2023-11-302023/24:FiU12 · p.2FiUEconomy & finance
Expanded powers for the Swedish Competition Authority, etc.
Expanded powers for the Swedish Competition Authority to act on missing post-award procurement notices
What's at stake: An extension would give the Competition Authority stronger tools to address a lack of transparency among contracting authorities and make it easier to check whether procurement rules are followed, but it also concerns how far the authority's oversight should reach toward both authorities and suppliers.
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 the Swedish Competition Authority's power to impose a procurement infringement fee should be extended to cover missing post-award notices, and whether the duty to provide information during an investigation should also apply to suppliers, or whether the current, narrower powers should remain unchanged.
Yes Yes — the committee proposal
The committee shares the government's assessment that there is currently insufficient reason to extend the procurement infringement fee to more cases or to extend who can be ordered to provide information to also cover suppliers, and notes that the Competition Authority can already contact market participants on a voluntary basis; the committee therefore rejects the motion.
No No — the reservations
Reservation 1 (S)
The reservation largely supports the bill but wants the Competition Authority to also be able to impose the procurement infringement fee for missing post-award notices, in order to improve transparency and statistics in the field, and wants the duty to provide information during an investigation to also apply to suppliers rather than only the contracting authority, in order to make follow-up and scrutiny easier.
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 1 by S.
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 19/0/0/5 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| S | No | No 0/92/0/15 | follows the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| MP | No | Yes 16/0/0/2 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| C | No | Yes 19/0/1/4 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| L | No | Yes 12/0/0/4 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| KD | No | Yes 17/0/0/2 | departs from the plan | confidence: low | derived |
| M | Yes | Yes 58/0/0/10 | follows the plan | confidence: low | not addressed |
| SD | No | Yes 60/0/0/12 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
Broke with the party line
| CMartin Ådahl (C, Stockholms kommun) | Abstain — party line: Yes |
MPs whose vote differs from their party's majority position in this division. Marked with a dark ring in the chamber view.
Committee proposal
Parliament rejects the motion 2023/24:1518 by Mikael Damberg et al. (S).
Original (Swedish)
Riksdagen avslår motion 2023/24:1518 av Mikael Damberg m.fl. (S).
Riksdag decision: Oversight of public procurement is to become more efficient. The government's proposal means that the Swedish Competition Authority is given expanded powers, the time limit for deciding on a public procurement penalty is extended to two years and the penalty ceiling is raised from 10 million to 20 million kronor. The Swedish Competition Authority should also be able to impose on public procurement authorities and entities to decide on guidelines for the use of direct procurement. The Swedish Competition Authority, which is the oversight authority for public procurement, should also be given expanded powers in its oversight. Parliament approved the proposal. The changes enter into force on 1 January 2024.
Counter-proposals
- The counter-proposal wants to give the Competition Authority the power to decide on penalties for ex post announcement failures and require suppliers to submit information. (S) — Reservation 1
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 plan sees public procurement as an important tool that must be used strategically to guarantee labor rights and conditions, and highlights that companies account for the vast majority of environmental crimes.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan sees public procurement as an important tool that must be used strategically to guarantee labor rights and conditions, and highlights that companies account for the vast majority of environmental crimes. Sharpened sanctions for missing re-announcements and a reporting requirement that also covers suppliers strengthen precisely the transparency and follow-up required for such strategic governance. The plan says nothing about the committee's reasoning that voluntary contacts are sufficient.
Original (Swedish)
Planen ser offentlig upphandling som ett viktigt verktyg som måste användas strategiskt för att garantera arbetsrätt och villkor, och den framhåller att företagen står för de flesta ekobrotten. Skärpta sanktioner vid bristande efterannonsering och en uppgiftsskyldighet som också omfattar leverantörer stärker just insynen och uppföljningen som krävs för sådan strategisk styrning. Planen säger inget om utskottets skäl att frivilliga kontakter räcker.
- strategic public procurementdecisive»Den måste användas strategiskt av upphandlare på olika nivåer« (party programme ↗)“It must be used strategically by procurers at different levels”
- procurement as steering tool»Offentlig upphandling är ett viktigt verktyg för omställningen.« (party programme ↗)“Public procurement is an important tool for the transition.”
- collective agreements in procurement»Vänsterpartiet ställer krav på kollektivavtal vid offentliga upphandlingar.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The Left Party demands collective agreements in public procurements.”
- companies account for environmental crimes»Det är företagen som överlägset står för de flesta« (party programme ↗)“It is companies that overwhelmingly account for the most”
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 demands that public procurement officers are role models in promoting fair competition and that tax evasion and welfare crime are stopped, while administration shall be characterized by openness and transparency.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan demands that public procurement officers are role models in promoting fair competition and that tax evasion and welfare crime are stopped, while administration shall be characterized by openness and transparency. Expanded powers for the supervisory authority, including fees for failure to re-announce and information obligations even for suppliers, strengthen precisely this transparency and follow-up. That voluntary contact would suffice is something the plan has nothing to say about.
Original (Swedish)
Planen kräver att offentliga upphandlare är föredömen i att verka för sund konkurrens och att skattefusk och välfärdsbrottslighet stoppas, samtidigt som förvaltningen ska präglas av offentlighet och insyn. Utökade befogenheter för tillsynsmyndigheten, inklusive avgift vid bristande efterannonsering och uppgiftsskyldighet även för leverantörer, stärker just denna insyn och uppföljning. Att frivillig kontakt skulle räcka har planen inget att säga om.
- fair competition in procurementdecisive»Arbetslivs kriminalitet ska inte finnas på svensk arbetsmarknad och offentliga arbetsgivare och upphandlare ska vara föredömen i att verka för en sund konkurrens.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Labour criminality shall not exist in the Swedish labour market and public employers and procurers shall be role models in promoting fair competition.”
- stop cheating with public funds»Skattefusk, välfärdsbrottslighet och penningtvätt ska stoppas.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Tax evasion, welfare crime and money laundering shall be stopped.”
- openness and transparency»Den demokratiska processen och samhällsförvaltningen måste bygga på offentlighet och« (party programme ↗)“The democratic process and public administration must be built on openness and”
- effective competition supervision»konkurrenslagstiftning ska motverka monopol och koncentration« (party programme ↗)“competition law shall prevent monopolies and concentration”
flags: citat_migrerat
The plan requires that citizens always can scrutinise power, that organisations' finances are reported openly and that quality is continuously monitored, and that monopoly and cartel formation is prevented for functioning markets.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan requires that citizens always can scrutinise power, that organisations' finances are reported openly and that quality is continuously monitored, and that monopoly and cartel formation is prevented for functioning markets. Sanctions for failure to re-advertise and reporting obligations also for suppliers strengthen precisely the oversight and supervision of public procurement. The counter-proposal's demands are therefore supported, without the plan addressing the supervision authority's powers in detail.
Original (Swedish)
Planen kräver att medborgarna alltid kan granska makten, att verksamheternas ekonomi redovisas öppet och att kvaliteten ständigt följs upp, samt att monopol- och kartellbildningar motverkas för fungerande marknader. Sanktion vid bristande efterannonsering och uppgiftsskyldighet även för leverantörer stärker just insynen och tillsynen över offentliga inköp. Motförslagets krav stöds därför, utan att planen behandlar tillsynsmyndighetens befogenheter i detalj.
- transparency and anti-corruptiondecisive»kunna granska makten. Alla former av korruption« (party programme ↗)“be able to scrutinise power. All forms of corruption”
- open accounting in procurement»redovisas öppet. Vid offentliga upphandlingar ska« (party programme ↗)“are reported openly. In public procurement shall”
- systematic monitoring»Kvaliteten ska ständigt följas upp med« (party programme ↗)“Quality must be continuously monitored with”
- functioning markets»Monopol- och kartellbildningar ska motverkas för att skapa fungerande« (party programme ↗)“Monopoly and cartel formation must be prevented to create functioning”
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 sees competition as a central driving force and wants Sweden to become even more transparent with tightened rules against corruption, which requires sanctions for failure to announce posts and better transparency in procurement.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan sees competition as a central driving force and wants Sweden to become even more transparent with tightened rules against corruption, which requires sanctions for failure to announce posts and better transparency in procurement. Openness is emphasized as a prerequisite for preventing corruption. The requirement for reduced regulatory burden for businesses pulls in the other direction when suppliers are also required to disclose information, but weighs less than the interest in transparency.
Original (Swedish)
Planen ser konkurrens som en central drivkraft och vill att Sverige blir ännu mer transparent med skärpta regler mot korruption, vilket bär kravet på sanktion vid bristande efterannonsering och bättre insyn i upphandlingar. Öppenhet framhålls som en grundförutsättning för att förhindra korruption. Kravet på minskad regelbörda för företag drar åt andra hållet när även leverantörer åläggs uppgiftsskyldighet, men väger lättare än insynsintresset.
- transparency and anti-corruptiondecisive»Sverige ska bli ännu mer transparent. Vi vill inrätta en antikorruptionsmyndighet, skärpa regler mot korruption och införa ett lobbyregister.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Sweden will become even more transparent. We want to establish an anti-corruption authority, tighten rules against corruption, and introduce a lobbying register.”
- openness prevents corruption»Öppenhet och transparens är grundförutsättningar för frihet, demokrati och för att förhindra korruption och övergrepp.« (party programme ↗)“Openness and transparency are prerequisites for freedom, democracy, and for preventing corruption and abuse.”
- competition as a driving force»Konkurrens är en viktig drivkraft för utvecklingen av marknadsekonomin.« (party programme ↗)“Competition is an important driving force for the development of the market economy.”
- reduced regulatory burden»Rensa upp i regelträsket för entreprenörer, stora som små.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Clear away the regulatory maze for entrepreneurs, big and small.”
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 requires that public procurement gives taxpayers low costs, secures equal treatment and stimulates competition, and that competition legislation is strong.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan requires that public procurement gives taxpayers low costs, secures equal treatment and stimulates competition, and that competition legislation is strong. A fee for deficient re-announcing and a reporting obligation that also covers suppliers strengthen precisely this transparency and oversight basis. The plan's view of publicity and oversight as a precondition for power to be controlled points the same way.
Original (Swedish)
Planen kräver att offentlig upphandling ger skattebetalarna låga kostnader, säkrar likabehandling och stimulerar konkurrens, och att konkurrenslagstiftningen är stark. En avgift vid bristande efterannonsering och en uppgiftsskyldighet som även omfattar leverantörer stärker just insynen och tillsynens underlag. Planens syn på offentlighet och granskning som förutsättning för att makten kan kontrolleras pekar samma väg.
- procurement with competition and equal treatmentdecisive»som ger skattebetalarna låga kostnader, hög kvalitet, säkrar likabehandling och stimulerar« (party programme ↗)“that gives taxpayers low costs, high quality, secures equal treatment and stimulates”
- strong competition legislation»Därför behövs en stark konkurrenslagstiftning och konsumentlagar« (party programme ↗)“Therefore, strong competition legislation and consumer laws are needed”
- transparency and openness»Offentlighetsprincipen har en grundläggande betydelse för att förankra och fördjupa folkstyret,« (party programme ↗)“The principle of publicity has fundamental importance for anchoring and deepening democracy,”
- the market needs rules»måste marknaden regleras genom politiska beslut« (party programme ↗)“the market must be regulated through political decisions”
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 makes it the state's role to ensure that legislation and good ethics are maintained in the market and requires effective competition and stable institutions, which supports stricter supervision of after-advertising and the ability to obtain information from suppliers.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan makes it the state's role to ensure that legislation and good ethics are maintained in the market and requires effective competition and stable institutions, which supports stricter supervision of after-advertising and the ability to obtain information from suppliers. Public operations should be procured in competition, and for that transparency and statistics are needed. That additional reporting obligations burden companies is a counterweight that the plan also expresses.
Original (Swedish)
Planen gör det till statens roll att övervaka att lagstiftning och god etik upprätthålls på marknaden och kräver effektiv konkurrens och stabila institutioner, vilket talar för skärpt tillsyn av efterannonsering och möjlighet att inhämta uppgifter även från leverantörer. Offentlig verksamhet ska upphandlas i konkurrens, och då behövs insyn och statistik. Att ytterligare uppgiftsskyldigheter belastar företag är en motvikt som planen också uttrycker.
- state oversees marketdecisive»Statens roll i näringspolitiken är att övervaka att« (party programme ↗)“The state's role in business policy is to ensure that”
- effective competition»effektiv konkurrens, stabila institutioner och etiskt handlande.« (party programme ↗)“effective competition, stable institutions and ethical conduct.”
- procurement in competition»Övrig offentlig verksamhet, som inte är myndighetsutövning, bör« (party programme ↗)“Other public operations, which are not authority exercise, should”
- regulatory burden on companies»Tillkommande lagar bör prövas ur ett småföretagarperspektiv.« (party programme ↗)“Future laws should be reviewed from a small business perspective.”
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 commits to removing a third of companies' administration costs and a third of regulatory red tape, and sees bureaucracy as an obstacle to growth.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan commits to removing a third of companies' administration costs and a third of regulatory red tape, and sees bureaucracy as an obstacle to growth. To impose a new fee base and a reporting obligation also on suppliers goes in the opposite direction. The plan's support for functioning competition partly speaks for the counter-proposal, but weighs lighter than the commitment to reduced regulatory burden.
Original (Swedish)
Planen åtar sig att ta bort en tredjedel av företagens administrationskostnader och en tredjedel av regelkrånglet, och ser byråkrati som ett hinder för tillväxt. Att lägga en ny avgiftsgrund och en uppgiftsskyldighet också på leverantörer går i motsatt riktning. Planens stöd för fungerande konkurrens talar delvis för motförslaget, men väger lättare än åtagandet om minskad regelbörda.
- reduced administrative burdendecisive»Ta bort en tredjedel av företagens administrationskostnader och en tredjedel av regelkrånglet« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Remove a third of companies' administration costs and a third of regulatory red tape”
- bureaucracy hinders growth»Men höga skatter, krångliga tillståndsprocesser och byråkrati sätter käppar i hjulet för innovation och tillväxt. Det kan vi aldrig acceptera.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“But high taxes, complicated permit processes and bureaucracy put obstacles in the way of innovation and growth. We can never accept that.”
- restraint with state intervention»Statliga ingripanden är långt ifrån alltid« (party programme ↗)“State interventions are far from always”
- the state shall promote competition»skydda penningvärdet, främja konkurrensen« (party programme ↗)“protect the value of money, promote competition”
The counter-proposal wants to be able to charge fees for failure to re-advertise and extend the reporting obligation to also cover suppliers, for better transparency and monitoring of procurement.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The counter-proposal wants to be able to charge fees for failure to re-advertise and extend the reporting obligation to also cover suppliers, for better transparency and monitoring of procurement. The plan identifies procurement, financial management and follow-up as a core problem in the public sector and wants to strengthen the possibilities for accountability when the management of public resources fails. Stricter oversight and transparency in procurement therefore follows from the plan.
Original (Swedish)
Motförslaget vill kunna avgiftsbelägga bristande efterannonsering och låta uppgiftsskyldigheten omfatta även leverantörer, för bättre insyn och uppföljning av upphandlingar. Planen pekar ut upphandlingar, ekonomistyrning och uppföljning som ett kärnproblem i offentlig sektor och vill stärka möjligheterna till ansvarsutkrävande när hanteringen av offentliga resurser brister. Skärpt tillsyn och transparens på upphandlingsområdet följer därmed av planen.
- accountability for failuresdecisive»Sverigedemokraterna vill stärka möjligheter för ansvarsutkrävande när hanteringen av de offentliga resurserna brister.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Sverigedemokraterna wants to strengthen possibilities for accountability when the management of public resources fails.”
- problems in public procurement»Den offentliga sektorn har dels problem med upphandlingar, ekonomistyrning och uppföljning, dels med bristande ledarskap och felaktiga prioriteringar som sammantaget leder till kostnader i multimiljardklass.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The public sector has partly problems with procurement, financial management and follow-up, and partly with weak leadership and incorrect priorities which together lead to costs in the multi-billion class.”
- follow-up of public funds»Begära tydliga resultat för varje offentlig satsning« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Demand clear results for every public investment”
- respect for public funds»Centralt för partiet är att respekt för skattebetalarnas pengar« (party programme ↗)“Central to the party is respect for taxpayers' money”
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.
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Sources and documents
- The committee report on riksdagen.se (2023/24:FiU12)
- Committee report full text (HB01FiU12)
- Per-MP voting data (API)
- Case status (API)
Documents under consideration
- Motion 2023/24:1518 — med anledning av prop. 2023/24:3 En effektivare upphandlingstillsyn av Mikael Damberg m.fl. (S)
- Proposition 2023/24:3 — En effektivare upphandlingstillsyn
Source: The Swedish Parliament