Swedish politician and diplomat (1933–2022)
Anita Gradin (12 August 1933 – 23 May 2022) was a Swedish politician and ambassador. She was the Minister with responsibility for immigrant and equality affairs at the Ministry of Employment in Sweden from 1982 to 1986. She was Minister of Foreign Trade at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs from 1986 to 1991. From 1995 to 1999 she was a member of the European Commission responsible for Immigration, home affairs and justice; relations with the Ombudsman; and Financial Control and Fraud prevention.
Gradin was president of Socialist International Women and worked against the trafficking of women.
Early life.
Gradin was the daughter of the paper worker Ossian Gradin (1910–1986) and Alfhild Gradin (1913–1984), born Englund. Gradin graduated in 1950, studied at the Swedish School of 1953, at the 1954 British School of Economics, at the Nordic Folk High School in Geneva in 1958, and became a socialist in Stockholm in 1960.
Career.
She was a journalist at the Västerbottens Folkblad from 1950–52, employed by the Swedish Forestry and Floating Workers' Union 1952–55, journalist at Arbetarbladet in Gävle 1955–58 and at the TCO magazine 1960–63. Gradin was employed by the Social Affairs Planning Committee in Stockholm as secretary of the City College's Women's Affairs Committee, 1963–67, Secretary of State at the 1963 Council of Ministers, Member of the School Board's Educational Board 1971–81, by the International Health and Social Affairs Committee 1972–78, chairman of the Board of International Adoption Issues 1973–79 and Member of the 1982 Experts Group on Immigration Research. Gradin was a member of the 1974 Semester Committee 1974–1975, of the 1974–1977 Research Education Survey, by the Delegation for Gender Equality 1975–1976, by the 1978–81 Research Co-operation Committee and by the 1980–80 Abortion Committee. She was a specialist in the hotel and restaurant survey 1974–78, a member of the 1975 business committee 1975–77, chairman of Sweden's social association 1976–81, and a board member of Stockholm's workers' municipality 1968–82. She was chairman of the Stockholm City Social Democratic Women's District 1968–82 and Vice Chairman of the Women's Association from 1975. Gradin was a member of the City Council in Stockholm in 1966–68 as well as a member of the Danish People's Welfare Board / Dental Committee 1966–76. In 1997, Gradin was appointed as an honorary citizen in her hometown, Umeå.
EU Commissioner.
When Sweden joined the European Union in 1995, Gradin was appointed Sweden's first member of the European Commission, under its chairman, Jacques Santer. She was responsible for immigration, justice and home affairs, relations with the European Ombudsman, economic governance and control and anti-fraud. She ended up in focus since the anti-fraud campaign was found to be neglected and several Commissioners, in particular, Édith Cresson, were accused of corruption. In March 1999, the entire Santer Commission was forced to resign and be replaced by an interim commission led by Manuel Marín. Gradin was also included in the Marín Commission and finally resigned in November 1999 when the Prodi Commission took office. During her time in the EU Commission, Gradin contributed, among other things, to legislation on gender equality, increased transparency and criminalization of trafficking.
Personal life.
Gradin was married to Lieutenant Colonel Bertil Kersfelt.
Death.
Gradin died in May 2022, aged 88.
References.
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