On the picture Philippa Candler and Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden Picture Kungahuset.se.
Translated and edited by Baron Henri Estramant.
Wednesday 22 and Thursday 23 April, HRH The Crown Princess of Sweden, Duchess of Västergötland, paid a working visit to international organisations in The Hague, Kingdom of the Netherlands and Brussels, Kingdom of Belgium. The visits were focused on current affairs involving migration, integration and the challenges of welcoming refugees.
The Hague, 22 April 2015
Crown Princess Victoria was welcomed by the President of the International Criminal Court, Justice Silvia Fernández de Gurmendi. The court is responsible for judging cases related to genocide, crimes against humanity and war criminals.
In the afternoon the Crown Princess paid a visit to Europol, and was welcomed by its director Rob Wainwright. Europol is an agency working Europe-wide in combating organised crime, terrorism, drug trafficking, human trafficking, money laundering, and IT-crime.
The official day ended with a visit to the OPCW (Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemicals Weapons), and to his Director General Mr Ahmet Üzümcü. The OPCW was accorded the Nobel Peace Prize back in 2013.
During her stay in The Hague Her Royal Highness was accompanied by Sweden’s Royal Ambassador to the Netherlands, non-resident ambassador to the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and Permanent Representative to the OPCW, Mr Håkan Emgsgård.
Brussels, 23 April 2015
The visit began with a courtesy call to Ms Philippa Candler, UNHCR Brussels Office, Head of Policy & Legal Support. The conversations were focused on the situation of refugees in the Mediterranean and Syria.
Thereafter The Duchess of Västergötland met Rory Keane, Head of Office, UN Liaisons Office for Peace and Security, and was briefed on peace operations and cooperation between the EU and the UN. Later the emphasis switched to trade when the Crown Princess met Maria Åsenius, Head of Cabinet of Commissioner Cecilia Malmström; the two exchanged views on the free trade agreement with the USA.
Crown Princess Victoria held a working lunch with His Excellency Ambassador Anders Ahnlid, Sweden’s Permanent Representative to the EU. Afterwards she headed to meet Alain Le Roy, Secretary General for the European External Action Service (EEAS). EEAS oversees the entire common security and foreign policy of the EU. The topic for the conversation was “Challenges in the neighbourhood East-South and impact on the role of EU as a foreign policy actor”.
For more information:
Swedish Royal Court: www.kungahuset.se/royalcourt.4.367010ad11497db6cba800054503.html
Swedish Representation to the EU: www.regeringen.se/sb/d/1478
ICC: www.icc-cpi.int/en_menus/icc/Pages/default.aspx
OPCW: www.opcw.org
