Veronika Wand-Danielsson (born 9 March 1959) is a Swedish activist and diplomat who has been the incumbent ambassador to Germany since 2023, France from 2014 to 2020, and NATO from 2007 to 2014.[1] She became the first female ambassador of Sweden to France and Monaco in 2014.[2]
Veronika Wand-Danielsson | |
|---|---|
 Wand-Danielsson in 2010 | |
| Ambassador of Sweden to Germany | |
| Assumed office August 2023 | |
| Preceded by | Per Thöresson |
| Ambassador of Sweden to France | |
| In office 2014–2020 | |
| Preceded by | Gunnar Lund |
| Succeeded by | Håkan Åkesson |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 9 March 1959 Stockholm, Sweden |
| Spouse | Christian Danielsson |
| Alma mater | |
| Occupation | Activist and diplomat |
Early life and education
editWand-Danielsson, a diplomat's daughter, lived some of her early years in Africa. Following her education at Sciences Po Paris, among others.[1]
Diplomatic career
editWand-Danielsson has a background in foreign policy. Prior to joining the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1990 and taking on responsibility for UN relations, she had worked at the OECD/DAC in Paris. After that, she worked at the aid directorate of the European Commission and as Sweden's permanent representative to the EU in Brussels, where she oversaw projects like the Lisbon Treaty and the EU's long-term budget.[2]
NATO
editWand-Danielsson was appointed Sweden's NATO ambassador in 2007.[3] She gave a mildly humorous account of the selection procedure. By 2014, managing a demanding portfolio while collaborating with military colleagues in a setting where men dominated. Sweden created history that same year when it unveiled the first openly "feminist" foreign policy in history, placing women's rights and gender equality at the top of its diplomatic agenda. In her initial reaction, she drew attention to the difficult decision that female diplomats have frequently had to make when asked to represent government initiatives for gender equality in public.[4]
France
editIn 2014, Wand-Danielsson took the lead in spearheading the new feminist foreign policy initiatives after being appointed ambassador to France. Along with Geraldine Byrne Nason, Wand-Danielsson broadened her influence by starting a network for female ambassadors in Paris. She was already associated with the Women in International Security program during her time at NATO. The Paris group meets regularly with colleagues and female ambassadors from every continent.[4]
Wand-Danielsson claimed that her purpose for coming was to repair business relations. An era was to begin with the royal family's visit to France at the end of 2014. This momentum was halted significantly by the terrorist attacks in 2015.[5]
Germany
editWand-Danielsson was appointed by the Government of Sweden as the new ambassador to Berlin. At that time, she was in charge of the Foreign Ministry's Europe and North America division.[6] August marks the official start to her new role.[7][8] On 8 November 2023, she was greeted by Stone Sizani.[9]
Personal life
editWand-Danielsson is married to Christian Danielsson (born 1956),[10] state secretary to Minister for EU Affairs, together they have two children.[11]
Honours
editNational
edit
H. M. The King's Medal (28 January 2020)[12]
Foreign
edit
France:
Grand Officer of the National Order of Merit[1]
Estonia:
Order of the Cross of Terra Mariana 3rd Class (2 May 2023)[13]
References
edit- ^ a b c "Le jour où "Brigitte Macron intègre notre réseau des femmes ambassadeurs à Paris"". parismatch.com (in French). 12 August 2020. Retrieved 8 December 2023.
- ^ a b elsaohlen (28 July 2017). "Årets viktigaste evenemang för utlandssvenskar är på ingång – möt våra talare". Svenskar i Världen. Retrieved 8 December 2023.
- ^ "Veronika Wand-Danielsson, ambassadeur de Suède, organisatrice de la solidarité entre femmes diplomates". l'Opinion (in French). 20 July 2018. Retrieved 8 December 2023.
- ^ a b Anna (4 November 2020). "Sweden's New Head of Americas Talks Feminist Foreign Policy". Washington Diplomat. Retrieved 8 December 2023.
- ^ "Veronika Wand-Danielsson: «Dans l'épreuve, la Suède sera solidaire»". Le Figaro (in French). 3 July 2020. Retrieved 8 December 2023.
- ^ "Towards a Feminist Foreign Policy with Amb. Veronika Wand-Danielsson and Julie Suk (03/29/21) | Center for the Study of Europe". www.bu.edu. Retrieved 8 December 2023.
- ^ Regeringskansliet, Regeringen och (23 March 2023). "Veronika Wand-Danielsson ny ambassadör i Tyskland". Regeringskansliet (in Swedish). Retrieved 8 December 2023.
- ^ "Hon blir Sveriges ambassadör i Tyskland". EU. 23 March 2023. Retrieved 8 December 2023.
- ^ "Ambassador Stone Sizani welcomed his counterpart, Ambassador Veronika Wand-Danielsson of Sweden, who recently commenced her term as Sweden's representative in Germany. - Südafrikanische Botschaft in der Bundesrepublik Deutschland". www.suedafrika.org. Retrieved 8 December 2023.
- ^ "Veronika WAND-DANIELSSON and Christian DANIELSSON | EUP-Images.com". www.eup-images.com. Retrieved 8 December 2023.
- ^ Regeringskansliet, Regeringen och (1 December 2022). "CV Christian Danielsson". Regeringskansliet. Retrieved 8 December 2023.
- ^ "Medaljförläningar - Sveriges Kungahus". 28 January 2020. Archived from the original on 28 January 2020. Retrieved 8 December 2023.
- ^ "president.ee". president.ee. Retrieved 8 December 2023.