HRH Crown Princess' speech at high-level meeting on antimicrobial resistance in regards to the Swedish Presidency of the Council of the European Union

Scandinavian XPO, Arlanda stad

(The spoken version shall take precedence)

Your Royal Highness,
Ministers,
Distinguished guests,
Ladies and gentlemen,

It is my great pleasure to open this high-level meeting on antimicrobial resistance.

This is an agenda that affects all of us. And it has been a long- standing matter of concern to myself and to Prince Daniel. Therefore, it is both pleasing and encouraging to join you in today’s important discussions, gathering prominent participants from different sectors.

Every year, resistant bacteria cause over a million deaths globally. Over a million deaths – that is indeed hard to grasp! And in addition, the development is going in the wrong direction, with an expected increase in numbers the coming years.

It is no coincidence that antimicrobial resistance is sometimes called the silent pandemic. And this silent pandemic is a major threat to us all. It is also a fact that resistant bacteria knows no borders. For that reason, a global response is needed, and the need to work together is crucial. We all have a role to play.

Sweden has a long experience of working against antimicrobial resistance. Already in 1959, the Swedish Board of Health issued recommendations for infection and prevention control in healthcare settings. Sweden was the first country in the world to ban antibiotics in feed for growth promotion in animals.

This very topic, has been on the agenda during all three Swedish EU Presidencies,. In 2001 the importance of joint strategies against antibiotic resistance was emphasized, as well as in 2009 and now in 2023.

It is important that this topic remains on the agenda!

I am confident that today’s high-level meeting will be a possibility to share knowledge, inspire continued interaction and push development – across borders, across areas of expertise, across all parts of our society. Take this opportunity; you are the ones that can take this to the next level and advance our joint response.

Ladies and gentlemen, I would like to welcome you all to Stockholm and Sweden! Prince Daniel and I are looking forward to follow today’s discussions.

Thank you!

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