2023-03-092022/23:MJU7 · p.18MJUEnvironment & agriculture
Implementation of the Water Framework Directive
Implementation of the EU Water Framework Directive
What's at stake: The outcome affects how water-quality action programmes are designed and how much weight is given to agriculture, forestry and cultural environments in trade-offs, as well as local actors' ability to influence the decisions.
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 system for implementing the EU Water Framework Directive, with strict environmental quality standards, should be considered to work well, or whether it should be revised to better weigh water quality against other societal interests such as agriculture and cultural heritage.
Yes Yes — the committee proposal
The committee considers the motions can be left without action. Measures have already been taken to meet the earlier instruction, including by using available exemptions when classifying water bodies, and the water authorities' action programmes have been reviewed to ensure a good balance between socioeconomic cost and environmental benefit.
No No — the reservations
Reservation 27 (SD)
The Sweden Democrats consider that Sweden has chosen an overly strict model in which the directive's goals have been given the status of environmental quality standards that are hard to weigh against other values, and that Sweden has used exemption options, for example for agriculture and cultural values, far less than other countries. The party wants action programmes to be characterised by cost-effectiveness and a balance between water quality, competitive agriculture and forestry, and cultural heritage, and wants the system for deciding on measures revised to facilitate political trade-offs and local influence.
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 27 by SD.
Abstain The party marks a position of its own that is not one of the two final alternatives.
The decision would have held
Explicit commitments that contradicted the vote: KDKristdemokraterna
Ja 238–64Ja 222–80
Counterfactual: the parties above are moved to the position their own documents explicitly point at, carrying their whole contingent present. Every other party keeps its real figures, including dissenters and absentees.
How the AI parties would have voted
For each party: what its own plan – election manifesto and party programme – argues for in this case, next to how the party actually voted. The AI can only answer Yes or No; a party can also abstain.
| AI | Vote | Confidence | Evidence | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| V | Yes | Yes 21/0/0/3 | match | confidence: high | explicit |
| S | Yes | Yes 93/0/0/14 | match | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| MP | Yes | Yes 15/0/0/3 | match | confidence: high | explicit |
| C | No | Yes 21/0/0/3 | differs | confidence: medium | derived |
| L | Yes | Yes 14/0/0/2 | match | confidence: medium | derived |
| KD | No | Yes 16/0/0/3 | differsagainst own programme | confidence: medium | explicit |
| M | No | Yes 58/0/0/10 | differs | confidence: high | derived |
| SD | No | No 0/64/0/9 | match | confidence: high | explicit |
Committee proposal
The Riksdag rejects the motions 2022/23:981 by Martin Kinnunen et al. (SD) demands 23 and 24, 2022/23:990 by Martin Kinnunen et al. (SD) demands 10 and 11 and 2022/23:1826 by Sten Bergheden (M) demand 2.
Original (Swedish)
Riksdagen avslår motionerna 2022/23:981 av Martin Kinnunen m.fl. (SD) yrkandena 23 och 24, 2022/23:990 av Martin Kinnunen m.fl. (SD) yrkandena 10 och 11 samt 2022/23:1826 av Sten Bergheden (M) yrkande 2.
Riksdag decision: The Riksdag directed an appeal, a so-called formal request (tillkännagivande), to the government on increased funding for wetlands. The appeal is based on proposals in motion demands from the general motion period 2022 on water management. The motion demands concern increased efforts to protect and restore existing wetlands and to create new wetlands. According to the Riksdag, this work needs to continue and be strengthened since wetlands play a major role in climate work and contribute to, among other things, strengthening biodiversity and counteracting eutrophication in seas and lakes. The Riksdag rejected the remaining approximately 50 motions from the general motion period 2022 that concern, among other things, eutrophication, cooperation in the Baltic Sea region, treatment plants and a marine environmental act. The Riksdag believes, among other things, that work is already underway in the areas covered by the motions.
Counter-proposals
- The counter-proposal wants wrecks and dumpsites with chemical weapons to be remediated. (SD) — Reservation 27
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 establishes that different legitimate interests must be weighed against each other but that long-term environmental considerations are paramount, and that countries should be able to take the lead with more radical environmental legislation.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan establishes that different legitimate interests must be weighed against each other but that long-term environmental considerations are paramount, and that countries should be able to take the lead with more radical environmental legislation. It demands strong legislation and economic instruments to meet environmental threats. Loosening water environment standards with more exceptions for agriculture and forestry therefore goes against the plan's stated prioritisation.
Original (Swedish)
Planen slår fast att olika legitima intressen måste vägas mot varandra men att de långsiktiga miljöhänsynen är överordnade, och att länder ska kunna gå före med radikalare miljölagstiftning. Den kräver kraftfull lagstiftning och ekonomiska styrmedel för att möta miljöhoten. Att luckra upp vattenmiljönormerna med fler undantag för jord- och skogsbruk går därför emot planens uttalade prioritering.
- environmental considerations paramountdecisive»de långsiktiga miljöhänsynen måste vara överordnade« (party programme ↗)“long-term environmental considerations must be paramount”
- lead with sharper environmental requirements»gå före med radikalare lagstiftning« (party programme ↗)“take the lead with more radical legislation”
- strong environmental legislation»Därför behövs en kraftfull lagstiftning, ekonomiska styrmedel, långsiktig samhällsplanering, klimatinvesteringar« (party programme ↗)“Therefore strong legislation, economic instruments, long-term spatial planning, climate investments are needed”
- protection of biological diversity»genast sättas in för att arter långsiktigt kan fortleva« (party programme ↗)“be put in place immediately so that species can survive in the long term”
The plan requires that Sweden is a pioneer in its own environmental policy and observes that natural resources and ecosystems are already being exploited beyond the limits of long-term sustainability.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan requires that Sweden is a pioneer in its own environmental policy and observes that natural resources and ecosystems are already being exploited beyond the limits of long-term sustainability. Making the water directive's goals more negotiable and using the exemptions more broadly for agriculture and cultural values goes in the opposite direction. Environmental considerations should, according to the plan, be built into production from the outset, not weighed down against production interests.
Original (Swedish)
Planen kräver att Sverige är en föregångare i den egna miljöpolitiken och konstaterar att naturtillgångar och ekosystem redan utnyttjas över gränsen för det långsiktigt hållbara. Att göra vattendirektivets mål mer förhandlingsbara och använda undantagen bredare för jordbruk och kulturvärden går i motsatt riktning. Miljöhänsyn ska enligt planen byggas in i produktionen från början, inte vägas ned mot produktionsintressen.
- Sweden as pioneerdecisive»vara en föregångare i den egna, nationella klimatpolitiken.« (party programme ↗)“be a pioneer in its own, national climate policy.”
- ecosystems are overexploited»naturtillgångar och ekosystem utnyttjas i dag över gränsen för det långsiktigt hållbara« (party programme ↗)“natural resources and ecosystems are today exploited beyond the limits of long-term sustainability”
- environmental consideration built into production»Hänsynen till miljöns krav ska byggas in i produktionsprocesserna redan från början.« (party programme ↗)“Consideration for environmental requirements shall be built into production processes from the very beginning.”
- threatened biological diversity»Samtidigt accelererar artdöden och den biologiska mångfalden hotas.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“At the same time, species extinction accelerates and biological diversity is threatened.”
The plan requires comprehensive measures for lakes, watercourses and seas to recover and that the precautionary principle be applied as far as possible.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan requires comprehensive measures for lakes, watercourses and seas to recover and that the precautionary principle be applied as far as possible. Loosening the water directive's environmental quality standards with more exemptions for agriculture and forestry runs directly counter to that. The plan wants instead for member states to have the right to go further with stricter environmental legislation and for environmental considerations to weigh heavier than short-term exploitation interests.
Original (Swedish)
Planen kräver omfattande åtgärder för att sjöar, vattendrag och hav ska tillfriskna och att försiktighetsprincipen tillämpas så långt det är möjligt. Att luckra upp vattendirektivets miljökvalitetsnormer med fler undantag för jord- och skogsbruk går rakt emot det. Planen vill tvärtom att medlemsländer får gå före med hårdare miljölagstiftning och att miljöhänsyn väger tyngre än kortsiktiga exploateringsintressen.
- clean water is decisivedecisive»Rent vatten är en förutsättning för att kunna« (party programme ↗)“Clean water is a prerequisite for being able to”
- the precautionary principle»ska försiktighetsprincipen tillämpas så långt det är« (party programme ↗)“the precautionary principle shall be applied as far as”
- go further with stricter environmental requirements»hårdare lagstiftning till skydd för miljö och hälsa« (party programme ↗)“stricter legislation to protect environment and health”
- environmental considerations before exploitation»Miljöhänsyn ska väga tyngre än« (party programme ↗)“Environmental considerations shall weigh heavier than”
The plan explicitly wants to reform environmental assessment so that weighing different values is given greater weight and establishes that voluntary participation and ownership are the basis for nature conservation, which supports the counter-proposal's requirement for cost-effectiveness, increased use of exceptions and local influence.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan explicitly wants to reform environmental assessment so that weighing different values is given greater weight and establishes that voluntary participation and ownership are the basis for nature conservation, which supports the counter-proposal's requirement for cost-effectiveness, increased use of exceptions and local influence. The plan also wants to strengthen green industries' competitiveness. That the plan also requires cleaner lakes and waterways sets limits on how far the exemptions may go, but does not change the outcome.
Original (Swedish)
Planen vill uttryckligen reformera miljöprövningen så att avvägningar mellan olika värden ges större vikt och slår fast att frivillighet och äganderätt är grunden för naturvården, vilket bär motförslagets krav på kostnadseffektivitet, ökat undantagsutnyttjande och lokalt inflytande. Planen vill samtidigt stärka de gröna näringarnas konkurrenskraft. Att planen också kräver renare sjöar och vattendrag sätter gränser för hur långt lättnaderna får gå, men ändrar inte utslaget.
- weighing in environmental assessmentdecisive»Klimatet kan inte vänta på dyra och krångliga regelverk. Det är dags att halvera tiden det tar att få tillstånd för gröna investeringar och reformera miljöbalken så att ett projekts klimatnytta ges större vikt i miljöprövningen.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Climate cannot wait for expensive and complicated regulations. It is time to halve the time it takes to obtain permits for green investments and reform the Environmental Code so that a project's climate benefit is given greater weight in environmental assessment.”
- voluntary participation and ownership in nature conservation»Mer måste göras för att restaurera våtmarker, bekämpa invasiva arter och underlätta för markägare att bidra, då frivillighet och äganderätt är grunden för en bättre naturvård.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“More needs to be done to restore wetlands, combat invasive species and facilitate for landowners to contribute, since voluntary participation and ownership are the basis for better nature conservation.”
- green industries' competitiveness»Vi ska arbeta för mer närodlad och klimatsmart mat och ett levande, hållbart jordbruk som bidrar till den biologiska mångfalden. Vi vill stärka de gröna näringarnas konkurrenskraft.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“We shall work for more locally grown and climate-smart food and a living, sustainable agriculture that contributes to biological diversity. We want to strengthen green industries' competitiveness.”
- cleaner lakes and waterways»Rädda Sveriges sjöar, vattendrag och hav.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Save Sweden's lakes, waterways and seas.”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
The plan establishes that everyone has the right to clean water, that the fight against eutrophication shall continue and that the EU's environmental regulations should rather be tightened than loosened.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan establishes that everyone has the right to clean water, that the fight against eutrophication shall continue and that the EU's environmental regulations should rather be tightened than loosened. It also requires that agriculture bear its own environmental costs. The counter-proposal's requirements for more exemptions and milder application of the water directive in favour of agriculture and forestry therefore go against the plan, even though the plan shares the view on cost-effective policy instruments.
Original (Swedish)
Planen slår fast att alla har rätt till rent vatten, att kampen mot övergödningen ska fortsätta och att EU:s miljöregelverk snarare ska skärpas än luckras upp. Den kräver också att jordbruket bär sina egna miljökostnader. Motförslagets krav på fler undantag och en mildare tillämpning av vattendirektivet till förmån för jord- och skogsbruk går därför emot planen, även om planen delar synen på kostnadseffektiva styrmedel.
- continued fight for water environmentdecisive»Kampen mot övergödningen ska fortsätta, industrifisket ska begränsas och de mest värdefulla havsområdena skyddas som marina reservat.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The fight against eutrophication shall continue, industrial fishing shall be limited and the most valuable sea areas shall be protected as marine reserves.”
- agriculture bears its environmental costs»Jordbruket ska i likhet med andra sektorer bära sina egna miljö- och klimatkostnader« (party programme ↗)“Agriculture shall, like other sectors, bear its own environmental and climate costs”
- right to clean water»Alla har rätt till rent vatten.« (party programme ↗)“Everyone has the right to clean water.”
- EU drives environmental ambition»EU-samarbetet är vårt viktigaste instrument för att driva på miljöarbetet.« (party programme ↗)“EU cooperation is our most important instrument to drive environmental work.”
The election manifesto promises regulatory changes and cost reductions for Swedish agriculture to strengthen competitiveness, and the party programme requires that environmental policy is so flexible that each country and region can adapt measures to its conditions and that industries are given equal competitive conditions.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The election manifesto promises regulatory changes and cost reductions for Swedish agriculture to strengthen competitiveness, and the party programme requires that environmental policy is so flexible that each country and region can adapt measures to its conditions and that industries are given equal competitive conditions. The programme also wants tradeoffs to be made in consultation with the rural population. The counter-proposal's demand for exemptions, cost-effectiveness and local influence follows from this.
Original (Swedish)
Valmanifestet utlovar regeländringar och kostnadslättnader för svenskt lantbruk för att stärka konkurrenskraften, och partiprogrammet kräver att miljöpolitiken är så flexibel att varje land och region kan anpassa åtgärderna efter sina förhållanden och att näringarna ges likvärdiga konkurrensvillkor. Planen vill också att avvägningar görs i samråd med landsbygdsbefolkningen. Motförslagets krav på undantag, kostnadseffektivitet och lokalt inflytande följer av detta.
- regulatory relief for agriculturedecisive»Regeländringar och kostnadslättnader för svenskt lantbruk för att öka Sveriges självförsörjning och stärka lantbrukets konkurrenskraft.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Regulatory changes and cost reductions for Swedish agriculture to increase Sweden's self-sufficiency and strengthen agriculture's competitiveness.”
- flexible environmental policy»Miljöpolitiken måste vara så flexibel att varje land och region kan anpassa åtgärder efter sina unika förhållanden.« (party programme ↗)“Environmental policy must be so flexible that each country and region can adapt measures to its unique conditions.”
- equal competitive conditions»Det är nödvändigt att dessa näringar ges likvärdiga konkurrensvillkor gentemot andra länder.« (party programme ↗)“It is necessary that these industries are given equal competitive conditions compared to other countries.”
- consultation with the rural population»En långsiktigt hållbar rovdjurspolitik måste utformas i samråd med den berörda landsbygdsbefolkningen.« (party programme ↗)“A long-term sustainable predator policy must be formulated in consultation with the affected rural population.”
The stance rests on the quoted commitment in the party's own documents; the actual vote deviated. Click the quote to verify it in the document.
The plan establishes that overimplementation of EU decisions shall be opposed and that directives as a main rule shall be implemented at minimum level.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan establishes that overimplementation of EU decisions shall be opposed and that directives as a main rule shall be implemented at minimum level. It wants to support, not steer, agriculture and forestry, reduce the number of rules for agriculture and shorten processing times for environmental permits and strengthen property rights. That bears the counter-proposal's demands for cost-effective measures, more used exemptions and balance toward competitive agriculture and forestry.
Original (Swedish)
Planen slår fast att överimplementering av EU-beslut ska motverkas och att direktiv som huvudregel ska genomföras på miniminivå. Den vill stötta, inte styra, jord- och skogsbruket, minska antalet regler för jordbruket och korta handläggningstiderna för miljötillstånd samt stärka brukanderätten. Det bär motförslagets krav på kostnadseffektiva åtgärdsprogram, mer utnyttjade undantag och balans mot konkurrenskraftigt jord- och skogsbruk.
- EU rules at minimum leveldecisive»Minska regelkrånglet och onödig byråkrati, bland annat genom att motverka överimplementering i Sverige av EU-beslut – som huvudregel ska EU-direktiv genomföras på miniminivå« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Reduce regulatory red tape and unnecessary bureaucracy, among other things by opposing overimplementation in Sweden of EU decisions – as a main rule EU directives shall be implemented at minimum level”
- support not steer farming»Vi ska stötta, inte styra, jord- och skogsbruket« (2022 manifesto ↗)“We shall support, not steer, agriculture and forestry”
- fewer farming rules»Minska antalet regler för jordbruket och korta handläggningstider för miljötillstånd« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Reduce the number of rules for agriculture and shorten processing times for environmental permits”
- strengthened property rights»Stärka ägande- och brukanderätten för jordbrukare« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Strengthen property rights and management rights for farmers”
flags: citat_migrerat
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 explicitly warns that stricter Swedish environmental requirements than the rest of the world knock out Swedish industries and produce counterproductive results, and wants environmental measures to be chosen based on most environmental benefit per krona and EU rules to become fewer and more flexible based on each member state's conditions.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan explicitly warns that stricter Swedish environmental requirements than the rest of the world knock out Swedish industries and produce counterproductive results, and wants environmental measures to be chosen based on most environmental benefit per krona and EU rules to become fewer and more flexible based on each member state's conditions. The counter-proposal's requirement for increased use of exemptions, cost-effective action programs and balance against agriculture, forestry and cultural values follows from this. The plan addresses the committee's reasons, since it states itself about precisely the balance between cost and environmental benefit.
Original (Swedish)
Planen varnar uttryckligen för att strängare svenska miljökrav än omvärldens slår ut svenska näringar och ger kontraproduktiva resultat, och vill att miljöåtgärder väljs efter mest miljö per krona samt att EU-reglerna blir färre och mer flexibla utifrån varje medlemsstats förhållanden. Motförslagets krav på ökad användning av undantag, kostnadseffektiva åtgärdsprogram och balans mot jord- och skogsbruk och kulturvärden följer av detta. Planen berör utskottets skäl, eftersom den uttalar sig om just avvägningen mellan kostnad och miljönytta.
- no Swedish special requirementsdecisive»Strängare miljö- och utsläppskrav i Sverige jämfört med i omvärlden riskerar ofta att slå ut svenska näringar och få globalt kontraproduktiva resultat när det kommer till de mål kraven syftar till att uppnå.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Stricter environmental and emissions requirements in Sweden compared to the rest of the world often risk knocking out Swedish industries and producing globally counterproductive results regarding the goals the requirements aim to achieve.”
- most environment per krona»Sträva efter miljöeffektivitet och hitta de åtgärder som ger mest miljö per krona« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Pursue environmental efficiency and find the measures that give most environment per krona”
- flexible EU rules»EU-reglerna måste bli färre och mer flexibla utifrån varje medlemsstats unika landskap, tradition och standarder.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“EU rules must become fewer and more flexible based on each member state's unique landscape, tradition and standards.”
- political balance between interests»Olika intressen hamnar ofta i konflikt och politiken måste här våga ta ställning mellan exempelvis cementindustri och naturintressen.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Different interests often come into conflict and policy must here dare take a position between for example cement industry and nature interests.”
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Sources and documents
- The committee report on riksdagen.se (2022/23:MJU7)
- Committee report full text (HA01MJU7)
- Per-MP voting data (API)
- Case status (API)
Documents under consideration
- Motion 2022/23:1247 — Minskad övergödning av Kajsa Fredholm m.fl. (V)
- Motion 2022/23:1268 — En levande och välmående skärgård av Markus Wiechel och Alexander Christiansson (båda SD)
- Motion 2022/23:1826 — Den småskaliga vattenkraften i Sverige av Sten Bergheden (M)
- Motion 2022/23:1897 — Utvidgat rotavdrag till att omfatta enskilda avloppsanläggningar av Helena Lindahl och Catarina Deremar (båda C)
- Motion 2022/23:1949 — Byggnation på landsbygden av Sten Bergheden (M)
- Motion 2022/23:2073 — Utgiftsområde 20 Allmän miljö- och naturvård av Anna-Caren Sätherberg m.fl. (S)
- Motion 2022/23:2110 — En kraftfull naturpolitik för starka ekosystem, biologisk mångfald och ökad klimatnytta av Per Bolund m.fl. (MP)
- Motion 2022/23:2273 — Enskilda avlopp av Alexander Christiansson (SD)
- Motion 2022/23:309 — Gifttunnorna i Bottenhavet av Jörgen Berglund (M)
- Motion 2022/23:371 — Sanering av Östersjön av Niels Paarup-Petersen (C)
- Motion 2022/23:843 — Hållbara gröna och blå näringar av Daniel Bäckström m.fl. (C)
- Motion 2022/23:906 — Va och vatten av Stina Larsson m.fl. (C)
- Motion 2022/23:908 — Biologisk mångfald av Stina Larsson m.fl. (C)
- Motion 2022/23:909 — Bostäder och grönt samhällsbyggande av Alireza Akhondi m.fl. (C)
- Motion 2022/23:967 — Ändamålsenlig kemikaliepolitik av Martin Kinnunen m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2022/23:981 — Marin miljö och vattenvård av Martin Kinnunen m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2022/23:985 — Låt det svenska jordbruket prestera av Martin Kinnunen m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2022/23:990 — Kulturarv och miljöer i fädernas bygder av Martin Kinnunen m.fl. (SD)
Source: The Swedish Parliament