Jiří Šedivý, EDA’s Chief Executive, was in Stockholm today for meetings with the Swedish authorities and industry. It was the second visit of his ‘tour des capitales’ which will see him paying visits to all Member States in the coming months.
Mr Šedivý was received by the Minister of Defence, Peter Hultqvist, Defence State Secretary Jan-Olof Lind, Deputy Chief of Defence Vice Admiral Jonas Haggren, R&T Director Jens Mattsson, Capability Director Lena Persson-Herlitz, and National Armaments Director Göran Mårtensson. He also met at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs with Director Jessica Svärdström (European Security Policy), as well as with defence industry representatives.
“It was a pleasure to make my inaugural visit to Sweden which is among the most active EDA Member States in terms of number of projects and programmes it participates in. With Minister Hultqvist and my other interlocutors, we took stock of the work underway and discussed how, going forward, the Agency can best support Member States in improving their defence capabilities through cooperation, in full complementarity with NATO. In these crucial times, it is good to see that Sweden remains a strong and active supporter of EDA and intergovernmental European defence cooperation”, Mr Šedivý commented.
Swedish Minister of Defence, Peter Hultqvist said: “The European Defence Agency has a valuable role as an intergovernmental forum, and in providing support to the Member States’ capability development. I am glad to have had the opportunity to welcome Mr Šedivý to the position as Chief Executive of the EDA, and to have had the opportunity to discuss the work ahead.”