2024-03-142023/24:KrU2 · p.1KrUCulture
Central database for grants, evaluation of the national support function and increased transparency
Central database for state grants to civil society, and evaluating a new support function against extremism
What's at stake: The decision affects how easily authorities can detect fraud and incorrect payments of state grants to civil society, and how closely a new support function against violent extremism will be followed up, which matters for trust in the grant system and for the independence of civil society organizations.
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 establish a central database covering all state grants to civil society and expand transparency requirements for recipient organizations, or whether ongoing agency initiatives and a new national support function against extremism are sufficient.
Yes Yes — the committee proposal
The committee rejects the motions and points to initiatives already under way, including assignments to Statskontoret on correct payments and to the Swedish Gender Equality Agency on stronger grant controls, as well as the newly established national support function against violent extremism, which the committee expects will be followed up and evaluated; it does not want to preempt the government's handling of the proposal for a representative register.
No No — the reservations
Reservation 1 (SD)
The reservation wants the government to establish a central database covering all state grants to civil society and the organizations receiving them, so authorities can cooperate and detect fraud early, and wants it extended to also cover municipal and regional grants; it also wants the new national support function against extremism to be carefully evaluated.
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 SD.
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 | Yes | Yes 20/0/0/4 | follows the plan | confidence: low | not addressed |
| S | No | Yes 89/0/0/17 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| MP | No | Yes 16/0/0/2 | departs from the plan | confidence: low | not addressed |
| C | No | Yes 21/0/0/3 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| L | No | Yes 13/0/0/3 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| KD | No | Yes 16/0/0/3 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| M | No | Yes 56/0/0/12 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| SD | No | No 0/63/0/9 | follows the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
Committee proposal
The Riksdag rejects the motions 2023/24:359 by Jonas Andersson et al. (SD) demand 11 and 2023/24:2762 by Jonas Andersson et al. (SD) demands 1 and 3.
Original (Swedish)
Riksdagen avslår motionerna 2023/24:359 av Jonas Andersson m.fl. (SD) yrkande 11 och 2023/24:2762 av Jonas Andersson m.fl. (SD) yrkandena 1 och 3.
Riksdag decision: The Riksdag has addressed a communication from the government concerning the Swedish National Audit Office's report on state grants to civil society. The National Audit Office has examined whether the state's grants to civil society have been effective. The overall conclusion is that the examined agencies' grant provision is not sufficiently effective and that enhanced control is necessary to maintain and to some extent rebuild confidence in the state grant systems. The National Audit Office submits in the report a number of recommendations to the government. Among other things, to task grant-providing agencies with developing and strengthening their control, for example by increasing the number of risk-based operational visits. Another proposal is to task grant-providing agencies with improving grant recipients' opportunities to meet the grant requirements, for example by providing basic training on what requirements apply to grant-receiving organizations. The government welcomes the examination and essentially agrees with the National Audit Office's observations. In the communication, the government reports measures taken and planned that are in line with the National Audit Office's observations and recommendations. The Riksdag filed the communication for the record, that is, concluded the matter. The Riksdag also rejected motion demands.
Counter-proposals
- The counter-proposal wants to establish a central database for state subsidies to civil society and increase transparency and insight into these organizations. (SD) — 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 values strong and independent social movements and explicitly warns against subsidy systems and government regulations that restrict organizations' ability to prioritize their activities themselves.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan values strong and independent social movements and explicitly warns against subsidy systems and government regulations that restrict organizations' ability to prioritize their activities themselves. A central register of all grants and recipient organizations is such registration, and the plan wants to counteract growing surveillance and registration. The plan moreover states that fraud is primarily committed by businesses, not individuals in subsidy systems.
Original (Swedish)
Planen värnar starka och självständiga folkrörelser och varnar uttryckligen för bidragssystem och statliga regleringar som inskränker organisationernas möjlighet att själva prioritera sin verksamhet. Ett centralt register över alla bidrag och mottagande organisationer är en sådan registrering, och planen vill motverka växande övervakning och registrering. Planen menar dessutom att fusket främst begås av företag, inte av enskilda i bidragssystemen.
- independent social movementsdecisive»Vänsterpartiet värnar starka och självständiga folkrörelser som kan bidra till progressiva samhällsförändringar« (party programme ↗)“The Left Party values strong and independent social movements that can contribute to progressive social change”
- subsidy systems must not control civil society»Vi värnar kvinno- och tjejjourernas självständighet. Den får inte inskränkas genom till exempel statliga regleringar eller bidragssystem« (party programme ↗)“We value women's and girls' initiatives' independence. It must not be restricted through for example government regulations or subsidy systems”
- against increased registrationweak support»Alla människor har rätt till en bred privat sfär som skyddas på praktisk och principiell grund. Växande övervakning och registrering ska motverkas.« (party programme ↗)“All people have the right to a broad private sphere which is protected on practical and principled grounds. Growing surveillance and registration shall be counteracted.”
- fraud is done by businesses»Det är företagen som överlägset står för de flesta ekobrotten, inte enskilda som fuskar med våra trygghetssystem.« (party programme ↗)“It is businesses that by far commit the most crimes, not individuals who commit fraud with our security systems.”
flags: citat_svagt
The election manifesto wants to remove secrecy barriers between authorities so that they can do their job and stop welfare crime, which is precisely the purpose of a central subsidy database that enables cooperation and early detection of fraud.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The election manifesto wants to remove secrecy barriers between authorities so that they can do their job and stop welfare crime, which is precisely the purpose of a central subsidy database that enables cooperation and early detection of fraud. The party programme further requires that citizens shall be able to scrutinize all tax-financed activities. That civil society is the foundation of democracy speaks for control of subsidies, not against it.
Original (Swedish)
Valmanifestet vill riva sekretesshinder mellan myndigheter så att de kan göra sitt jobb och stoppa välfärdsbrottslighet, vilket är precis syftet med en central bidragsdatabas som möjliggör samverkan och tidig upptäckt av fusk. Partiprogrammet kräver dessutom att medborgarna ska kunna granska all skattefinansierad verksamhet. Att civilsamhället är demokratins underbyggnad talar för kontroll av bidragen, inte mot den.
- remove secrecy barriers between authoritiesdecisive»Sekretesshinder mellan myndigheter ska rivas så att polisen och andra yrkesgrupper kan göra sitt jobb.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Secrecy barriers between authorities shall be removed so that the police and other professional groups can do their job.”
- transparency in subsidy provision»Oavsett i vilken form skattefinansierad verksamhet drivs ska medborgarna ha möjlighet att granska den och utkräva politiskt ansvar.« (party programme ↗)“Regardless of the form in which tax-financed activity is conducted, citizens shall have the opportunity to scrutinize it and demand political accountability.”
- stop subsidy fraud»Skattefusk, välfärdsbrottslighet och penningtvätt ska stoppas.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Tax fraud, welfare crime and money laundering shall be stopped.”
- strong civil society»Ett starkt och levande civilsamhälle är demokratins underbyggnad.« (party programme ↗)“A strong and living civil society is the foundation of democracy.”
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 citizens can always scrutinize power, that the finances of activities are reported openly and that tax revenue is used for what it is intended for.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan requires that citizens can always scrutinize power, that the finances of activities are reported openly and that tax revenue is used for what it is intended for. A central database of government grants to civil society and an evaluation of the support function against extremism serve that accountability and the opportunity to detect fraud. However, the plan does not directly address grant control, which is why the assessment is uncertain.
Original (Swedish)
Planen kräver att medborgarna alltid kan granska makten, att verksamheters ekonomi redovisas öppet och att skattemedel används till det de är avsedda för. En central databas över statsbidrag till civilsamhället och en utvärdering av stödfunktionen mot extremism tjänar den insynen och möjligheten att upptäcka fusk. Planen behandlar dock inte bidragskontroll direkt, varför bedömningen är osäker.
- tax revenue for intended purposedecisive»Det som är viktigt är kvaliteten på välfärden, att skattemedel används till den verksamhet de är avsedda för« (party programme ↗)“What is important is the quality of welfare, that tax revenue is used for the activities they are intended for”
- open reporting»Verksamheternas ekonomi ska redovisas öppet.« (party programme ↗)“The finances of activities shall be reported openly.”
- accountability and scrutiny»Medborgarna ska alltid kunna granska makten.« (party programme ↗)“Citizens shall always be able to scrutinize power.”
- prevent fraud and corruption»Alla former av korruption måste motarbetas.« (party programme ↗)“All forms of corruption must be countered.”
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 wants to make Sweden even more transparent, tighten rules against corruption and be careful with taxpayers' money.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The election manifesto wants to make Sweden even more transparent, tighten rules against corruption and be careful with taxpayers' money. A central database for government grants to civil society is a tool for precisely this oversight and control. Expanding the database to local and regional grants does, however, stand in tension with the plan's requirements for decentralization, but the main line bears support.
Original (Swedish)
Valmanifestet vill göra Sverige ännu mer transparent, skärpa reglerna mot korruption och hushålla med skattebetalarnas pengar. En central databas över statsbidrag till civilsamhället är ett verktyg för just den insynen och kontrollen. Att utvidga databasen till kommunala och regionala bidrag ligger däremot i spänning med planens krav på decentralisering, men huvudlinjen bär ett stöd.
- increased transparencydecisive»Sverige ska bli ännu mer transparent. Vi vill inrätta en antikorruptionsmyndighet, skärpa regler mot korruption och införa ett lobbyregister.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Sweden shall become even more transparent. We want to establish an anti-corruption agency, tighten rules against corruption and introduce a lobbying register.”
- careful with tax funds»Politiken ska hushålla med skattebetalarnas pengar.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Politics shall be careful with taxpayers' money.”
- openness against corruption»Öppenhet och transparens är grundförutsättningar för frihet, demokrati och för att förhindra korruption och övergrepp.« (party programme ↗)“Openness and transparency are basic prerequisites for freedom, democracy and for preventing corruption and abuse.”
- decentralized decision-making»Decentralisera mera. Människor ska få bestämma mer själva, och politiska beslut ska fattas nära dem som berörs.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Decentralize more. People should be able to decide more for themselves, and political decisions should be made close to those affected.”
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 strengthen oversight of grant distribution and establishes that no tax funds shall go to activities that work against democracy.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan wants to strengthen oversight of grant distribution and establishes that no tax funds shall go to activities that work against democracy. A comprehensive database of state grants and recipients is a means for precisely that oversight, and is in line with the plan's requirements for transparency and for authorities to efficiently share information. However, the plan does not address the database's design.
Original (Swedish)
Planen vill stärka uppföljningen av bidragsgivningen och slår fast att inga skattemedel ska gå till verksamheter som motarbetar demokratin. En samlad databas över statsbidrag och mottagare är ett medel för just den uppföljningen, och ligger i linje med planens krav på insyn och på att myndigheter effektivt ska kunna dela information. Databasens utformning behandlas dock inte i planen.
- strengthened oversight of grantsdecisive»Vi vill både stärka uppföljningen av bidragsgivning och stoppa dold finansiering av trossamfund så att de inte blir verktyg för extremistiska krafter.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“We want to both strengthen oversight of grant distribution and stop covert funding of faith communities so they do not become tools for extremist forces.”
- no tax funds to violence-accepting»Inga skattemedel ska gå till verksamheter som vill förändra det demokratiska samhället med våld« (party programme ↗)“No tax funds shall go to activities that want to change democratic society through violence”
- transparency and publicity»Offentlighetsprincipen har en grundläggande betydelse för att förankra och fördjupa folkstyret« (party programme ↗)“The principle of openness has a fundamental importance for anchoring and deepening popular rule”
- authorities shall share information»myndigheter effektivt kan dela information med varandra« (party programme ↗)“authorities can efficiently share information with each other”
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 a comprehensive review of secrecy rules so that authorities can share information with each other, and the plan makes evaluation and cost monitoring an important political task.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The election manifesto requires a comprehensive review of secrecy rules so that authorities can share information with each other, and the plan makes evaluation and cost monitoring an important political task. A central database of state grants that enables inter-agency cooperation and early detection of fraud follows from this. The plan at the same time emphasizes that non-profit organizations are independent from the public sector.
Original (Swedish)
Valmanifestet kräver en total översyn av sekretessreglerna så att myndigheter kan dela uppgifter med varandra, och planen gör utvärdering och kostnadsuppföljning till en viktig politisk uppgift. En central databas över statsbidrag som möjliggör myndighetssamverkan och tidig upptäckt av fusk följer av det. Planen betonar samtidigt att ideella organisationer är fristående från det offentliga.
- authorities must share informationdecisive»Total översyn av sekretessreglerna, så att myndigheter kan dela uppgifter mellan sig för att förebygga och klara upp brott.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Comprehensive review of secrecy rules, so that authorities can share information with each other to prevent and clear up crime.”
- monitoring of public funds»Utvärdering, kostnadsuppföljning och kvalitetskontroll är därför viktiga politiska« (party programme ↗)“Evaluation, cost monitoring and quality control are therefore important political”
- openness and transparency»Offentlighetsprincipen, det vill säga tillgången till« (party programme ↗)“The openness principle, that is access to”
- civil society's independence»ideella organisationer är fristående från den offentliga« (party programme ↗)“non-profit organizations are independent from the public”
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 control over public funds a main issue: benefit crime shall be halved, payments to extremists stopped and money go to what it is intended for.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan makes control over public funds a main issue: benefit crime shall be halved, payments to extremists stopped and money go to what it is intended for. A central database on government grants to civil society and receiving organizations is a control tool that aligns with that commitment, as is the requirement to evaluate the new support function. The database as such is not mentioned, so the conclusion is derived.
Original (Swedish)
Planen gör kontrollen över skattemedlen till en huvudfråga: bidragsbrotten ska halveras, utbetalningar till extremister stoppas och pengarna gå till det de är avsedda för. En central databas över statsbidrag till civilsamhället och mottagande organisationer är ett kontrollverktyg som ligger i linje med det åtagandet, liksom kravet på utvärdering av den nya stödfunktionen. Databasen som sådan nämns inte, varför slutsatsen är härledd.
- control over paid out public fundsdecisive»Moderaterna tänker ta kontroll över folkbokföringen för att stoppa bidragsbrotten och se till att de skattepengar du betalar in används till det de är avsedda för.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The Moderates plan to take control over the population register to stop benefit crime and ensure that the tax money you pay in is used for what it is intended for.”
- no public funds to extremists»Stoppa utbetalningar av skattemedel till extremister« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Stop payments of public funds to extremists”
- tougher action against benefit crime»Skärpa straffen för bidragsbrott« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Increase penalties for benefit crime”
- respect for taxpayers' money»Offentligt slöseri i alla former ska bekämpas.« (party programme ↗)“Public waste in all forms shall be combated.”
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 government support to extremist and segregating organizations be halted and that both fraud and systems that encourage fraud be combated.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan requires that government support to extremist and segregating organizations be halted and that both fraud and systems that encourage fraud be combated. A central database of government grants and recipients is a control tool that makes such monitoring possible, in line with the requirement for clear results for each public initiative and better inter-agency cooperation. Evaluation of the support function against extremism also follows from the requirement for demonstrated citizen benefit.
Original (Swedish)
Planen kräver att statligt stöd till extremistiska och segregerande organisationer stoppas och att både fusk och system som lockar till fusk motverkas. En central databas över statsbidrag och mottagare är ett kontrollverktyg som gör just den uppföljningen möjlig, i linje med kravet på tydliga resultat för varje offentlig satsning och på bättre myndighetssamverkan. Även utvärdering av stödfunktionen mot extremism följer av kravet på redovisad medborgarnytta.
- control over grant givingdecisive»Stoppa statligt stöd till extremistiska organisationer och andra grupper som verkar segregerande« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Stop government support to extremist organizations and other groups that work to segregate”
- combat grant fraud»Både fusk och sådana system som tenderar att locka till fusk och korruption ska motverkas.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Both fraud and systems that tend to encourage fraud and corruption shall be combated.”
- evaluation of initiatives»Begära tydliga resultat för varje offentlig satsning« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Demand clear results for each public initiative”
- improved inter-agency cooperation»Rättsväsendets samverkan mellan myndigheter och verktyg för att upptäcka och lagföra kriminella ska förbättras.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Cooperation between justice system agencies and tools for detecting and prosecuting criminals shall be improved.”
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Sources and documents
- The committee report on riksdagen.se (2023/24:KrU2)
- Committee report full text (HB01KrU2)
- Per-MP voting data (API)
- Case status (API)
Documents under consideration
- Motion 2023/24:2413 — Kampen mot separatismen av Mauricio Rojas m.fl. (L)
- Motion 2023/24:2759 — med anledning av skr. 2023/24:22 Riksrevisionens rapport om statlig bidragsgivning till civilsamhället av Lawen Redar m.fl. (S)
- Motion 2023/24:2762 — med anledning av skr. 2023/24:22 Riksrevisionens rapport om statlig bidragsgivning till civilsamhället av Jonas Andersson m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2023/24:359 — Åtgärder mot extremism i civilsamhället av Jonas Andersson m.fl. (SD)
- Regeringens skrivelse 2023/24:22 — Riksrevisionens rapport om statlig bidragsgivning till civilsamhället
Source: The Swedish Parliament