2025-04-102024/25:UU11 · p.4UUForeign affairs
Core support etc.
Core funding to UN agencies and other multilateral bodies
What's at stake: Core funding gives UN agencies the freedom to quickly redirect resources to the most urgent needs, while earmarking directs money toward specific purposes; cuts have already affected organizations working on women's rights and health, such as UN Women, UNFPA, and UNAIDS.
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 Sweden should safeguard and increase unearmarked core funding to UN agencies and other multilateral bodies, or whether a greater share of earmarked, targeted support, as favoured by the government, is preferable.
Yes Yes — the committee proposal
The Committee emphasizes that multilateral organizations are important arenas for Swedish foreign policy and for implementing Agenda 2030 and the Paris Agreement, and points to the comprehensive results reporting that parliament receives through the communication and the upcoming budget process. The motions on core funding are therefore rejected.
No No — the reservations
Reservation 6 (S, V)
The reservation (Social Democrats, Left Party) considers core funding to be the most important support Sweden can give to UN organizations, since it lets them quickly redirect resources to urgent needs and under-the-radar situations, and wants to protect core funding rather than increase earmarking. The reasoning is that cuts to core funding have already harmed organizations such as UN Women, UNFPA, and UNAIDS.
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 6 by S, V.
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 0/19/0/5 | follows the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| S | No | No 0/89/0/17 | follows the plan | confidence: high | not addressed |
| MP | No | Abstain 0/0/13/5 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| C | No | Yes 18/0/1/5 | departs from the plan | confidence: low | derived |
| L | Yes | Yes 12/0/0/4 | follows the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| KD | Yes | Yes 14/0/0/5 | follows the plan | confidence: low | derived |
| M | Yes | Yes 56/0/0/12 | follows the plan | confidence: high | explicit |
| SD | Yes | Yes 62/0/0/10 | follows the plan | confidence: medium | derived |
Broke with the party line
| CMalin Björk (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
The Riksdag rejects the motions 2024/25:2625 by Janine Alm Ericson et al. (MP) motion 7, 2024/25:2632 by Ulrika Westerlund et al. (MP), 2024/25:3106 by Morgan Johansson et al. (S) motion 28, 2024/25:3296 by Morgan Johansson et al. (S) motion 2 and 2024/25:3305 by Janine Alm Ericson et al. (MP) motions 3 and 4.
Original (Swedish)
Riksdagen avslår motionerna 2024/25:2625 av Janine Alm Ericson m.fl. (MP) yrkande 7, 2024/25:2632 av Ulrika Westerlund m.fl. (MP), 2024/25:3106 av Morgan Johansson m.fl. (S) yrkande 28, 2024/25:3296 av Morgan Johansson m.fl. (S) yrkande 2 och 2024/25:3305 av Janine Alm Ericson m.fl. (MP) yrkandena 3 och 4.
Riksdag decision: The Riksdag has dealt with a communication from the government concerning Sweden's international aid through multilateral organisations with a focus on 2023. The communication shows that disbursements through multilateral organisations, that is international organisations such as various UN bodies, totalled 31.8 billion kronor in 2023. This corresponds to 59 percent of Sweden's total aid disbursements. The Riksdag laid the communication to the records, that is concluded the matter. The Riksdag also rejected two follow-up motions submitted in connection with the communication and ten motion proposals from the general motion period 2024 within the same area.
Counter-proposals
- The counter-proposal wants to protect aid independence, strengthen Sweden's engagement in multilateral organizations, and increase efforts on gender equality and human rights. (S, V) — Reservation 6
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 election manifesto demands that Sweden increase aid and strengthen the UN, and the party programme wants the UN to play a greater role in world politics and that aid is solidaristic.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The election manifesto demands that Sweden increase aid and strengthen the UN, and the party programme wants the UN to play a greater role in world politics and that aid is solidaristic. A valued, unearmarked core support is the form that gives UN bodies their own freedom of action to meet the most acute needs, and is therefore in line with the commitment. The plan does not take a position on earmarking as a technique, hence the conclusion is derived.
Original (Swedish)
Valmanifestet kräver att Sverige ökar biståndet och stärker FN, och partiprogrammet vill att FN spelar en större roll i världspolitiken och att biståndet är solidariskt. Ett värnat, oöronmärkt kärnstöd är den form som ger FN-organen egen handlingsfrihet att möta de mest akuta behoven, och ligger därmed i linje med åtagandet. Planen uttalar sig inte om öronmärkning som teknik, varför slutsatsen är härledd.
- increased aid and stronger UNdecisive»Sverige ska öka biståndet, stärka FN och skriva under kärnvapenkonventionen.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Sweden shall increase aid, strengthen the UN and sign the nuclear weapons convention.”
- strengthened UN»Vi vill därför att Sverige verkar för att FN ska spela en större roll« (party programme ↗)“We therefore want Sweden to work for the UN to play a greater role”
- solidaristic aid»solidariskt bistånd och rättvisa handelsvillkor.« (party programme ↗)“solidaristic aid and fair trade terms.”
- democratise the UN»Vi vill se en demokratisering av FN:s strukturer« (party programme ↗)“We want to see a democratisation of the UN's structures”
The plan commits to continuing to protect the UN's role in the work for international law and international cooperation, that aid shall correspond to at least one percent of gross national income, and that girls' and women's rights shall be strengthened globally.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan commits to continuing to protect the UN's role in the work for international law and international cooperation, that aid shall correspond to at least one percent of gross national income, and that girls' and women's rights shall be strengthened globally. Protecting the unearmarked core support, which sustains the UN organizations' work on women's rights and health, follows from these commitments. The form of support as such is not addressed in the documents.
Original (Swedish)
Planen åtar sig att fortsätta värna FN:s roll i arbetet för folkrätten och det internationella samarbetet, att biståndet ska motsvara minst en procent av bruttonationalinkomsten och att flickors och kvinnors rättigheter ska stärkas globalt. Att värna det oöronmärkta kärnstödet, som håller uppe FN-organisationernas arbete med kvinnors rättigheter och hälsa, följer av dessa åtaganden. Stödformen som sådan behandlas inte i dokumenten.
- protect the UN's roledecisive»Vi kommer att fortsätta värna FN:s roll i arbetet för folkrätten och det internationella samarbetet.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“We will continue to protect the UN's role in the work for international law and international cooperation.”
- the one-percent target»Det svenska biståndet ska motsvara minst en procent av bruttonationalinkomsten.« (party programme ↗)“Swedish aid shall correspond to at least one percent of gross national income.”
- women's rights globally»Flickors och kvinnors rättigheter måste stärkas globalt.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Girls' and women's rights must be strengthened globally.”
- women, peace and security»FN måste fortsätta driva frågor om kvinnor, fred och säkerhet.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The UN must continue driving questions about women, peace and security.”
The election manifesto establishes that aid shall be guided by efficiency and poverty reduction and not be conditional on Sweden's domestic political interests, which argues for untied core support rather than increased earmarking.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The election manifesto establishes that aid shall be guided by efficiency and poverty reduction and not be conditional on Sweden's domestic political interests, which argues for untied core support rather than increased earmarking. The party programme wishes to see a strong UN and development cooperation characterized by responsiveness to recipient countries' needs. The election manifesto's feminist foreign policy furthermore carries the reason about women's rights and health.
Original (Swedish)
Valmanifestet slår fast att biståndet ska styras av effektivitet och fattigdomsbekämpning och inte villkoras mot Sveriges inrikespolitiska intressen, vilket talar för obundet kärnstöd framför ökad öronmärkning. Partiprogrammet vill se ett starkt FN och ett utvecklingssamarbete präglat av lyhördhet för mottagarländernas behov. Valmanifestets feministiska utrikespolitik bär dessutom skälet om kvinnors rättigheter och hälsa.
- untied and effective aiddecisive»att biståndet ska styras av principer om effektivitet och fattigdomsbekämpning och inte villkoras mot Sveriges inrikespolitiska intressen.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“that aid shall be guided by principles of efficiency and poverty reduction and not be conditional on Sweden's domestic political interests.”
- the UN as central actor»Miljöpartiet de gröna vill se ett starkt internationellt samarbete med FN som central aktör för fred« (party programme ↗)“The Greens wish to see strong international cooperation with the UN as central actor for peace”
- feminist foreign policy»utveckla och förstärka Sveriges feministiska utrikes- och utvecklingspolitik.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“develop and strengthen Sweden's feminist foreign and development policy.”
- recipient-led development cooperation»präglas av respekt och lyhördhet för mottagarländernas behov.« (party programme ↗)“be characterized by respect and responsiveness to recipient countries' needs.”
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 the UN, aid and other cooperation organizations as tools that bring countries closer together and highlights women's opportunities in poor countries as a success factor.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan sees the UN, aid and other cooperation organizations as tools that bring countries closer together and highlights women's opportunities in poor countries as a success factor. A protected, non-earmarked core support that can be moved to the most urgent needs aligns with this. The plan does not however address the trade-off between core support and earmarking, so the conclusion is derived.
Original (Swedish)
Planen ser FN, bistånd och andra samarbetsorganisationer som verktyg som knyter länder närmare varandra och lyfter fram kvinnors möjligheter i fattiga länder som en framgångsfaktor. Ett värnat, oöronmärkt kärnstöd som kan flyttas till de mest akuta behoven ligger i linje med det. Planen behandlar dock inte avvägningen mellan kärnstöd och öronmärkning, så slutsatsen är härledd.
- aid binds together countriesdecisive»Samarbetsorganisationer som FN och EU, handelsavtal och bistånd, kan knyta länder närmare varandra« (party programme ↗)“Cooperation organizations such as the UN and the EU, trade agreements and aid can bring countries closer together.”
- globally shared responsibility»Fred, skyddet av mänskliga rättigheter och hållbar utveckling är hela världens ansvar.« (party programme ↗)“Peace, protection of human rights and sustainable development are the whole world's responsibility.”
- women's own livelihood»människor i fattiga länder, särskilt kvinnor, får möjlighet« (party programme ↗)“people in poor countries, especially women, are given opportunity”
- reformed UN»reformeras för att fullt ut bli en organisation som kan bära detta ansvar.« (party programme ↗)“reformed to fully become an organization that can bear this responsibility.”
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 development policy be reformed with a clear focus on democracy, gender equality and reduced corruption, and that democracy is the overarching goal for development assistance.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan requires that development policy be reformed with a clear focus on democracy, gender equality and reduced corruption, and that democracy is the overarching goal for development assistance. An unearmarked core support that leaves prioritization to recipient organizations goes against that direction, particularly in light of the plan's concern about lack of transparency with development assistance funds. That development assistance should be generous in volume is, however, the plan's line.
Original (Swedish)
Planen kräver att biståndspolitiken reformeras med tydligt fokus på demokrati, jämställdhet och minskad korruption, och att demokrati är det övergripande målet för utvecklingsbiståndet. Ett oöronmärkt kärnstöd som lämnar prioriteringen åt mottagarorganisationerna går emot den styrningen, särskilt mot bakgrund av planens oro för bristande öppenhet med biståndsmedel. Att biståndet ska vara generöst i volym är däremot planens linje.
- reformed and focused development assistancedecisive»Den svenska biståndspolitiken måste genomgå stora reformer med fokus på demokrati, jämställdhet och minskad korruption.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Swedish development policy must undergo major reforms with a focus on democracy, gender equality and reduced corruption.”
- democracy as development aid goal»Demokrati ska vara det övergripande målet för utvecklingsbiståndet.« (party programme ↗)“Democracy shall be the overarching goal for development assistance.”
- transparency and anti-corruption in development assistance»Samtidigt finns i dag allvarliga problem med bristande öppenhet och korruption med svenska biståndspengar.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“At the same time there are today serious problems with lack of transparency and corruption with Swedish development assistance funds.”
- the one-per-cent target»Därför vill vi att det svenska biståndet ska uppnå till en procent av BNI.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Therefore we want Swedish development assistance to reach one per cent of GNI.”
The plan requires clear instruments for governance, coordination and monitoring of development assistance and that independent evaluations occur also of the multilateral organizations.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan requires clear instruments for governance, coordination and monitoring of development assistance and that independent evaluations occur also of the multilateral organizations. To protect untied core support instead of increased governance goes against that control line. The plan certainly wants the UN to be effective and strong, but builds that on monitoring rather than on free funds.
Original (Swedish)
Planen kräver tydliga instrument för styrning, samordning och uppföljning av biståndet och att oberoende utvärderingar sker även av de multilaterala organisationerna. Att värna det oöronmärkta kärnstödet framför ökad styrning går emot den kontrollinjen. Planen vill visserligen att FN ska vara effektivt och starkt, men bygger det på uppföljning snarare än på fria medel.
- governance and monitoring of development assistancedecisive»Det måste finnas tydliga instrument för styrning,« (party programme ↗)“There must be clear instruments for governance,”
- independent evaluation of multilateral bodies»utvärderingar av biståndet ska ske. Detta gäller även« (party programme ↗)“evaluations of the development assistance shall occur. This also applies to”
- effective UN»FN bör vara effektivt« (party programme ↗)“The UN should be effective”
- women's situation is prioritized»situation prioriteras i utvecklingssamarbetet.« (party programme ↗)“situation is prioritized in development cooperation.”
The counter-proposal requires that untargeted core support to UN organisations be protected rather than that earmarking increases.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The counter-proposal requires that untargeted core support to UN organisations be protected rather than that earmarking increases. The plan explicitly says that tax funds should not uncritically be channelled in increasing volumes through unreformed UN bodies that lack transparency and monitoring, and that aid should focus where it does the most good with Swedish values as steering. The plan therefore rejects the requirement.
Original (Swedish)
Motförslaget kräver att det oöronmärkta kärnstödet till FN-organisationer värnas snarare än att öronmärkningen ökar. Planen säger uttryckligen att skattemedel inte okritiskt ska kanaliseras i ökande volymer genom oreformerade FN-organ som brister i transparens och uppföljning, och att biståndet ska fokuseras dit det gör störst nytta med svenska värderingar som styrande. Planen avvisar därför kravet.
- conditioned support to UN bodiesdecisive»inte heller okritiskt kanaliseras i ökande volymer genom oreformerade FN-organ som brister i transparens och uppföljning« (2022 manifesto ↗)“neither uncritically channelled in increasing volumes through unreformed UN bodies that lack transparency and monitoring”
- focused aid»Fokusera det svenska biståndet till de länder, organisationer och tematiska områden där det gör störst nytta« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Focus Swedish aid to the countries, organisations and thematic areas where it does the most good”
- steered selection of measures»Svenska intressen och värderingar om demokrati, rättsstat och individuell frihet ska i högre grad styra valet av biståndsinsatser.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Swedish interests and values on democracy, rule of law and individual freedom shall to a greater extent guide the choice of aid measures.”
- reformed UN»Verka för ett reformerat FN« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Work for a reformed UN”
The plan requires that development aid appropriations can be traced all the way to the final recipient and distributed based on concrete results against pre-established goals, and based on reciprocity with Swedish interests.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan requires that development aid appropriations can be traced all the way to the final recipient and distributed based on concrete results against pre-established goals, and based on reciprocity with Swedish interests. Unearmarked core support to UN organizations is the opposite of such governance and traceability. The plan also wants to reduce development aid overall, which is why the counter-proposal's demands are rejected.
Original (Swedish)
Planen kräver att biståndsanslag ska kunna följas ända till slutmottagaren och fördelas utifrån konkreta resultat mot i förväg fastställda mål, samt utifrån ömsesidighet med svenska intressen. Oöronmärkt kärnstöd till FN-organisationer är motsatsen till sådan styrning och spårbarhet. Planen vill dessutom minska biståndet totalt, varför motförslagets krav avvisas.
- traceable and results-based development aiddecisive»Men biståndsanslag måste bättre kunna följas ända till slutmottagaren och fördelas utifrån konkreta resultat utifrån i förväg fastställda mål.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“But development aid appropriations must be better able to be traced all the way to the final recipient and distributed based on concrete results against pre-established goals.”
- development aid according to Swedish interests»Bistånd ska också fördelas utifrån en ömsesidighet i förhållande till Sveriges intressen.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Development aid should also be distributed based on reciprocity in relation to Swedish interests.”
- reduced development aid»Minska svenskt bistånd till förmån för svensk välfärd och trygghet« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Reduce Swedish development aid in favour of Swedish welfare and security”
- no development aid to Islamists»Stoppa allt bistånd till islamistiska organisationer eller regimer« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Stop all development aid to Islamist organizations or regimes”
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Sources and documents
- The committee report on riksdagen.se (2024/25:UU11)
- Committee report full text (HC01UU11)
- Per-MP voting data (API)
- Case status (API)
Documents under consideration
- Motion 2024/25:226 — Sveriges engagemang i FN av Josef Fransson (SD)
- Motion 2024/25:2625 — En grön feministisk utvecklings- och biståndspolitik av Janine Alm Ericson m.fl. (MP)
- Motion 2024/25:2632 — Fortsatt stöd till Unaids av Ulrika Westerlund m.fl. (MP)
- Motion 2024/25:3030 — Sverigedemokraternas biståndspolitik av Yasmine Eriksson m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2024/25:3038 — Stärkt beredskap och ett robustare samhälle av Daniel Helldén m.fl. (MP)
- Motion 2024/25:3106 — Utgiftsområde 7 Internationellt bistånd av Morgan Johansson m.fl. (S)
- Motion 2024/25:3162 — Internationellt samarbete i en utmanande tid av Kerstin Lundgren m.fl. (C)
- Motion 2024/25:3296 — med anledning av skr. 2024/25:61 Internationellt bistånd genom multilaterala organisationer av Morgan Johansson m.fl. (S)
- Motion 2024/25:3305 — med anledning av skr. 2024/25:61 Internationellt bistånd genom multilaterala organisationer av Janine Alm Ericson m.fl. (MP)
- Motion 2024/25:920 — Svenska kärnstödet till FN av Carina Ödebrink m.fl. (S)
- Regeringens skrivelse 2024/25:61 — Internationellt bistånd genom multilaterala organisationer
Source: The Swedish Parliament