2023-06-072022/23:UU5 · p.6UUForeign affairs
The Arctic
The Arctic and Nordic cooperation
What's at stake: The decision concerns how Sweden's Arctic engagement is organised at a time when climate change is increasing international interest in the region and the security situation around the Arctic and the Baltic Sea has changed, affecting climate, environmental and security work in Northern Europe.
Case texts and AI reasoning are AI-translated from the Swedish originals; the Swedish text is authoritative.
What the vote decides
The question is whether Arctic issues should be given particularly high priority and specifically coordinated within the Nordic Council and its Council of Ministers, or whether it is enough for Sweden to continue engaging in the Arctic through existing channels such as the Arctic Council and the Nordic cooperation programme, without a specific parliamentary initiative.
Yes Yes — the committee proposal
The committee notes that the Arctic is an important part of Nordic cooperation and that a new Arctic cooperation programme for 2022–2024 is already in place, focused on sustainable development in line with Agenda 2030. The committee notes that cooperation with Russia within the Arctic Council has been paused following Russia's aggression against Ukraine, but that other cooperation continues, and against this background rejects the motions.
No No — the reservations
Reservation 12 (C)
The reservation (C) wants Arctic issues to be given high priority specifically within the Nordic Council and its Council of Ministers, as a way for the Nordic countries to join forces for sustainable development in the region, while Sweden continues to be a strong voice on Arctic issues. This work must, however, be coordinated with the continued development of the Arctic Council.
Summarised from the committee report. Party labels in the summary come from the report, not from the vote.
What do the votes mean here?
Yes The committee proposal: rejecting the motions (keeping things as they are).
No Backing the counter-proposal: reservation 12 by C.
Abstain The party marks a position of its own that is not one of the two final alternatives.
What each plan points to — and how the party voted
For each party: the vote its own election manifesto and party programme point to in this case, next to how the party actually voted. A plan can only point to Yes or No; a party can also abstain.
| Plan | Vote | Confidence | Evidence | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| V | No | Yes 21/0/0/3 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | derived |
| S | No | Yes 93/0/0/14 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| MP | No | Abstain 0/0/15/3 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | derived |
| C | No | No 0/21/0/3 | follows the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| L | No | Yes 14/0/0/2 | departs from the plan | confidence: low | not addressed |
| KD | No | Yes 16/0/0/3 | departs from the plan | confidence: low | not addressed |
| M | No | Yes 60/0/0/8 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| SD | No | Abstain 0/0/63/9 | departs from the plan | confidence: high | explicit |
Committee proposal
Parliament rejects the motions 2022/23:1120 by Catarina Deremar et al. (C) demand 17, 2022/23:1460 by Emma Berginger et al. (MP) demands 1-5, and 2022/23:2370 by Angelika Bengtsson et al. (SD) demand 47.
Original (Swedish)
Riksdagen avslår motionerna 2022/23:1120 av Catarina Deremar m.fl. (C) yrkande 17, 2022/23:1460 av Emma Berginger m.fl. (MP) yrkandena 1-5 och 2022/23:2370 av Angelika Bengtsson m.fl. (SD) yrkande 47.
Riksdag decision: Parliament has processed a written communication from the government and an account from the Swedish delegation of the Nordic Council concerning Nordic cooperation during 2022. Parliament chose to address areas based on the proposals submitted in approximately ninety motions. These areas are Nordic cooperation, border obstacles, labor market, culture, education, integration, business, transport, energy, innovation, environment, climate, food, foreign policy, security policy, crisis preparedness, the Arctic, and bilateral relations. Parliament added the written communication and the account to the records and rejected the proposals in the motions.
Counter-proposals
- The counter-proposal wants to establish a Nordic investigation to counter border obstacles and maintain free movement in the Nordic region. (C) — Reservation 12
Plan vs actual vote
Every party, in chamber order: what its own plan pointed to, how it voted, and the reasoning behind both. Highlighted rows are where the two differ — but a vote that follows the plan is a result too, so the reasoning is there for every party.
The party programme wants interstate and Nordic cooperation such as the Nordic Council to be strengthened and developed as an alternative or complement to the EU, and that cooperation for ecological transition is prioritized.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The party programme wants interstate and Nordic cooperation such as the Nordic Council to be strengthened and developed as an alternative or complement to the EU, and that cooperation for ecological transition is prioritized. Giving Arctic issues high priority within Nordic cooperation and the council of ministers, with sustainable development as the goal, lies directly in that line. The plan does not mention the Arctic, so the position is derived.
Original (Swedish)
Partiprogrammet vill att mellanstatliga och nordiska samarbeten som Nordiska rådet stärks och utvecklas som alternativ eller komplement till EU, och att samverkan för ekologisk omställning prioriteras. Att ge Arktisfrågor hög prioritet inom det nordiska samarbetet och ministerrådet, med hållbar utveckling som mål, ligger direkt i den linjen. Planen nämner inte Arktis, varför ställningstagandet härleds.
- strengthen Nordic cooperationdecisive»regionala organisationer som Nordiska rådet.« (party programme ↗)“regional organizations such as the Nordic Council.”
- prioritized ecological transition»Samverkan för ekologisk omställning med sikte på att snarast nå klimatneutralitet bör prioriteras.« (party programme ↗)“Cooperation for ecological transition with a view to reaching climate neutrality as soon as possible should be prioritized.”
- coordination with existing bodies»från och samordnas med befintliga samarbeten som Europarådet,« (party programme ↗)“from and coordinated with existing cooperation such as the Council of Europe,”
- interstate alternatives to the EU»Alla dessa bör stärkas och« (party programme ↗)“All of these should be strengthened and”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
The plan establishes that Nordic cooperation is central and shall be developed to meet shared challenges such as globalization and climate change.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan establishes that Nordic cooperation is central and shall be developed to meet shared challenges such as globalization and climate change. Giving Arctic issues high priority within Nordic cooperation and its ministerial council, for sustainable development in the region, is a direct expression of that. The plan also wants Sweden to be a strong global voice. The plan therefore supports the demand.
Original (Swedish)
Planen slår fast att det nordiska samarbetet är centralt och att det ska utvecklas för att möta gemensamma utmaningar som globaliseringen och klimatförändringarna. Att ge Arktisfrågor hög prioritet inom det nordiska samarbetet och dess ministerråd, för hållbar utveckling i regionen, är ett direkt uttryck för det. Planen vill också att Sverige är en stark global röst. Planen stöder därför kravet.
- develop Nordic cooperationdecisive»Vi vill utveckla det nordiska samarbetet för att möta de gemensamma utmaningarna som« (party programme ↗)“We want to develop Nordic cooperation to meet the shared challenges of”
- Nordic cooperation is central»Också det nordiska samarbetet är centralt, liksom samarbetet med de baltiska staterna.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Nordic cooperation is also central, as is cooperation with the Baltic states.”
- strong Swedish voice globally»Sverige ska vara en stark global röst.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Sweden shall be a strong global voice.”
- international climate engagement»Sveriges internationella engagemang för att öka takten i klimatomställningen är också helt avgörande.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Sweden's international commitment to accelerating the climate transition is also absolutely essential.”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
The party programme wants to protect the Nordic cooperation and states that the party shall work for ambitious and coordinated climate work in the North, which is exactly the prioritisation the counter-proposal wants to give Arctic issues within the council of ministers.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The party programme wants to protect the Nordic cooperation and states that the party shall work for ambitious and coordinated climate work in the North, which is exactly the prioritisation the counter-proposal wants to give Arctic issues within the council of ministers. The plan's view of shared management of natural resources points in the same direction. Arctic is not mentioned explicitly, hence inferred.
Original (Swedish)
Partiprogrammet vill värna det nordiska samarbetet och slår fast att partiet ska arbeta för ett ambitiöst och koordinerat klimatarbete i Norden, vilket är precis den prioritering motförslaget vill ge Arktisfrågorna inom ministerrådet. Planens syn på gemensam förvaltning av naturresurser pekar i samma riktning. Arktis nämns inte uttryckligen, därav inferred.
- coordinated Nordic climate workdecisive»Miljöpartiet ska arbeta för ett ambitiöst och koordinerat klimatarbete i Norden.« (party programme ↗)“the Greens shall work for ambitious and coordinated climate work in the North.”
- Nordic cooperation»Vi vill värna det unika samarbetet i vårt närområde, mellan de nordiska staterna.« (party programme ↗)“We want to protect the unique cooperation in our neighbourhood, between the Nordic states.”
- shared management of natural resources»Vår viktigaste uppgift är att rätt och rättvist förvalta våra gemensamma naturresurser.« (party programme ↗)“Our most important task is to rightly and fairly manage our shared natural resources.”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
The party programme highlights the special role of Nordic cooperation and that common challenges such as climate change can only be solved through international cooperation.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The party programme highlights the special role of Nordic cooperation and that common challenges such as climate change can only be solved through international cooperation. To give Arctic issues high priority within the Nordic Council of Ministers for sustainable development in the region follows from this, as does the ambition that Sweden should lead in environmental matters. The Arctic is not addressed in the plan, so the position is derived.
Original (Swedish)
Partiprogrammet lyfter fram det nordiska samarbetets särskilda roll och att gemensamma utmaningar som klimatfrågan bara kan lösas genom internationellt samarbete. Att ge Arktisfrågor hög prioritet inom Nordiska ministerrådet för hållbar utveckling i regionen följer av detta, liksom av ambitionen att Sverige ska gå före i miljöfrågor. Arktis behandlas inte i planen, så ställningstagandet härleds.
- Nordic cooperationdecisive»Det nordiska samarbetet, som överbryggar många europeiska konstellationer, spelar en viktig roll.« (party programme ↗)“Nordic cooperation, which bridges many European constellations, plays an important role.”
- common challenges require cooperation»Utmaningar som är gemensamma för många nationer, som tullmurar, klimatfrågan och internationell brottslighet, kan bara lösas genom internationellt samarbete.« (party programme ↗)“Challenges that are common to many nations, such as tariff barriers, climate change, and international crime, can only be solved through international cooperation.”
- leading in environmental matters»Centerpartiet ska vara det ledande partiet i miljöfrågor« (party programme ↗)“The Centre Party should be the leading party in environmental matters”
- Sweden should lead»Ett ledarskap som tar klimatfrågan på allvar och som är fast beslutet att Sverige ska gå före och visa vägen.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Leadership that takes climate change seriously and is determined that Sweden should lead and show the way.”
The plan does not address the Arctic, but it establishes that Sweden should cooperate closely with neighbouring Nordic countries and that Nordic countries can lead the way and remove barriers faster than others.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan does not address the Arctic, but it establishes that Sweden should cooperate closely with neighbouring Nordic countries and that Nordic countries can lead the way and remove barriers faster than others. The plan also wants Sweden to be a model and driving force in global sustainability work. Prioritizing Arctic issues within the Nordic Council of Ministers is therefore in line with the plan's direction.
Original (Swedish)
Planen behandlar inte Arktis, men den slår fast att Sverige bör samarbeta nära med grannländerna i Norden och att de nordiska länderna kan gå före och riva hinder snabbare än andra. Planen vill också att Sverige är en förebild och pådrivande kraft i det globala hållbarhetsarbetet. Att prioritera arktiska frågor inom det nordiska ministerrådet ligger därför i planens riktning.
- close Nordic cooperationdecisive»Sverige bör samarbeta nära med andra länder, både globalt och med våra närmaste grannländer i Norden och Europa.« (party programme ↗)“Sweden should cooperate closely with other countries, both globally and with our nearest Nordic and European neighbours.”
- the North leads the way»De nordiska länderna kan, liksom vi har gjort tidigare med t.ex. passfrihet och gemensam arbetsmarknad, fortsätta att gå före och riva gränshinder snabbare än andra.« (party programme ↗)“Nordic countries can, as we have done before with, for example, passport-free travel and a common labour market, continue to lead the way and remove borders faster than others.”
- driving force for sustainable development»Sverige ska vara en förebild och en pådrivande kraft i det globala arbetet för ett hållbart samhälle.« (party programme ↗)“Sweden shall be a model and a driving force in global work for a sustainable society.”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
The plan does not mention Nordic cooperation or the Arctic.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan does not mention Nordic cooperation or the Arctic. The closest related principles are that the goal is to deepen peace-building in our region, that cooperation with other countries and organizations shall be a natural part of policy, and that cross-border cooperation is necessary because the most serious environmental threats are global. Giving Arctic issues high priority in Nordic cooperation for sustainable development is in line with this.
Original (Swedish)
Planen nämner inte det nordiska samarbetet eller Arktis. Närmast liggande principer är att målet är att fördjupa fredsuppbyggnaden i vårt närområde, att samverkan med andra länder och organisationer ska vara en naturlig del av politiken, och att gränsöverskridande samarbete är nödvändigt eftersom de allvarligaste miljöhoten är globala. Att ge Arktisfrågor hög prioritet i det nordiska samarbetet för hållbar utveckling ligger i linje med detta.
- peace-building in the regiondecisive»är att fördjupa fredsuppbyggnaden i vårt närområde,« (party programme ↗)“is to deepen peace-building in our region,”
- cooperation with other countries»samverkan med andra länder och organisationer vara en« (party programme ↗)“cooperation with other countries and organizations be a”
- cross-border environmental cooperation»Därför är ett samarbete över nationsgränserna« (party programme ↗)“Therefore is a cooperation across national borders”
- stewardship for future generations»långsiktig helhetssyn med respekt för vår samtida omgivning och kommande generationer.« (party programme ↗)“long-term holistic perspective with respect for our contemporary environment and future generations.”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
The plan wants to work for deepened cooperation in northern Europe and for NATO membership together with Finland to lead to deepened Nordic cooperation also outside the defence area.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan wants to work for deepened cooperation in northern Europe and for NATO membership together with Finland to lead to deepened Nordic cooperation also outside the defence area. The party programme gives relations to the Nordic neighbours a special position and establishes that they shall be strengthened. That Arctic issues are prioritised within Nordic cooperation aligns with this, even though the Arctic is not mentioned.
Original (Swedish)
Planen vill verka för ett fördjupat samarbete i norra Europa och för att medlemskapet i Nato tillsammans med Finland leder till fördjupat nordiskt samarbete även utanför försvarsområdet. Idéprogrammet ger relationerna till de nordiska grannländerna en särställning och slår fast att de ska stärkas. Att prioritera Arktisfrågor inom det nordiska samarbetet ligger i linje med detta, även om Arktis inte nämns.
- deepened Nordic cooperationdecisive»Verka för att Sveriges Natomedlemskap tillsammans med Finland leder till ett fördjupat samarbete inom Norden och mellan Norden och Baltikum, inte bara på det försvars- och säkerhetspolitiska området.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Work for Sweden's NATO membership together with Finland to lead to deepened cooperation within the Nordic region and between the Nordic region and the Baltic, not only in the defence and security policy area.”
- cooperation in northern Europe»Verka för ett fördjupat samarbete i norra Europa« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Work for deepened cooperation in northern Europe”
- stronger neighbour-country relations»Sveriges relationer till våra grannländer ska stärkas.« (party programme ↗)“Sweden's relations to our neighbouring countries shall be strengthened.”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
The election manifesto requires that a clear Arctic policy be developed that prevents Russian and Chinese advances and affirms Swedish economic interests, and states that the party particularly wants to broaden and deepen Nordic cooperation.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The election manifesto requires that a clear Arctic policy be developed that prevents Russian and Chinese advances and affirms Swedish economic interests, and states that the party particularly wants to broaden and deepen Nordic cooperation. The counter-proposal's requirement that Arctic issues be given high priority within Nordic cooperation and its ministerial council directly responds to these commitments. The plan also wants to deepen Nordic defense and security cooperation.
Original (Swedish)
Valmanifestet kräver att en tydlig Arktispolitik tas fram som hindrar ryska och kinesiska framflyttningar och bejakar svenska ekonomiska intressen, och slår fast att partiet särskilt vill bredda och fördjupa det nordiska samarbetet. Motförslagets krav på att Arktisfrågor ges hög prioritet inom det nordiska samarbetet och dess ministerråd svarar direkt mot dessa åtaganden. Planen vill också fördjupa det nordiska försvars- och säkerhetssamarbetet.
- clear Arctic policydecisive»En tydlig Arktispolitik ska tas fram som hindrar ryska och kinesiska framflyttningar och bejakar svenska ekonomiska intressen.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“A clear Arctic policy should be developed that prevents Russian and Chinese advances and affirms Swedish economic interests.”
- deepened Nordic cooperation»vill vi särskilt arbeta för att stärka den nordiska gemenskapen och bredda och fördjupa det nordiska samarbetet« (2022 manifesto ↗)“we particularly want to work to strengthen the Nordic community and broaden and deepen Nordic cooperation”
- Nordic security»Fördjupa det nordiska försvars- och säkerhetssamarbetet« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Deepen Nordic defense and security cooperation”
- indigenous peoples' position»Urfolkens ställning och kulturella värden ska värnas i den utrikespolitiska inriktningen.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The position of indigenous peoples and their cultural values shall be protected in foreign policy direction.”
The stance rests on the quoted commitment in the party's own documents; the actual vote deviated. Click the quote to verify it in the document.
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Sources and documents
- The committee report on riksdagen.se (2022/23:UU5)
- Committee report full text (HA01UU5)
- Per-MP voting data (API)
- Case status (API)
Documents under consideration
- Motion 2022/23:1028 — Pånyttfödelse för det nordiska samarbetet av Johan Hultberg (M)
- Motion 2022/23:1120 — Nordiskt samarbete av Catarina Deremar m.fl. (C)
- Motion 2022/23:1414 — Nationell Öresundsagenda av Noria Manouchi m.fl. (M)
- Motion 2022/23:1460 — Värnande av Arktis av Emma Berginger m.fl. (MP)
- Motion 2022/23:1713 — Nationell Öresundsagenda av Noria Manouchi m.fl. (M)
- Motion 2022/23:2370 — med anledning av skr. 2022/23:90 Nordiskt samarbete 2022 av Angelika Bengtsson m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2022/23:2371 — med anledning av skr. 2022/23:90 Nordiskt samarbete 2022 av Kerstin Lundgren m.fl. (C)
- Motion 2022/23:539 — Nordisk samverkan i världen av Markus Wiechel och Alexander Christiansson (båda SD)
- Motion 2022/23:634 — En fungerande arbetsmarknad i hela Öresundsområdet av Niels Paarup-Petersen (C)
- Motion 2022/23:847 — Gränshinder mellan Sverige och Norge av Daniel Bäckström (C)
- Framställning / redogörelse 2022/23:NR1 — Nordiska rådets svenska delegations redogörelse om verksamheten under 2022
- Regeringens skrivelse 2022/23:90 — Nordiskt samarbete 2022
Source: The Swedish Parliament