2026-06-152025/26:NU27 · p.2NUBusiness & energy
Municipal influence regarding extraction of nuclear materials
What's at stake: If the municipal veto is removed, municipalities can no longer stop uranium mining from being established in their area, which critics say risks creating major local concern and depriving the local population of influence. The question matters for the balance between national energy policy and local self-government.
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 government should come back with a proposal that preserves the municipal veto over the extraction of nuclear materials, or whether it is reasonable to remove the requirement for municipal approval as in the adopted bill.
Yes Yes — the committee proposal
The committee rejects the motion to reintroduce a municipal veto over the extraction of nuclear materials and stands by the bill's arrangement, which instead regulates the activity through national licensing and supervisory review under the new safety and radiation-protection requirements.
No No — the reservations
Reservation 3 (S, V, C, MP)
The reserving members, who otherwise hold different views on the bill, agree that it goes too far to entirely remove the municipal veto over uranium extraction, which they say risks creating major local concern and curtailing local self-government; they point out that municipalities and municipal associations are strongly critical, and want the government to come back with a new proposal that secures municipal influence by keeping the veto.
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 3 by S, V, C, MP.
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 | No 0/21/0/0 | follows the plan | confidence: medium | derived |
| S | No | No 0/105/0/1 | follows the plan | confidence: medium | derived |
| MP | No | No 0/18/0/0 | follows the plan | confidence: high | explicit |
| C | No | No 0/24/0/0 | follows the plan | confidence: medium | derived |
| L | Yes | Yes 16/0/0/0 | follows the plan | confidence: low | derived |
| KD | No | Yes 19/0/0/0 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | derived |
| M | Yes | Yes 66/0/0/0 | follows the plan | confidence: low | derived |
| SD | Yes | Yes 70/0/0/0 | follows the plan | confidence: low | derived |
Committee proposal
The Riksdag rejects motion 2025/26:3973 by Fredrik Olovsson et al. (S) request 1.
Original (Swedish)
Riksdagen avslår motion 2025/26:3973 av Fredrik Olovsson m.fl. (S) yrkande 1.
Riksdag decision: The Government wants extraction and processing of nuclear materials to be treated the same way as other metals and minerals within the scope of the comprehensive licensing process. The Riksdag approved the Government's proposal. The aim of the Government's proposal is that the evaluation process for activities involving both extraction and processing of nuclear materials should more closely resemble the evaluation process for other mining activities. This means that the process for initiating such activities becomes more transparent and efficient. The changes are made to create an appropriate regulation for extraction and processing of nuclear materials, where radiation protection and safety requirements are adapted to the risks of the activity. The proposals mean that extraction and processing of uranium at a general level will be treated the same way as other metals and minerals within the scope of the comprehensive licensing process. Among other things, this means that the Government's permissibility assessment under the Environmental Code will no longer cover facilities for extraction and processing of nuclear materials. This also means that municipal council approval will no longer be required for such activities to be permitted. The Commerce Committee agrees with the Government's assessment that this adaptation of the regulations means that it becomes more logical and predictable. In total, this creates better conditions for activities of strategic importance for the country's energy supply, as well as for Sweden to be able to contribute to both a higher degree of self-sufficiency in critical metals and minerals within the EU and the green transition. The legislative amendments enter into force on 15 July 2026.
Counter-proposals
- The counter-proposal wants to maintain municipal control over uranium mining by classifying it as a nuclear installation. (S, V, C, MP) — Reservation 3
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 emphasizes municipal autonomy as an important part of democracy and requires that planning has genuine democratic anchorage.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan emphasizes municipal autonomy as an important part of democracy and requires that planning has genuine democratic anchorage. Removing the municipal veto on the extraction of nuclear materials moves decisions away from those most affected, in an activity the plan moreover rejects substantively because it rejects nuclear power expansion. The counter-proposal's demand for a preserved veto is therefore supported by the plan.
Original (Swedish)
Planen framhåller det kommunala självstyret som en betydelsefull del av demokratin och kräver att planering har genuin demokratisk förankring. Att ta bort det kommunala vetot vid utvinning av kärnämnen flyttar beslut bort från dem som berörs mest, i en verksamhet planen dessutom avvisar i sak eftersom den avvisar kärnkraftsutbyggnad. Motförslagets krav på bevarat veto stöds därför av planen.
- municipal autonomydecisive»Det kommunala självstyret är en betydelsefull del av den svenska« (party programme ↗)“Municipal autonomy is an important part of the Swedish”
- democratic anchorage of planning»Planeringen behöver en genuin demokratisk« (party programme ↗)“Planning needs genuine democratic”
- rejects expanded nuclear power»planerna på att bygga ut kärnkraften som en väg ut ur fossilberoendet.« (party programme ↗)“plans to expand nuclear power as a way out of fossil fuel dependence.”
- mining with a holistic perspective»Vi vill gå mot ett större gemensamt ägande av gruvbrytningen i« (party programme ↗)“We want to move towards greater public ownership of mining in”
The plan values municipal and regional self-determination and wants systems that strengthen the local community at major industrial establishments.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan values municipal and regional self-determination and wants systems that strengthen the local community at major industrial establishments. Completely removing municipal veto in extraction of core minerals takes power from municipalities in exactly the type of establishment that affects the immediate area most. The plan's requirement for sustainable extraction with compensation to the municipality points in the same direction as the counter-proposal.
Original (Swedish)
Planen värnar det kommunala och regionala självstyret och vill ha system som stärker lokalsamhället vid stora industrietableringar. Att helt ta bort det kommunala vetot vid utvinning av kärnämnen drar makten från kommunerna i just den typ av etablering som påverkar närområdet mest. Planens krav på hållbar utvinning med kompensation till kommunen pekar åt samma håll som motförslaget.
- municipal self-determinationdecisive»Kommunalt och regionalt självstyre med beskattningsrätt.« (party programme ↗)“Municipal and regional self-determination with tax powers.”
- strengthened local community»System för att stärka lokalsamhället vid stora industrietableringar.« (party programme ↗)“Systems to strengthen the local community at major industrial establishments.”
- compensation in extraction»Hållbar utvinning och användning av naturresurser, med ekonomisk kompensation till« (party programme ↗)“Sustainable extraction and use of natural resources, with economic compensation to”
The counter-proposal wants to retain municipal veto on extraction of core minerals.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The counter-proposal wants to retain municipal veto on extraction of core minerals. The plan states that there shall always be local anchorage in extraction of natural resources and that everyone affected shall get to make their voice heard and have influence. Decentralization and decisions close to those affected are furthermore bearing principles in the plan, and uranium mining the plan wants to prohibit entirely.
Original (Swedish)
Motförslaget vill behålla det kommunala vetot vid utvinning av kärnämnen. Planen slår fast att det alltid ska finnas lokal förankring vid utvinning av naturresurser och att alla som berörs ska få göra sin röst hörd och ha inflytande. Decentralisering och beslut nära de berörda är dessutom bärande principer i planen, och uranbrytning vill planen förbjuda helt.
- local anchorage in extractiondecisive»Det ska alltid finnas lokal förankring vid utvinning av naturresurser. Alla som berörs ska« (party programme ↗)“There shall always be local anchorage in extraction of natural resources. Everyone affected shall”
- decentralization»Decentralisering skapar motvikt till maktkoncentration.« (party programme ↗)“Decentralization creates a counterweight to concentration of power.”
- decisions close to people»Därför bör beslut tas så nära människor som möjligt samtidigt som aktivt« (party programme ↗)“Therefore decisions should be made as close to people as possible while actively”
- prohibition on uranium mining»förbjudas, inga nya tillstånd för torvbrytning ska ges och uranbrytning ska vara« (party programme ↗)“prohibited, no new permits for peat extraction shall be granted and uranium mining shall be”
The Centre Party's plan is throughout decentralist: people shall decide more themselves, decisions shall be made close to those affected and in the first place as close to the individual as possible.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The Centre Party's plan is throughout decentralist: people shall decide more themselves, decisions shall be made close to those affected and in the first place as close to the individual as possible. Removing the municipal veto over extraction of core minerals shifts power upward and away from the affected localities. The plan also requires local anchoring in the transition and sees a society without nuclear power as the long-term vision.
Original (Swedish)
Centerpartiets plan är genomgående decentralistisk: människor ska bestämma mer själva, beslut ska fattas nära dem som berörs och i första hand så nära den enskilda människan som möjligt. Att ta bort det kommunala vetot vid utvinning av kärnämnen flyttar makten uppåt och bort från de bygder som berörs. Planen kräver dessutom lokal förankring i omställningen och ser långsiktigt ett samhälle utan kärnkraft.
- decentralise moredecisive»Decentralisera mera. Människor ska få bestämma mer själva, och politiska beslut ska fattas nära dem som berörs.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Decentralise more. People should get to decide more themselves, and political decisions should be made close to those affected.”
- the proximity principle»beslut i första hand ska fattas av människor själva, eller så nära den enskilda människan som möjligt« (party programme ↗)“decisions shall in the first instance be made by people themselves, or so close to the individual person as possible”
- local anchoring»Den gröna omställningen kräver lokal förankring.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The green transition requires local anchoring.”
- society without nuclear power»där Centerpartiets vision är ett samhälle utan kärnkraft« (party programme ↗)“where the Centre Party's vision is a society without nuclear power”
The plan wishes the state actively to facilitate nuclear power expansion and to point out locations so that construction can start quickly, with national environmental and safety requirements as protection mechanism.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan wishes the state actively to facilitate nuclear power expansion and to point out locations so that construction can start quickly, with national environmental and safety requirements as protection mechanism. The municipal veto the plan explicitly guards concerns wind power, not extraction of nuclear materials. To reintroduce a municipal veto for uranium extraction thus has no support in the plan, even if it values local cooperation.
Original (Swedish)
Planen vill att staten aktivt underlättar kärnkraftsutbyggnad och pekar ut platser så att byggnation kan starta snabbt, med nationella miljö- och säkerhetskrav som skyddsmekanism. Det kommunala veto planen uttryckligen slår vakt om gäller vindkraft, inte utvinning av kärnämnen. Att återinföra ett kommunalt veto vid uranutvinning har därför inget stöd i planen, även om den värdesätter lokal samverkan.
- the state facilitates nuclear powerdecisive»Staten ska underlätta en utbyggnad av svensk kärnkraft, bland annat genom att peka ut platser så att kärnkraftsaktörer snabbt kan påbörja byggnation.« (party programme ↗)“The state shall facilitate an expansion of Swedish nuclear power, among other things by pointing out locations so that nuclear power actors can quickly begin construction.”
- veto especially for wind power»Det kommunala vetot mot vindkraft ska bestå.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The municipal veto against wind power shall remain.”
- national safety requirements»För alla energislag ska finnas tydliga miljö- och säkerhetskrav.« (party programme ↗)“For all energy types there shall be clear environmental and safety requirements.”
- local cooperation»Staten ska sträva efter god samverkan med markägare och lokalbefolkning i naturvård och viltförvaltning.« (party programme ↗)“The state shall strive for good cooperation with landowners and local populations in nature conservation and wildlife management.”
The plan requires that construction of new power plants always happens transparently and with high acceptance in the affected municipality, and that municipal self-governance is strong.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan requires that construction of new power plants always happens transparently and with high acceptance in the affected municipality, and that municipal self-governance is strong. Completely removing the municipal veto in extraction of nuclear materials deprives municipalities of an influence that the subsidiarity principle places the burden of proof on the state to justify. The counter-proposal's demand for retained municipal influence thus follows from the documents.
Original (Swedish)
Planen kräver att byggnation av nya kraftverk alltid sker transparent och med hög acceptans i den berörda kommunen, och att den kommunala självstyrelsen är stark. Att helt ta bort det kommunala vetot vid utvinning av kärnämnen berövar kommunerna ett inflytande som subsidiaritetsprincipen lägger bevisbördan på staten att motivera. Motförslagets krav på bibehållet kommunalt inflytande följer därför av dokumenten.
- local acceptance in power expansiondecisive»nya kraftverk ska alltid ske transparent och med hög acceptans i den berörda kommunen.« (party programme ↗)“new power plants shall always happen transparently and with high acceptance in the affected municipality.”
- strong municipal self-governance»Kommunal demokrati förutsätter kommunal självstyrelse. Den kommunala självstyrelsen ska« (party programme ↗)“Municipal democracy presupposes municipal self-governance. Municipal self-governance shall”
- burden of proof on higher level»Denna princip innebär att bevisbördan vilar på dem som vill beröva en mindre gemenskap på« (party programme ↗)“This principle means that the burden of proof rests on those who want to deprive a smaller community of”
- respect for local democracy»Bygg ut vindkraften men med respekt för den lokala demokratin och anpassa storleken efter lokala villkor. Vindkraft kan dock bara vara ett komplement.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Expand wind power but with respect for local democracy and adapt size to local conditions. Wind power can however only be a supplement.”
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 Swedish mineral resources to be extracted responsibly and actively removes obstacles that stop nuclear-related establishments, while processing times shall be shortened.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan wants Swedish mineral resources to be extracted responsibly and actively removes obstacles that stop nuclear-related establishments, while processing times shall be shortened. A municipal veto is such an obstacle that makes extraction dependent on local decisions rather than on safety and radiation protection review. The plan's principle of decisions at the lowest effective level pulls the other way, so confidence is low.
Original (Swedish)
Planen vill att svenska mineraltillgångar ska kunna utvinnas ansvarsfullt och undanröjer aktivt hinder som stoppar kärnkraftsrelaterade etableringar, samtidigt som handläggningstiderna ska kortas. Ett kommunalt veto är ett sådant hinder som gör utvinning beroende av lokala beslut snarare än av säkerhets- och strålskyddsprövning. Planens princip om beslut på lägsta effektiva nivå drar åt andra hållet, varför säkerheten är låg.
- responsible mineral extractiondecisive»Våra rika mineraltillgångar ska kunna utvinnas ansvarsfullt och långsiktigt hållbart.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Our rich mineral resources shall be able to be extracted responsibly and sustainably long-term.”
- remove obstacles to nuclear power»Avskaffa förbudet mot att bygga reaktorer på andra platser än vid de befintliga kärnkraftverken« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Abolish the ban on building reactors at places other than at existing nuclear power plants”
- faster permit review»Korta myndigheternas handläggningstider genom en bortre tidsgräns« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Shorten government authority processing times through a final deadline”
- decisions at the lowest effective level»Det politiska systemet ska bygga på att beslut fattas på lägsta« (party programme ↗)“The political system shall be based on decisions being made at the lowest”
The plan's explicit veto commitment applies to wind power establishments, whereas for the mining industry it instead requires more efficient and predictable permit processes and making it easier to open mines.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan's explicit veto commitment applies to wind power establishments, whereas for the mining industry it instead requires more efficient and predictable permit processes and making it easier to open mines. A municipal veto for extraction of minerals would make the assessment less predictable and work against that commitment. The plan therefore does not support the counter-proposal's demand, even though it values municipal self-determination in general.
Original (Swedish)
Planens uttryckliga vetoåtagande gäller vindkraftsetableringar, medan den för gruvnäringen i stället kräver effektivare och mer förutsägbara tillståndsprocesser och att det blir enklare att öppna gruvor. Ett kommunalt veto vid utvinning av kärnämnen skulle göra prövningen mindre förutsägbar och motverka det åtagandet. Planen ger därför inte stöd åt motförslagets krav, även om den värnar kommunalt självbestämmande i stort.
- predictable permit processesdecisive»Effektivisera och öka förutsägbarheten i tillståndsprocesserna för gruvnäring, elnätsutbyggnad och industri« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Streamline and increase predictability in permit processes for mining, power grid expansion and industry”
- easier mine opening»Det behöver också bli enklare och gå snabbare att öppna gruvor för de mineraler som behövs för exempelvis tillverkning av batterier.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“It also needs to become easier and faster to open mines for the minerals needed for, for example, battery manufacturing.”
- predictability for investments»En förutsättning för att lönsamma investeringar ska kunna göras är en långsiktig politik som tar hänsyn till industrins behov av en förutsägbar process.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“A condition for profitable investments to be made is a long-term policy that takes into account industry's need for a predictable process.”
- veto explicitly for wind power»Värna det kommunala vetot vid etablering av vindkraft« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Protect the municipal veto for wind power establishments”
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Sources and documents
- The committee report on riksdagen.se (2025/26:NU27)
- Committee report full text (HD01NU27)
- Per-MP voting data (API)
- Case status (API)
Documents under consideration
- Motion 2025/26:3959 — med anledning av prop. 2025/26:168 Ändamålsenliga säkerhets- och strålskyddskrav för utvinning och bearbetning av kärnämnen av Birger Lahti m.fl. (V)
- Motion 2025/26:3973 — med anledning av prop. 2025/26:168 Ändamålsenliga säkerhets- och strålskyddskrav för utvinning och bearbetning av kärnämnen av Fredrik Olovsson m.fl. (S)
- Motion 2025/26:3982 — med anledning av prop. 2025/26:168 Ändamålsenliga säkerhets- och strålskyddskrav för utvinning och bearbetning av kärnämnen av Katarina Luhr m.fl. (MP)
- Proposition 2025/26:168 — Ändamålsenliga säkerhets- och strålskyddskrav för utvinning och bearbetning av kärnämnen
Source: The Swedish Parliament