# Margaretha af Ugglas # Margaretha af Ugglas Märta Margaretha af Ugglas (née Stenbeck; born 5 January 1939) is a Swedish former politician and member of the [Moderate Party](/organizations/moderate-party) who served as Minister for [Foreign Affairs](/organizations/foreign-affairs) from 3 October 1991 to 6 October 1994 under Prime Minister [Carl Bildt](/people/carl-bildt). Born in Stockholm as the daughter of lawyer Edvard Hugo Stenbeck and Hedvig Märtha Elisabeth Odelfeldt, af Ugglas graduated with a degree in business and economics (civilekonom) from the Stockholm School of Economics in 1964, following participation in the Harvard-Radcliffe Program in Business Administration in 1961. She worked as a journalist at *Veckans Affärer* from 1966 to 1967 and as a lead writer at *[Svenska Dagbladet](/organizations/svenska-dagbladet)* from 1968 to 1973 before entering politics full-time. She was elected to the Riksdag in 1976, serving as an ordinary member until 1991, and held positions on the Foreign Affairs Committee and other bodies before her ministerial appointment. As foreign minister during the immediate post-Cold War period, af Ugglas oversaw Sweden's foreign policy amid the dissolution of the Soviet Union and emerging regional cooperation in Northern Europe. She participated in the founding conference of the **[Council of the Baltic Sea States](/organizations/council-of-the-baltic-sea-states)** in Copenhagen on 5–6 March 1992, where foreign ministers issued the Copenhagen Declaration establishing the organization. Her tenure also coincided with Sweden's application for European Union membership (submitted in 1991) and the subsequent negotiations, with af Ugglas advocating for Swedish integration into European structures as part of adapting security and foreign policy to the new European landscape. Af Ugglas belongs to the prominent Stenbeck family through her father and is the sister of businessman Jan Stenbeck; she served on the board of Investment AB Kinnevik from 1970 to 1983. In the 1980s, she was involved in a widely reported family dispute with her brother over control of Kinnevik, which led to a lasting rift after a shareholder coup replaced the company's board. She married politician Bertil af Ugglas in 1966; he died in 1977. After leaving government, af Ugglas briefly served in the [European Parliament](/organizations/european-parliament) in 1995 and continued involvement in foreign affairs committees. ## Early life and education ### Family background Märta Margaretha Stenbeck was born on 5 January 1939 in Oscars församling, Stockholm. She was the daughter of lawyer Edvard Hugo Stenbeck (commonly known as Hugo Stenbeck), founder of Investment AB Kinnevik, and Hedvig Märta Elisabeth Odelfeldt (commonly known as Märtha Odelfeldt). She grew up with three siblings: brothers Hugo Stenbeck Jr. and Jan Stenbeck, and sister Elisabeth Silfverstolpe. In the early 1980s, a public dispute arose within the family over control of Investment AB Kinnevik, when Jan Stenbeck gained power through a takeover against his sisters Margaretha af Ugglas and Elisabeth Silfverstolpe. This resulted in a lasting conflict over power and influence between Margaretha and Jan Stenbeck. Consequently, Margaretha af Ugglas withdrew from further involvement in the family business and its associated ties. ### Education Märta Margaretha af Ugglas pursued advanced business studies abroad and in Sweden. In 1961, she attended the Harvard-Radcliffe Program in Business Administration in the United States. She subsequently earned her *civilekonom* degree from the Stockholm School of Economics (Handelshögskolan i Stockholm) in 1964. This professional qualification, equivalent to a master's degree in business and economics, marked the completion of her formal academic training. ## Pre-political career ### Journalism and media work After completing her education, Margaretha af Ugglas began her professional career in journalism. She worked as a journalist at the business magazine *Veckans Affärer* from 1966 to 1967. She subsequently served as an editorial writer (*ledarskribent*) and columnist at the newspaper *Svenska Dagbladet* from 1968 to 1973. In 1980, af Ugglas became chief editor and responsible publisher (*ansvarig utgivare*) of the political and cultural journal *Svensk tidskrift*, roles she held until 1991. During this period, she contributed to the renewal of the publication, shifting its orientation from a strictly conservative stance toward greater emphasis on liberal principles. She also authored editorials, including pieces critiquing state support for political parties and the press. ### Corporate and organizational roles Märta Margaretha af Ugglas served on the boards of several prominent Swedish companies prior to her full-time political involvement. She was a board member of Investment AB Kinnevik from 1970 to 1983, Sandvik AB from 1970 to 1974, Bulten-Kanthal AB from 1972 to 1980, Boliden AB from 1978 to 1985, Swedish Match AB from 1979 to 1991, and STORA AB from 1978 to 1991. In voluntary and civil society roles, she chaired Rädda Barnens Stockholmsförbund (Stockholm branch of [Save the Children](/organizations/save-the-children)) from 1970 to 1976 and Riksförbundet Sveriges Lottakårer (National Association of Swedish Lottas) from 1974 to 1980. ## Political career ### Entry into politics and party roles **Märta Margaretha af Ugglas entered politics in the early 1970s through the Moderate Party (Moderata samlingspartiet).** Her initial involvement focused on local and party organizational roles in Stockholm. She served as a member of Stockholm County Council (Stockholms läns landsting) from 1971 to 1973. During the same period, she became chair of the party's women's association in Oscar-Gärdet (Moderata samlingspartiets kvinnoförening Oscar/Gärdet), holding the position from 1971 to 1977. In 1977 she was elected chair of the Moderate Party's Stockholm district organization (Moderata samlingspartiets stockholmsförbund), a role she held until 1986. From 1978 she served as a member of the Moderate Party's national executive board (partistyrelse), continuing in that capacity until 1993. ### Parliamentary service Märta Margaretha af Ugglas served as a member of the Swedish Riksdag for the Moderate Party from 3 October 1976 to 3 October 1991 and from 7 October 1994 to 9 January 1995, with periods of leave from 4 October 1991 to 6 October 1994 (during her tenure as Minister for Foreign Affairs) and from 10 January 1995 to 8 October 1995. The Riksdagen biography notes her involvement since 1974. She was a member of the Committee on Foreign Affairs (Utrikesutskottet) during several periods, including 1982–1985, 1985–1988, 1988–1991, and 1994–1995, and served as vice chairman of the committee from 11 October 1994 to 1 January 1995. af Ugglas also served as a member of the Swedish delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the [Council of Europe](/organizations/council-of-europe) from 3 October 1982 to 1 October 1984 and as deputy member from 29 September 1985 to 4 November 1991. In addition, she was a board member of the [Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency](/organizations/swedish-international-development-cooperation-agency) (SIDA) from 1976 to 1989. ### Tenure as Minister for Foreign Affairs Märta Margaretha af Ugglas served as Sweden's Minister for Foreign Affairs from 3 October 1991 to 6 October 1994 in the cabinet led by Prime Minister Carl Bildt. Her tenure occurred amid the collapse of the Soviet Union and rapid geopolitical shifts in Europe. Sweden, under her leadership, was among the first countries to recognize the independence of former Soviet republics. Sweden recognized Belarus on 19 December 1991, and af Ugglas personally visited Minsk in January 1992 to sign the agreement establishing diplomatic relations. In March 1992, af Ugglas participated in the founding of the Council of the Baltic Sea States (CBSS), an intergovernmental organization established to foster cooperation across the Baltic Sea region following the end of the Cold War. The initiative was led by the Danish and German foreign ministers, with Sweden as one of the original 11 members. The CBSS also supported initiatives such as the EuroFaculty to aid academic reforms in the Baltic states. From 1992 to 1993, af Ugglas served as Chairperson-in-Office of the Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe (CSCE, later OSCE), coordinating efforts to manage emerging conflicts in post-Cold War Europe. She guided Sweden's diplomatic response to the dissolution of Yugoslavia and the ensuing wars, including highlighting the impact on women in foreign policy declarations of 1993 and 1994. Af Ugglas oversaw the final phases of negotiations for Sweden's accession to the European Union, culminating in an agreement reached on 30 March 1994 and signed that summer. Her term concluded following the Moderate Party-led government's defeat in the September 1994 election. ### Post-ministerial political activities After her departure from the cabinet in October 1994, Margaretha af Ugglas continued her political engagement at the European level. She served as a Member of the European Parliament from 1 January 1995 to 8 October 1995, representing Sweden's Moderate Party within the Group of the [European People's Party](/organizations/european-people-s-party) (Christian-Democratic Group). During this period, she was a member of the group's Bureau, a member of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, Security and Defence Policy, a substitute on the Committee on Institutional Affairs and the Subcommittee on Security and Disarmament, and a member of the Delegation for relations with Estonia, Lithuania, and Latvia. Her tenure in the Swedish Riksdag effectively concluded in early 1995 as she assumed her European mandate. From 2002, af Ugglas chaired the Jarl Hjalmarson Foundation, a Moderate Party-linked organisation dedicated to promoting democracy, European cooperation, and integration based on principles of freedom and market economy. She held this position into the late 2000s. ## Legacy and honors ### Awards and decorations Margaretha af Ugglas has received several prestigious national and international awards and decorations, primarily recognizing her diplomatic contributions during her tenure as Sweden's Minister for Foreign Affairs from 1991 to 1994. These include: - Grand Cross of the Norwegian Order of Merit (1 July 1992). - 1st Class of the Order of the Cross of Terra Mariana (Estonia; 9 February 2000). - Grand Cross of the Order of the [White Rose](/organizations/white-rose) of Finland. - Grand Cross of the Order of the Crown (Belgium). - Grand Cross of the Order of the Oak Crown (Luxembourg). - [His Majesty the King](/people/charles-iii)’s Gold Medal, 12th size, with Seraphim ribbon (Sweden; 1996). - Gold Merit Medal of Riksförbundet Sveriges Lottakårer. ### Other contributions Märta Margaretha af Ugglas is associated with the Margaretha af Ugglas stiftelse, a foundation dedicated to promoting international understanding. The foundation supports the education of children and youth to increase knowledge of other countries and cultures, scientific teaching or research, and humanitarian assistance to elderly individuals in need, without restriction to any specific family or persons. She has served as chair of the Jarl Hjalmarson Foundation. Her broader legacy includes her position as Sweden's second female Minister for Foreign Affairs and her contributions to post-Cold War diplomatic cooperation in Europe. ## Dated facts _No published facts on this page yet._ ## Methodology https://factrail.ai/methodology Canonical: https://factrail.ai/people/margaretha-af-ugglas