European Forum for Democracy and Solidarity

The European Forum for Democracy and Solidarity was founded in January 1993. It was established by the social democratic parties and political foundations from EU countries as a joint institution dedicated to support the transformation and democratisation processes in Central and Eastern Europe. Since then, the Forum functions as a platform for co-operation with social democratic oriented personalities, groups and parties in the region and informs the international social-democratic movement on the political situation in East-Central Europe with an emphasis on the developments of social democracy.

Ms Lena Hjelm-Wallén

Ms Lena Hjelm-Wallén was born on 14 January 1943 in Sala, Sweden. She got a M.A from University of Uppsala in 1965. She was a teacher from 1966 to 1968. She has been a Member of Parliament since 1969. From 1974 to 1976, she was Minister with Special Responsibility for Schools at the Ministry of Education and Cultural Affairs. From 1976 to 1982, she was Member of the Social Democratic Parliamentary Party Executive Board. In 1978, she became Member of the Board of the Social Democratic Party. She was appointed Minister of Education and Cultural Affairs (1982-1985); Minister with Special Responsibility for International Development Cooperation (1985-1991); Minister for Foreign Affairs (1994-1998); Deputy Prime Minister of Sweden (1998). Ms Lena Hjelm-Wallén is currently President of the European Forum for Solidarity and Democracy.