Vijf vragen aan Carl Bildt

Today and tomorrow, the EU’s foreign affairs ministers are meeting in Stockholm. Sweden’s Minister for Foreign Affairs Carl Bildt has emphasised the importance of keeping the meeting informal, in order to foster an open and creative atmosphere. The ministers arrive in Stockholm in the course of Friday morning.

This really is an informal meeting. What was the idea behind this?

"That it should be exactly that – informal. That we should have an opportunity to discuss more openly and personally from time to time."

And what does that mean for you, in your role as chair of the meeting?

"It doesn’t really mean anything, other than that I will perhaps act somewhat more informally that I would have done otherwise. I am usually fairly informal at these meetings anyway, but still."

What is the sign of a successful meeting for you?

"That we leave it with something more to think about ahead of the next meeting. That’s the way these meetings are supposed to be. We don’t make any decisions, but we exchange ideas informally and this then leads on to what we are going to do at the subsequent, more formal meetings."

What are the most important issues that will be raised?

"That remains to be seen, but we have an emphasis on the Middle East in general and then also the situation in Afghanistan and Pakistan."

The meeting is being held at the Moderna Museet and the Swedish Museum of Architecture in Stockholm – what makes these venues appropriate?

"We are showing off the modern Sweden, in the centre of the modern Stockholm. At the same time, Skeppsholmen is an island, so we are a bit out in the country at the same time as being surrounded by the modern world. And meeting among all this beautiful and interesting art is, in itself, inspiring."