On 1 July 2009, Sweden takes over the EU Presidency from the Czech Republic. The rotating Presidency of the Council of the EU principally determines the agenda for the EU for a six-month period.

Africa features substantially on Sweden's foreign policy agenda. Among other priorities, Sweden will work towards meeting the implementation guidelines of the EU-Africa Joint Strategy. The EU-SA Summit will be held during its presidency.

Born in 1949, Ambassador Peter Tejler graduated with an MA from the Universities of Uppsala and Lund.  From 1988 to 1991 Ambassador Tejler served as Deputy Director for Central and Eastern European Affairs (Political) at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Stockholm.  In September 1991 Mr Tejler was appointed Chief of Staff to the Foreign Minister and Special Adviser to the Permanent Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs. Later he served as Minister and Deputy Chief of Mission at the Embassy of Sweden in Washington D.C. (1994-1999). In September 1999 he was appointed Ambassador of Sweden to Pakistan (until 2003) and later also to Afghanistan (2002-2003). In September 2003 he was appointed Head of the Department for the Middle East and North Africa at the Ministry in Stockholm. In September 2008 he took up his current position as Ambassador of Sweden to the Republic of South Africa.

RSVP:       Ndumi Nqunqa
Tel:           (011) 339 2021
Fax:           (011) 339 2154
Email:       rsvp@saiia.org.za

SAIIA's EU Africa project is sponsored by the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung