Foreign ministers meeting

STOCKHOLM

Skeppsholmen to be centre for foreign ministers meeting

The museum is closed 31 August to 8 September 2009

The Modern Museum and the Swedish Museum of Architecture are to be the centre for the EU informal meeting of foreign ministers to be held in Stockholm this autumn on 4-5 September. As holder of the Presidency of the EU, Sweden and Minister for Foreign Affairs Carl Bildt will host the meeting, which all of the EU Member States' and candidate countries' foreign ministers are expected to attend, accompanied by numerous journalists.

"I am absolutely delighted that we have an opportunity to use premises at the Modern Museum and the Swedish Museum of Architecture for this important meeting. The museums reflect modern Sweden and are also an example of Stockholm at its most beautiful. It is a real privilege for myself and my European colleagues to have this opportunity to discuss important political issues in such a creative environment. I also hope that, in particular, the international attention surrounding the meeting will benefit the museums."

The informal meeting of foreign ministers, also known as a 'Gymnich' meeting after the first meeting held in Germany in 1974, is traditionally held in a town with close links to the foreign minister of the country holding the Presidency.

Director of the Modern Museum Lars Nittve is also pleased.
"We are glad that the Ministry for Foreign Affairs has chosen to highlight culture at one of the Presidency's most important meetings by holding it here, at one of Sweden's most international cultural institutions, with a top-class collection. It is of course extremely unusual for us to be closed to the public for a week, but we must take this opportunity to show off our organisation to the assembled world press."

Director of the Swedish Museum of Architecture Lena Rahoults is also very positive.
"We are delighted that the Swedish Museum of Architecture, with its beautiful premises and feel for architecture and design, can also be a meeting place for the EU, not only for this meeting but also for a conference on architecture at the end of the year.

The Modern Museum will be closed to the public from 31 August to 8 September. The Swedish Museum of Architecture will be closed from 29 August to 10 September for preparations and clearing up, and then until 6 October for renovation. Further information can be found on the museums' websites.

 

Contact

Curator, The Swedish Museum of Architecture
+46 8 587 270 27