STOCKHOLM, June 6 (Reuter) - The Swedish government is backing opposition leader Carl Bildt to replace Britain's Lord Owen as European Union mediator for Yugoslavia, a senior official said on Tuesday.

Owen is due to step down at the end of this month.

Prime Minister Ingvar Carlsson's foreign policy advisor Lars Danielsson told Reuters EU president France had already begun sounding out member states on a replacement and thatSweden would support the candidacy of former prime minister Bildt.

"The decision has to be taken by himself, of course, and he has to get a request from the EU countries, but if those two elements are there then of course the government will support his candidacy," Danielsson said.

Bildt, 45, was premier from 1991 until 1994 when Carlsson ousted his conservative government.