This year, Göteborg Book Fair celebrates its 25th anniversary. The focus will be on Spain, while the 200th anniversary of Finland’s separation from Sweden will also be marked, and the theme of exclusion will be explored. The Government Offices will be there with a stand and participation by ministers and young reporters.

On 24–27 September, the Nordic countries’ largest book fair will be offering an extensive programme of 442 seminars, with 785 contributors from 25 countries, and over 100 000 visitors. There will be a focus on Spain, not only at the fair but also as the next country to hold the EU Presidency. Even outside the fair, Göteborg will be painted red and yellow!

The Government Offices will be at stand C02:42 and will be working together with other EU representatives on a shared stage. A number of ministers will be participating, seminars will be taking place and the young reporters will be reporting directly from the fair.

Europe Stage Programme (stand C01:40)

Thursday 24 September

11.00-11.30 
European politics right now – the financial crisis, the Treaty of Lisbon, EU enlargement
Olle Schmidt, Member of the European Parliament (Liberal, ALDE), is interviewed by Young Reporters

13.00-13.30
Education and life-long learning – values for a future Europe
Cecilia Wikström, Member of the European Parliament (Liberal, ALDE), is interviewed by Young Reporters

15.00-16.00
Coffee with a Commissioner
Education – What is the EU’s role in the area of education? How can the EU improve opportunities for further training for Europe’s teachers?
Ján Figel’, Commissioner for Education, Training, Culture and Youth
Moderator: Pernilla Baralt, European Commission in Sweden
In English


Friday 25 September

A number of times throughout Friday:
Who knows the most about the EU?
GR Experiential Learning (GRUL) puts on a quiz using an audience response system.
Win prizes for your EU knowledge!

11.00-11.30
”Keep the planet alive!”
School children’s thoughts about climate change. Pernilla Baralt, European Commission in Sweden, talks to pupils and teachers from Kullaviksskolan about the book ‘Keep the planet alive!’.

12.00-12.30
Turkey and the Copenhagen criteria
Ingmar Karlsson, Sweden’s former Consul-General in Istanbul, on Turkey’s candidature for membership of the EU.

15.00-15.30
On the Swedish and Spanish Presidencies – leading the EU
Minister for EU Affairs Cecilia Malmström and Barbara Dührkop Dührkop are interviewed by Young Reporters
Presenter: Kristina Zetterström, Government Offices
Spain will take over the Presidency of the EU after Sweden. Both Cecilia Malmström and Barbara Dührkop Dührkop are former Members of the European Parliament. Ms Dührkop Dührkop grew up in Sweden but was a Spanish MEP.


Saturday 26 September

11.00-11.30
Minister for Culture Lena Adelsohn Liljeroth is interviewed by Young Reporters
Presenter: Tomas Bokstad

12.00-12.30
‘Keep the planet alive!’
Stefan Edman, one of the contributors to the book ‘Keep the planet alive!’ is interviewed by Young Reporters

13.00-13.30
Linguistic diversity in the EU
Bengt Samuelsson, translator at the European Commission
Presentation about language issues with quiz and prize-giving

16.30-17.00
‘Keep the planet alive!’
Svante Axelsson, one of the contributors to the book ‘Keep the planet alive!’ is interviewed by Young Reporters

15.00-15.30 (prel. time)
‘Keep the planet alive!’
Kristina Sahlqvist, one of the contributors to the book ‘Keep the planet alive!’ is interviewed by Young Reporters


Sunday 27 September

12.00-12.30
Trade union issues and the importance of the EU
Olle Ludvigsson, Member of the European Parliament (Social Democrat, S&D) is interviewed by Young Reporters

13.30-14.00
Margot Wallström, Commission first Vice-President, is interviewed by Young Reporters

14.00-15.00
Coffee with a Commissioner
The EU and the climate – What is the EU’s role ahead of the climate change conference in Copenhagen? What decisions must be taken in order to stop global warming?
European Commissioner Margot Wallström and Professor Christian Azar discuss the issue and answer questions.
Moderator: Pernilla Baralt, European Commission in Sweden

15.00-15.30
‘Keep the planet alive!’
Commissioner Margot Wallström talks to school children from Kullaviksskolan about the book ‘Keep the planet alive!’.
Discussion led by: Pernilla Baralt