Networking in Stockholm

Recently, I spent a very pleasant and useful few days in Stockholm, the capital city of Sweden. It was the occasion of the annual conference of the European Association of Political Consultants (EAPC) and the chance to meet up again colleagues from previous European Parliament elections (Bo Krogvig - Sweden and Hans Anker – Netherlands/New York) and to meet new (at least to me!) fellow travellers in the political affairs world (Aron Papp - Switzerland; Eva Rundkvist  -Sweden; Necati Ozkan – Turkey; Thomas Hofer – Austria; Sepp Hartinger – Austria; Mehmet Ural – Turkey and Bob and Thomas Maher – Australia to name a few.)

The conference programme gave us the opportunity to hear analysis of past election campaigns in Austria and Sweden and an insider knowledge from the French Presidency campaign – the right predictiction – and experienced views about the US Presidency campaign – watch out for 'super tuesday' 5 February 2008 and the tip that it will be Hillary Clinton and Rudii Giuliani in the November run-off. For the Russian Presidency it seems will be Putin; Putin or Putin.

The International IDEA NGO looks to be a great resource for 'Supporting democracy worldwide' and Carl SØRENSEN, Director General of Communications at the European Commission has got his work cut out on a minimum budget. SAS Airlines told us how they are re-inventing environmentalism by finding a new way to land their aircraft at Stockholm airport – too bad my carbon footprint for the weekend was supplied by Austrian airlines!

Thanks to Bo Krogvig of Springtime and his team for a great organisation of the conference including the 'Gala' dinner on the M/S Enkoping, it takes a lot (of aquavit?) to get me singing in public!

Visit Stockholm – its an interesting place.