A Swedish general, future head of the EU military committee

(B2) It is the Swedish Chief of Staff, a man of the navy, General Håkan Erik Gunnar Syrén, who will take over from the French general, Bentegeat, at the head of the military committee of the European Union ( the EU's highest military body), at the end of his mandate in November 2009.

Born on January 31, 1952, he was trained in particular at the American school (US Naval War College and US Naval Postgraduate School). Between 1999 and 2003, he was in charge of the military security and intelligence service, before being promoted to general and appointed as head of the Amphibious Corps and commander-in-chief of the Swedish armed forces from 1 January 2004 (until as of December 31, 2009).

Sweden still has a special position in terms of defence, not participating in NATO, but actively participating in UN peacekeeping missions, particularly in the Balkans. Sweden has also been very present in several European missions, notably in Congo in 2006 and taking part in the beginning of the military operation in Chad.

(NGV)

(Photo: Generals Bentegeat and Syrén - Swedish army)