiel van Lennep
Jean-Claude Paye
[2]
6
No image.png
Kjellén, BoBo Kjellén
(1933–2024)
198519915–6 years Jean-Claude Paye [2]
7
No image.png
Sohlman, StaffanStaffan Sohlman
(1937–2017)
199119953–4 years Jean-Claude Paye [2]
8
No image.png
Ferm, Anders Anders Ferm
(1938–2019)
199520037–8 years Jean-Claude Paye
Don Johnston
[2]
9
No image.png
Andersson, Gun-BrittGun-Britt Andersson
(born 1942)
200320073–4 years Don Johnston
José Ángel Gurría
[2]
10
No image.png
Ringborg, MatsMats Ringborg
(born 1945)
200720113–4 years José Ángel Gurría [2]
11
Wikigap Helsinki Anders Ahnlid (cropped).jpg
Ahnlid, AndersAnders Ahnlid
(born 1960)
201120131–2 years José Ángel Gurría [2]
12
Meeting with Ann-Sofie Nilsson (01912041) (51883431644) (cropped).jpg
Markovic, Annika Annika Markovic
(born 1964)
February 201420183–4 years José Ángel Gurría [11]
13
MP, PB prezidenta un ES attistibas lietu komisara tiksanas (4888023052) (cropped).jpg
Brandt, AnnaAnna Brandt
(born 1961)
1 September 201820234–5 years José Ángel Gurría
Mathias Cormann
[12]
14
No image.png
Sångeland, Helena Helena Sångeland
(born 1961)
24 August 2023Incumbent1 year, 240 days Mathias Cormann [13] [14]

Footnotes

  1. The head held the title of commercial counselor from 1949 to 1953, the title of minister from 1953 to 1957, and the title of ambassador since 1957.

References

  1. "Hammarskjöld efterträder Beck-Friis" [Hammarskjöld succeeds Beck-Friis]. Svenska Dagbladet (in Swedish). 23 April 1949. p. 3. Retrieved 20 March 2025.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 "Sveriges OECD-ambassadörer" [Sweden's OECD ambassadors] (in Swedish). Delegation of Sweden to the OECD and UNESCO. 5 September 2018. Retrieved 20 March 2025.
  3. "Utnämningar inom diplomatien" [Diplomatic appointments]. Svenska Dagbladet (in Swedish). 13 August 1953. p. 4A. Retrieved 20 March 2025.
  4. "Minister Ingemar Hägglöf" . Svenska Dagbladet (in Swedish). 7 November 1953. p. 4A. Retrieved 20 March 2025.
  5. "Envoyén K.-G. Lagerfeldt" [Envoy K.-G. Lagerfeldt]. Svenska Dagbladet (in Swedish). 23 February 1957. p. 4A. Retrieved 20 March 2025.
  6. "Utnämningar inom UD" [Appointments within the Ministry for Foreign Affairs]. Svenska Dagbladet (in Swedish). 28 June 1957. p. 4A. Retrieved 20 March 2025.
  7. Sveriges statskalender 1966 (PDF) (in Swedish). Uppsala: Fritzes offentliga publikationer. 1966. p. 300.
  8. "About the Delegation". Delegation of Sweden to the OECD and UNESCO. 27 May 2024. Retrieved 20 March 2025.
  9. "Sweden & the OECD". Delegation of Sweden to the OECD and UNESCO. 27 May 2024. Retrieved 20 March 2025.
  10. "Sweden and UNESCO". Delegation of Sweden to the OECD and UNESCO. 10 April 2024. Retrieved 20 March 2025.
  11. "Ny chef för Sveriges delegation vid OECD och Unesco i Paris" [New head of Sweden's delegation to OECD and UNESCO in Paris] (in Swedish). Swedish National Commission for UNESCO. 20 January 2014. Retrieved 20 March 2025.
  12. "Ny chef för Sveriges delegation vid OECD och Unesco i Paris" [New head of Sweden's delegation to OECD and UNESCO in Paris] (Press release) (in Swedish). Ministry for Foreign Affairs. 20 June 2018. Retrieved 21 February 2025.
  13. "Helena Sångeland ny chef för Sveriges delegation vid OECD och Unesco i Paris" [Helena Sångeland new head of Sweden's delegation to OECD and UNESCO in Paris] (Press release) (in Swedish). Ministry for Foreign Affairs. 16 March 2023. Retrieved 21 February 2025.
  14. "Ambassador Helena Sångeland". OECD. 19 June 2024. Retrieved 21 February 2025.