2024-06-122023/24:TU17 · p.2TUTransport & infrastructure
A competitive Swedish shipping industry
A national shipping council and a reformed net-wage model for Swedish shipping
What's at stake: Roughly 90 percent of Swedish imports and exports move by sea. Shipping companies' ability to know in advance whether they qualify for shipping support, and the terms of the so-called net-wage model, affect whether it is worthwhile to flag ships in Sweden and employ Swedish crew, which in turn affects the size of the merchant fleet and crisis preparedness.
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 a joint shipping council should be established to develop a long-term strategy for the maritime industry and give advance notice on shipping support, or whether the government's ongoing inquiries and initiatives to strengthen shipping's competitiveness are sufficient.
Yes Yes — the committee proposal
The committee underlines the importance of a strong, competitive shipping industry and notes that roughly 90 percent of all imports and exports move by sea, pointing to initiatives already carried out, the ongoing review of the inquiry into strengthening Swedish shipping's competitiveness, and the national freight-transport strategy and coordinator for domestic and short-sea shipping. The committee therefore sees no reason to take further initiative and rejects the motions calling for a dedicated shipping council and changes to the net-wage model.
No No — the reservations
Reservation 2 (SD)
The reservation (SD) wants to establish a shipping council as a collaboration platform with a mandate to develop a long-term strategy for the entire maritime industry and report annually to the government, and for the government to investigate a model giving shipping companies advance notice on shipping support. The reservation also wants to safeguard the so-called net-wage model and adjust it so that specialised shipping is also covered in line with EU guidelines, since the current interpretation puts Swedish specialised shipping at a competitive disadvantage.
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 2 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 | No | Abstain 0/0/19/5 | departs from the plan | confidence: low | derived |
| S | No | Abstain 0/0/91/15 | departs from the plan | confidence: low | not addressed |
| MP | No | Yes 15/0/0/3 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| C | No | Abstain 1/0/20/3 | departs from the plan | confidence: low | not addressed |
| L | Yes | Yes 12/0/0/4 | follows the plan | confidence: low | not addressed |
| KD | No | Yes 16/0/0/3 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| M | No | Yes 58/0/0/10 | departs from the plan | confidence: low | not addressed |
| SD | No | No 0/63/0/9 | follows the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
Broke with the party line
| CMartin Ådahl (C, Stockholms kommun) | Yes — party line: Abstain |
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 2023/24:401 by Jimmy Ståhl et al. (SD) claims 2, 6 and 7, 2023/24:646 by Linda W Snecker et al. (V) claim 6, 2023/24:2206 by Mats Green (M), 2023/24:2465 by Ulrika Heie et al. (C) claim 32 and 2023/24:2625 by Gunilla Svantorp et al. (S) claim 49.
Original (Swedish)
Riksdagen avslår motionerna 2023/24:401 av Jimmy Ståhl m.fl. (SD) yrkandena 2, 6 och 7, 2023/24:646 av Linda W Snecker m.fl. (V) yrkande 6, 2023/24:2206 av Mats Green (M), 2023/24:2465 av Ulrika Heie m.fl. (C) yrkande 32 och 2023/24:2625 av Gunilla Svantorp m.fl. (S) yrkande 49.
Riksdag decision: The Riksdag said no to approximately 70 proposals on shipping matters in motions from the general motion time of 2023. The Riksdag refers, among other things, to the fact that work is already underway on the matters the proposals address. The proposals concern, among other things, the competitiveness of Swedish shipping, the Maritime Administration's environmental matters, and recreational boating matters.
Counter-proposals
- The counter-proposal wants to establish a maritime council to develop a long-term strategy for the maritime industry and ensure competitive, long-term sustainable conditions for Swedish shipping. (SD) — Reservation 2
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 provides only general principles here: heavy transports should be directed to sustainable maritime shipping, transports require a comprehensive and long-term investment plan, and sound businesses should have good conditions.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan provides only general principles here: heavy transports should be directed to sustainable maritime shipping, transports require a comprehensive and long-term investment plan, and sound businesses should have good conditions. The counter-proposal's requirement for a cooperation body with a long-term strategic mandate and an adjusted support model for specialist maritime shipping points in that direction. The plan's requirement for collective agreements as a condition for public funds does however qualify the support to the shipping companies.
Original (Swedish)
Planen ger bara allmänna principer här: tunga transporter ska styras till hållbar sjöfart, transporterna behöver en omfattande och långsiktig investeringsplan, och sunda företag ska ha goda villkor. Motförslagets krav på ett samverkansorgan med långsiktigt strategiuppdrag och en justerad stödmodell för specialsjöfarten går i den riktningen. Planens krav på kollektivavtal som villkor för offentliga medel kvalificerar dock stödet till rederierna.
- goods to sustainable maritime shippingdecisive»Tunga transporter behöver styras till järnväg och hållbar sjöfart.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Heavy transports need to be directed to rail and sustainable maritime shipping.”
- long-term planning of transports»Det behövs en omfattande och långsiktig investeringsplan för det,« (party programme ↗)“There needs to be a comprehensive and long-term investment plan for it.”
- good conditions for sound businesses»Vi vill se goda villkor för sunda företag, som tar tillvara på människors drivkrafter att bygga upp egna verksamheter och riktar dem mot« (party programme ↗)“We want to see good conditions for sound businesses, which capitalise on people's drive to build up their own operations and direct them towards”
- collective agreements as a condition (qualifying)»Vänsterpartiet ställer krav på kollektivavtal vid offentliga upphandlingar.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The Left Party demands collective agreements in public procurement.”
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 party programme seeks to shift cargo from road to rail and maritime transport and stresses that successful business requires functioning infrastructure and strategic cooperation between state, industry and the social partners.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The party programme seeks to shift cargo from road to rail and maritime transport and stresses that successful business requires functioning infrastructure and strategic cooperation between state, industry and the social partners. A cooperation body with long-term maritime strategy and an adjusted support model aligns with this. However, the plan says nothing about how the support model should be designed or about specialist maritime shipping, which makes the position derived and uncertain.
Original (Swedish)
Partiprogrammet vill flytta gods från väg till järnväg och sjötrafik och betonar att ett framgångsrikt näringsliv kräver fungerande infrastruktur och strategisk samverkan mellan stat, näringsliv och parter. Ett samverkansorgan med långsiktig maritim strategi och en justerad stödmodell ligger i linje med detta. Planen säger inget om stödmodellens utformning eller specialsjöfarten, varför ställningstagandet är härlett och osäkert.
- cargo from road to maritime shippingdecisive»vägtransporter ersätts med järnvägstransporter och sjötrafik.« (party programme ↗)“road transports are replaced with rail transports and maritime traffic.”
- functioning infrastructure»Ett framgångsrikt näringsliv kräver en väl fungerande infrastruktur.« (party programme ↗)“A successful business requires well-functioning infrastructure.”
- long-term business conditions»Stärk de långsiktiga förutsättningarna för företagande och innovation.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Strengthen the long-term conditions for business and innovation.”
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 party programme wants to expand and develop maritime transport so that road freight transport can decrease and establishes that business should be given long-term rules that create stable conditions for investment.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The party programme wants to expand and develop maritime transport so that road freight transport can decrease and establishes that business should be given long-term rules that create stable conditions for investment. A cooperation body with long-term strategy and advance notice of support for shipping companies is a way to implement this. The plan therefore supports the demand, without commenting on the details of the support model.
Original (Swedish)
Partiprogrammet vill bygga ut och utveckla sjöfarten så att godstransporterna på väg kan minska och slår fast att näringslivet ska ges långsiktiga spelregler som skapar stabila förutsättningar för investeringar. Ett samverkansorgan med långsiktig strategi och förhandsbesked om stöd till rederierna är ett sätt att förverkliga detta. Planen stöder därför kravet, utan att uttala sig om stödmodellens detaljer.
- strengthened shipping reduces road transportdecisive»Vi vill bygga ut och utveckla järnväg, sjöfart och kombiterminaler så att godstransporter på väg kan minska.« (party programme ↗)“We want to expand and develop rail, maritime transport and combined terminals so that road freight transport can decrease.”
- long-term rules»Näringslivet ska ges långsiktiga spelregler som skapar stabila förutsättningar för investeringar.« (party programme ↗)“Business should be given long-term rules that create stable conditions for investment.”
- energy-efficient freight transport»Godstransporter ska så långt som möjligt utföras med miljöanpassade och energieffektiva transportmedel.« (party programme ↗)“Freight transport should as far as possible be carried out using environmentally adapted and energy-efficient transport modes.”
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 manifesto establishes that more needs to be done for shipping to transition with strengthened competitiveness, and the party programme requires that Sweden's competitiveness as an entrepreneurial nation be strengthened.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The manifesto establishes that more needs to be done for shipping to transition with strengthened competitiveness, and the party programme requires that Sweden's competitiveness as an entrepreneurial nation be strengthened. Correcting a support model that gives Swedish specialist shipping competitive disadvantages and providing shipping companies with predictable signals aligns with this. A new coordination body, however, clashes with the plan's desire to clean up the regulatory maze, which makes the support weak.
Original (Swedish)
Manifestet slår fast att mer behöver göras för att sjöfarten ska ställa om med stärkt konkurrenskraft, och partiprogrammet kräver att Sveriges konkurrenskraft som företagarnation förstärks. Att rätta till en stödmodell som ger svensk specialsjöfart konkurrensnackdelar och ge rederierna förutsägbara besked ligger i linje med detta. Ett nytt samverkansorgan rimmar däremot illa med planens vilja att rensa i regelträsket, vilket gör stödet svagt.
- strengthened competitiveness for shippingdecisive»Mer behöver göras för att flyget, sjöfarten och jordbruket ska kunna ställa om till förnybara drivmedel med stärkt konkurrenskraft.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“More needs to be done so that aviation, shipping and agriculture can transition to renewable fuels with strengthened competitiveness.”
- strengthened business competitiveness»Vår konkurrenskraft som företagarnation måste därför förstärkas så att det även fortsättningsvis kan skapas och utvecklas företag, i större och mindre skala, i Sverige.« (party programme ↗)“Our competitiveness as an entrepreneurial nation must therefore be strengthened so that companies can continue to be created and developed, on larger and smaller scales, in Sweden.”
- open markets»Sverige klarar sig inte utan frihandel. Öppna upp fler marknader för svenska varor och tjänster.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Sweden cannot manage without free trade. Open up more markets for Swedish goods and services.”
- fewer bureaucratic structures»Rensa upp i regelträsket för entreprenörer, stora som små.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Clean up the regulatory maze for entrepreneurs, large and small.”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
The plan establishes that general business climate measures are most important and that the regulatory burden must decrease, which argues against the counter-proposal's demand for a new industry cooperation body and an expanded industry-specific support model.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan establishes that general business climate measures are most important and that the regulatory burden must decrease, which argues against the counter-proposal's demand for a new industry cooperation body and an expanded industry-specific support model. At the same time the plan requires fair competition, which suggests that the disadvantage of specialized shipping should be addressed. The conclusion is therefore uncertain, but the plan's main line points toward rejecting the demand.
Original (Swedish)
Planen slår fast att generella åtgärder för företagsklimatet är viktigast och att regelbördan ska minska, vilket talar emot motförslagets krav på ett nytt branschsamverkansorgan och en utvidgad branschspecifik stödmodell. Samtidigt kräver planen konkurrens på lika villkor, vilket drar åt att specialsjöfartens nackdel bör rättas till. Slutsatsen är därför osäker, men planens huvudlinje pekar mot att avvisa kravet.
- general measures over special supportdecisive»företagande, innovationer och tillväxt ska stärkas i hela landet. Viktigast är generella åtgärder för« (party programme ↗)“business, innovation and growth must be strengthened throughout the country. Most important are general measures for”
- reduced regulatory burden»Regelbördan för små företag ska minska, genom ansträngningar på både kommunal, statlig och« (party programme ↗)“The regulatory burden on small businesses must decrease through efforts at municipal, state and”
- fair competition»slå vakt om äganderätt, konkurrens på lika villkor, rättssäkerhet och att enskilda människor har« (party programme ↗)“protect property rights, fair competition, rule of law and ensure that individuals”
The plan wishes that Sweden's position as a maritime nation is strong through long-term and competitive conditions, that the state's rules for businesses are long-term and that industries are given equivalent competitive conditions compared to other countries.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan wishes that Sweden's position as a maritime nation is strong through long-term and competitive conditions, that the state's rules for businesses are long-term and that industries are given equivalent competitive conditions compared to other countries. Advance notice of support and an adjustment so that specialized shipping is included respond to this. The plan, however, rejects direct business subsidies, which limits the support.
Original (Swedish)
Planen vill att Sveriges ställning som sjöfartsnation är stark genom långsiktiga och konkurrenskraftiga villkor, att statens regler för företagen är långsiktiga och att näringarna ges likvärdiga konkurrensvillkor gentemot andra länder. Förhandsbesked om stöd och en justering så att specialsjöfarten omfattas svarar mot detta. Planen avvisar däremot direkta företagssubventioner, vilket begränsar stödet.
- long-term conditions for shippingdecisive»vara stark genom långsiktiga och konkurrenskraftiga« (party programme ↗)“be strong through long-term and competitive”
- equivalent competitive conditions»näringar ges likvärdiga konkurrensvillkor gentemot« (party programme ↗)“industries are given equivalent competitive conditions compared to”
- long-term rules for enterprises»Det är viktigt att de regler staten ställer upp för« (party programme ↗)“It is important that the rules the state sets up for”
- no direct subsidies»Direkta företagssubventioner avvisas.« (party programme ↗)“Direct business subsidies are rejected.”
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 states that complicated processes and bureaucracy hinder business and commits to shortening the authorities' processing times and counteracting Swedish overimplementation of EU rules.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan states that complicated processes and bureaucracy hinder business and commits to shortening the authorities' processing times and counteracting Swedish overimplementation of EU rules. The counter-proposal requires predictable advance advice on support and an adjustment so that special maritime transport is covered in line with EU guidelines, i.e. removing a Swedish competitive disadvantage. This aligns with the plan's commitments, even though the plan does not take a position on a new cooperation body.
Original (Swedish)
Planen slår fast att krångliga processer och byråkrati hämmar näringslivet och åtar sig att korta myndigheternas handläggningstider och att motverka svensk överimplementering av EU-regler. Motförslaget kräver förutsägbara förhandsbesked om stöd och en justering så att specialsjöfarten omfattas i linje med EU:s riktlinjer, alltså att en svensk konkurrensnackdel tas bort. Det ligger i linje med planens åtaganden, även om planen inte tar ställning till ett nytt samverkansorgan.
- no Swedish special requirementsdecisive»motverka överimplementering i Sverige av EU-beslut« (2022 manifesto ↗)“counteract overimplementation in Sweden of EU decisions”
- predictable government decisions»Korta myndigheternas handläggningstider genom en bortre tidsgräns« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Shorten the authorities' processing times through a maximum time limit”
- bureaucracy hinders growth»Men höga skatter, krångliga tillståndsprocesser och byråkrati sätter käppar i hjulet för innovation och tillväxt.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“But high taxes, complicated licensing processes and bureaucracy put obstacles in the way of innovation and growth.”
- competitive business sector»Sveriges välstånd bygger på ett dynamiskt och livskraftigt näringsliv.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Sweden's prosperity is built on a dynamic and vibrant business sector.”
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 Swedish shipping and prioritise Swedish industry's competitiveness, and wants taxes and fees not to hamper Swedish enterprises internationally.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan wants to strengthen Swedish shipping and prioritise Swedish industry's competitiveness, and wants taxes and fees not to hamper Swedish enterprises internationally. The counter-proposal's demands for a cooperation body with long-term strategy, advance confirmation of support and an adjusted support model that also includes specialised shipping respond to these commitments.
Original (Swedish)
Planen vill stärka svensk sjöfart och prioritera svensk industris konkurrenskraft, och den vill att skatter och avgifter inte hämmar svenska företag internationellt. Motförslagets krav på ett samverkansorgan med långsiktig strategi, förhandsbesked om stöd och en justerad stödmodell som även omfattar specialsjöfarten svarar mot dessa åtaganden.
- strengthened Swedish shippingdecisive»Stärka svensk sjöfart« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Strengthen Swedish shipping”
- shipping's strategic role»Hamnar och sjöfarten är en viktig del i Sveriges import och export.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Ports and shipping are an important part of Sweden's import and export.”
- competitive conditions»Ha skatter på en nivå som inte hämmar svenska företag i den internationella konkurrensen« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Have taxes at a level that does not hamper Swedish enterprises in international competition”
- industry's competitiveness»Prioritera svensk industri och konkurrenskraft« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Prioritise Swedish industry and competitiveness”
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Sources and documents
- The committee report on riksdagen.se (2023/24:TU17)
- Committee report full text (HB01TU17)
- Per-MP voting data (API)
- Case status (API)
Documents under consideration
- Motion 2023/24:1301 — Reformering av Gotlandstillägget av Hanna Westerén (S)
- Motion 2023/24:1398 — Stärkt infrastruktur i Blekinge för väg, hamnar och flyg av Camilla Brunsberg (M)
- Motion 2023/24:1519 — En grön klimathandlingsplan för Sverige av Elin Söderberg m.fl. (MP)
- Motion 2023/24:174 — Kunskaps- och säkerhetskrav för framförandet av vissa fritidsbåtar av Markus Wiechel (SD)
- Motion 2023/24:1784 — Fritidsbåtar av Rickard Nordin (C)
- Motion 2023/24:1873 — För havets och människans framtid av Emma Nohrén m.fl. (MP)
- Motion 2023/24:1951 — Omledning av kommersiell båttrafik från känsliga områden i Östersjön av Magnus Manhammar (S)
- Motion 2023/24:1965 — Gotlandstrafiken av Hanna Westerén och Laila Naraghi (båda S)
- Motion 2023/24:198 — Ett tydligare statligt ansvar för de viktigaste hamnarna av Magnus Jacobsson (KD)
- Motion 2023/24:1983 — Obligatoriskt båtregister för fritidsbåtar av Magnus Manhammar (S)
- Motion 2023/24:2206 — En stärkt svensk sjöfartsnäring av Mats Green (M)
- Motion 2023/24:2453 — Ledarskap för klimat och grön omställning av Rickard Nordin m.fl. (C)
- Motion 2023/24:2465 — Hållbara och tillgängliga transporter för hela landet av Ulrika Heie m.fl. (C)
- Motion 2023/24:2536 — Satsning på Stockholms skärgård av Markus Wiechel m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2023/24:2625 — Utgiftsområde 22 Kommunikationer av Gunilla Svantorp m.fl. (S)
- Motion 2023/24:401 — En konkurrenskraftig svensk sjöfart av Jimmy Ståhl m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2023/24:646 — En hållbar sjöfart för Sverige av Linda W Snecker m.fl. (V)
Source: The Swedish Parliament