Minister for Foreign Affairs of Sweden (2006-2014); Prime Minister of Sweden (1991-1994)
Mr. Bildt served as both Prime Minister of Sweden in 1991-1994, and Foreign Minister of Sweden in 2006-2014. During the first period, his government initiated major liberal economic reforms, as well as negotiated and signed a membership agreement with the European Union. Subsequently, Mr. Bildt served in international functions with the EU and UN, primarily related to the conflicts in the Balkans. He was Co-Chairman of the Dayton Peace Talks on Bosnia and became the first High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1995-1997. Later, he was the Special Envoy of UN Secretary General Kofi Annan to the region. After stepping down as the leader of the Moderate Party of Sweden in 1999 and leaving the Parliament in 2000, Mr. Bildt was also engaged in corporate boards in Sweden and the USA, as well as in various international think-tanks. Returning to his public career as Foreign Minister of Sweden, he came to be seen as one of the most prominent and vocal of European foreign ministers during his years in office. He was one of the initiators of the EU’s Eastern Partnership and pushed the EU forward on issues of the Middle East. Mr. Bildt has continued to promote the use of social media in international diplomacy.