Speech InterAction Council, Stockholm 25 June 2008
Fredrik Reinfeldt, Prime Minister

Speech by Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt at the InterAction Council

Your excellencies,
Mr Chairman,
Ladies and gentlemen,

For the first time since it was established 25 years ago, the InterAction Council is holding its annual meeting in Sweden.

I am very proud to welcome you all to Stockholm for the opening of this year's meeting. And I am sure you will be wisely guided trough your discussions under the Chairmanship of Mr. Ingvar Carlsson, former Prime Minister of Sweden.

Some of you might have visited Sweden and Stockholm in your earlier roles as heads of state or government. Yet, for some this is your first visit to our beautiful city.

And while I wish you all a successful meeting - I hope you will also have the time to enjoy the city of Stockholm and its people.

Ladies and gentlemen,

I would also like to welcome you to a country that for thirteen years has been part of one of the worlds most successful peace projects founded after the Second World War: the European Union. When Sweden joined in 1995, we were thirteen Member States - now the Union includes no less than twenty-seven countries.

The European Union has enlarged.

And it must continue to do so.

I truly believe that without enlargement Europe would not be what it is today. And without continuous enlargement we risk instability on our continent. Enlargement is the most important strategic tool we have for spreading the values upon which European cooperation is based: the idea of using trade as a mean for peace - and using the economy to integrate and bring countries closer together.

History tells us these principles are crucial for both a successful economy and society. They are the key issues that helped the western world grow rich.

In a time of turbulence in the world economy, it is of great importance to be consistent in our common goal of open markets based on market economy and the rule of law. In a small country like Sweden, free enterprise, market economy and an open attitude towards international competition are crucial.

We encourage knowledge and entrepreneurship. And we take a clear stand in favour of an open society and international cooperation in addressing global issues such as poverty and climate change.

Ladies and gentlemen,

It is said that the question of if you are in favour of or against globalisation is not correctly asked. Globalisation is a fact. It affects us and it will be affecting us. And the question we must ask ourselves is not if we are in favor of or against globalisation. Instead we have to ask ourselves how to tackle the fact that we live in a globalised world and will have to deal with globalisation. Today and in the future to come.

International trade is growing and has done so for a long time.

The interaction among people and businesses is growing and has done so for a long time.

Knowledge, information, technology and capital are no longer held back by national borders.

They are moving across the globe and doing so with a constantly increasing speed.

But this is just a small part of globalisation. Globalisation also brings with it many other possibilities regarding new knowledge, emerging markets and individual discoveries.

At the same time we can feel the increased competition knocking on the door, we can also see there are many opportunities for the parts of the world that find ways of coping successfully with globalisation.

I would claim one thing as especially vital in the era of globalisation. That is the need of interaction, exchanging new ideas and cooperation in order to find the best and most progressive ways of managing in a fast moving world.

We are now witnessing a changing economic balance in the world. Asia is growing rapidly and countries like China and India are at the forefront. With globalisation, the global economy has become even more integrated and new countries are joining in the global trade.

This is a good thing.

I admit there are several challenges left in our common ambition for a peaceful and flourishing world economy. We are not running short of challenges in our world. You, of all people, know that.

Yes, we have made progress.

Yes, we can see - thanks to increased trade, growth and the promotion of human rights - the world is now a better place in which to live. Halfway to 2015, many things are happening when it comes to reaching the Millennium Development Goals.

But we must admit that there is still work left to be done. And the complex challenges of the 21st century require a stronger and closer cooperation between countries, international organisations and corporations.

The InterAction Council is obviously an important part in this cooperation - in bringing together, on a regular basis and in an informal setting, more than thirty former heads of state or government. Each of you involved in your own individual expertise and activities.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I don't have to convince you that the Council is an impressive group of people with many insights and experiences to share.
Looking at the members who are here today, I see all parts of the world represented.

Some of you have stepped down from office more recently, while others have had long and prosperous careers in other areas after stepping down.

Some of you were in office for fifteen years or more, while others have had a shorter experience as heads of state or government.

Some of you personally experienced the Second World War, while others weren't even born when it ended. This includes myself.

You are active in a wide range of fields: in peacekeeping, in fighting climate change, in publishing. You are diplomats, you work with international aid, and academics.

I am a firm believer in diversity. And the diversity we see here is exactly what makes the InterAction Council such an interesting operator and important actor in international world politics.

I heard you will launch a new programme here in Stockholm; the Young Leadership Forum, inviting twenty promising young women and men to observe the annual meetings, listening to your discussions and learning from your experiences. This in order to encourage them to form an international network of their own.

What an opportunity, what a challenge!

I wish you, young leaders, good luck in this important endeavour.

This week the Council will be discussing how to restore international law and how we could get deeper knowledge in order to understand and manage the international financial markets. Two crucial issues in the world of today.

I am convinced your discussions will be most interesting and intriguing, and I look forward to take part of the conclusions later this week.

And with this, I once again wish you a warm welcome to Sweden and Stockholm and a successful meeting.

Thank you.