2023-11-222023/24:CU18 · p.1CUCivil law & housing
Proposal for a Regulation on Combating Late Payment in Commercial Transactions
Subsidiarity review of the EU proposal on combating late payments in commercial transactions
What's at stake: The proposal would bind all business contracts to a payment term of at most 30 days and a fixed late-payment interest rate that cannot be waived. That strengthens small suppliers' cash flow but limits companies' freedom to agree their own payment terms.
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 Riksdag should submit a reasoned opinion stating that the Commission's proposed regulation on late payments goes further than the principle of subsidiarity allows, or whether no objection should be raised against the proposal.
Yes Yes — the committee proposal
The committee does not question the need for EU rules against late payments, but holds that a mandatory 30-day payment term, a fixed late-payment interest rate and the ban on a creditor waiving late-payment interest and compensation go beyond what is necessary and restrict freedom of contract. The Riksdag therefore submits a reasoned opinion to the presidents of the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission stating that the proposal is not compatible with the principle of subsidiarity in all its parts.
No No — the reservations
Reservation 1 (S, V, C, MP)
The reservation (S, V, C, MP) holds that there is no reason to submit a reasoned opinion and wants the committee statement to be filed. The reasoning is that EU-level regulation is needed to combat late payments in commercial transactions.
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: Riksdagen beslutar att lämna ett motiverat yttrande till Europaparlamentets, rådets och kommissionens ordförande med den lydelse som anges….
No Backing the counter-proposal: reservation 1 by S, V, C, MP.
Abstain The party marks a position of its own that is not one of the two final alternatives.
What each plan points to — and how the party voted
For each party: the vote its own election manifesto and party programme point to in this case, next to how the party actually voted. A plan can only point to Yes or No; a party can also abstain.
| Plan | Vote | Confidence | Evidence | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| V | Yes | No 0/18/0/6 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | derived |
| S | No | No 0/90/0/17 | follows the plan | confidence: low | derived |
| MP | Yes | No 0/14/0/4 | departs from the plan | confidence: low | derived |
| C | Yes | No 0/20/0/4 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | derived |
| L | No | Yes 11/0/0/5 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | derived |
| KD | Yes | Yes 15/0/0/4 | follows the plan | confidence: medium | 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: high | derived |
Committee proposal
The Riksdag decides to submit a reasoned opinion to the Presidents of the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission with the wording set out in Annex 2.
Original (Swedish)
Riksdagen beslutar att lämna ett motiverat yttrande till Europaparlamentets, rådets och kommissionens ordförande med den lydelse som anges i bilaga 2.
Riksdag decision: The EU Commission has proposed a new regulation on combating late payment in commercial transactions, that is, transactions between companies or between companies and public authorities. The Riksdag has assessed the proposal based on the so-called principle of subsidiarity, that is, the principle that decisions on new EU laws are taken as close to citizens as possible. The EU should therefore only take action if it is more effective than if individual countries act on their own. The principle protects member states' right to make their own decisions at the national level. The Riksdag does not in itself question the need for regulation at EU level to promote faster payment in commercial transactions but considers that the EU Commission's proposal in certain respects goes too far and therefore violates the principle of subsidiarity. This applies, for example, to the proposals for a mandatory payment period of 30 days and a fixed interest rate for default interest that would limit the contractual freedom of companies. Against this background, the Riksdag decided to submit its views in a so-called reasoned opinion to the Presidents of the European Parliament, the Council and the EU Commission.
Counter-proposals
- The counter-proposal wants EU-level regulation to combat late payments in business transactions. (S, V, C, MP) — 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's decisive commitment is that the party in its daily work opposes proposals that increase the EU's power and instead wants to return power to the member states, and that supranational bodies that violate the sovereignty of national parliaments are not a sustainable solution.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan's decisive commitment is that the party in its daily work opposes proposals that increase the EU's power and instead wants to return power to the member states, and that supranational bodies that violate the sovereignty of national parliaments are not a sustainable solution. Late payments are not among the areas where the plan opens for binding EU minimum levels. Accepting without objection a new mandatory EU regulation is therefore rejected, although the plan does not share the committee's arguments about freedom of contract.
Original (Swedish)
Planens avgörande åtagande är att partiet i det dagliga arbetet motsätter sig förslag som ökar EU:s makt och i stället vill föra tillbaka makt till medlemsländerna, och att överstatliga organ som kränker de nationella parlamentens suveränitet inte är en hållbar lösning. Sena betalningar hör inte till de områden där planen öppnar för bindande EU-miniminivåer. Att utan invändning bejaka en ny tvingande EU-förordning avvisas därför, även om planen inte delar utskottets argument om avtalsfrihet.
- opposition to increased EU powerdecisive»motsätter sig Vänsterpartiet generellt förslag som ökar EU:s makt« (party programme ↗)“the Left Party generally opposes proposals that increase the EU's power”
- return power to the member states»tillbaka makt till medlemsländerna« (party programme ↗)“return power to the member states”
- national parliamentary sovereignty»Överstatliga organ som kränker de nationella folkvalda parlamentens suveränitet är ingen hållbar lösning.« (party programme ↗)“Supranational bodies that violate the sovereignty of democratically elected national parliaments are not a sustainable solution.”
- Swedish EU withdrawal»Vänsterpartiet driver kravet om ett svenskt utträde ur EU.« (party programme ↗)“The Left Party advocates for Swedish withdrawal from the EU.”
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 views EU cooperation as the foundation for solving cross-border problems and requires that the internal market be equipped with a clear regulatory framework that takes social considerations into account, not that corporate contractual freedom be protected.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan views EU cooperation as the foundation for solving cross-border problems and requires that the internal market be equipped with a clear regulatory framework that takes social considerations into account, not that corporate contractual freedom be protected. Rules against late payment protect especially smaller suppliers and therefore align with the plan. At the same time, the party programme stipulates that the subsidiarity principle shall be followed, which is the committee's rationale and makes the assessment uncertain.
Original (Swedish)
Planen ser EU-samarbetet som grunden för att lösa gränsöverskridande problem och kräver att den inre marknaden förses med ett tydligt regelverk som tar sociala hänsyn, inte att företagens avtalsfrihet skyddas. Regler mot sena betalningar skyddar särskilt mindre leverantörer och ligger därför i linje med planen. Samtidigt slår partiprogrammet fast att subsidiaritetsprincipen ska följas, vilket är utskottets skäl och gör bedömningen osäker.
- EU solves common problemsdecisive»Vi är övertygade om att EU-samarbetet är grunden för att lösa många av vår tids svåraste problem.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“We are convinced that EU cooperation is the foundation for solving many of the most difficult problems of our time.”
- clear regulatory framework for the internal market»Därför måste den inre marknaden förses med ett tydligt regelverk, som tar sociala och« (party programme ↗)“Therefore the internal market must be provided with a clear regulatory framework that takes social and”
- the subsidiarity principle»Den så kallade subsidiaritetsprincipen ska följas.« (party programme ↗)“The so-called subsidiarity principle shall be followed.”
- common rules in the EU»Vi bejakar principerna om fri rörlighet för varor, personer, tjänster och kapital.« (party programme ↗)“We embrace the principles of free movement of goods, persons, services and capital.”
The plan's decentralist view is that the EU today decides over matters that should be handled nationally or locally and that central control should decrease; supranational decisions are justified primarily in cross-border environmental matters and for human rights.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan's decentralist view is that the EU today decides over matters that should be handled nationally or locally and that central control should decrease; supranational decisions are justified primarily in cross-border environmental matters and for human rights. Mandatory payment terms and interest rates in commercial contracts are not such a matter. The counter-proposal's requirement not to object to EU regulation is therefore rejected, although the plan does not address late payments.
Original (Swedish)
Planens decentralistiska grundsyn är att EU i dag bestämmer över områden som borde hanteras nationellt eller lokalt och att centralstyrningen ska minska; överstatliga beslut motiveras främst i gränsöverskridande miljöfrågor och för mänskliga rättigheter. Tvingande betalningstider och räntesatser i affärsavtal är inte en sådan fråga. Motförslagets krav att inte invända mot EU-regleringen avvisas därför, om än utan att planen behandlar sena betalningar.
- the EU decides over too muchdecisive»som unionen inte borde hantera, som skulle hanteras bättre regionalt, nationellt eller lokalt« (party programme ↗)“that the union should not handle, that would be handled better regionally, nationally or locally”
- reduced central control»Centralstyrning ska minska och de enskilda« (party programme ↗)“Central control shall decrease and individual”
- supranationality primarily in environmental matters»gärna överstatliga beslut angående miljöskyddande« (party programme ↗)“preferably supranational decisions concerning environmental protection”
- voluntary interstate cooperation»Vi är positiva till mellanstatliga samarbeten där länder deltar frivilligt i besluten« (party programme ↗)“We are positive towards interstate cooperation where countries participate voluntarily in decisions”
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 the EU to be narrower but more effective and the union to refrain from intervening where common regulations are not necessary, which argues against mandatory payment terms and prohibitions on waiving late-payment interest.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan wants the EU to be narrower but more effective and the union to refrain from intervening where common regulations are not necessary, which argues against mandatory payment terms and prohibitions on waiving late-payment interest. The plan is also based on market economy free from command-economy directives and on reducing the regulatory burden for businesses. That late payments hurt small businesses pulls the other way, but the commitment that drives the vote is the restrained view of mandatory regulation.
Original (Swedish)
Planen vill att EU blir smalare men vassare och att unionen avhåller sig från att gripa in där gemensam reglering inte är nödvändig, vilket talar mot tvingande betalningstider och förbud mot att avstå dröjsmålsränta. Planen bygger dessutom på marknadsekonomi fri från planekonomiska pekpinnar och på att regelbördan för företag ska minska. Att sena betalningar drabbar små företag talar åt andra hållet, men det åtagande som bär voteringen är den återhållsamma synen på tvingande reglering.
- the EU should do fewer thingsdecisive»EU måste bli smalare, men vassare, göra färre saker men göra dem bättre.« (party programme ↗)“The EU must become narrower, but more effective, do fewer things but do them better.”
- limited EU competence»Däremot måste unionen avhålla sig från att gripa in i t.ex. ländernas skatter« (party programme ↗)“However, the union must refrain from intervening in, for example, countries' taxes”
- reduced regulatory burden»Rensa upp i regelträsket för entreprenörer, stora som små.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Clean up the regulatory maze for entrepreneurs, large and small.”
flags: citat_blockerat
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's heaviest commitment in the area is that the internal market must be developed and regulations harmonized, and that laws must protect fair competition.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan's heaviest commitment in the area is that the internal market must be developed and regulations harmonized, and that laws must protect fair competition. An EU regulation against late payments in business transactions is precisely such a common rule, and the plan provides no support for objecting to EU competence here. The fact that the regulatory burden on small businesses must decrease argues rather for protection against long payment times.
Original (Swedish)
Planens tyngsta åtagande på området är att den inre marknaden ska utvecklas och regelverk harmoniseras, och att lagar ska slå vakt om konkurrens på lika villkor. En EU-reglering mot sena betalningar vid affärstransaktioner är just en sådan gemensam spelregel, och planen ger inget stöd för att invända mot EU-kompetensen här. Att regelbördan för små företag ska minska talar snarast för skydd mot långa betalningstider.
- developed internal marketdecisive»Den inre marknaden ska utvecklas« (party programme ↗)“The internal market must be developed”
- fair competition»slå vakt om äganderätt, konkurrens på lika villkor, rättssäkerhet« (party programme ↗)“protect property rights, fair competition, rule of law”
- deepened internal market»Vi ska stärka EU som frihandelsunion med en fördjupad inre marknad, värna den fria rörligheten i Europa och verka för fler frihandelsavtal med omvärlden.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“We must strengthen the EU as a free trade union with a deepened internal market, protect free movement in Europe and work for more free trade agreements with the outside world.”
- easier conditions for small businesses»Regelbördan för små företag ska minska« (party programme ↗)“The regulatory burden on small businesses must decrease”
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 a clear delimitation of the EU's tasks to prevent unwelcome centralization and stipulates that the market economy is built on voluntary contracts between independent actors.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan requires a clear delimitation of the EU's tasks to prevent unwelcome centralization and stipulates that the market economy is built on voluntary contracts between independent actors. Mandatory payment terms and prohibitions on refraining from late payment interest therefore go further than the plan accepts. EU rules should instead simplify and improve competition, and new laws should be tested from a small business perspective.
Original (Swedish)
Planen kräver en tydlig avgränsning av EU:s uppgifter för att förhindra ovälkommen centralisering och slår fast att marknadsekonomin bygger på frivilliga avtal mellan självständiga aktörer. Tvingande betalningstider och förbud mot att avstå från dröjsmålsränta går därmed längre än planen accepterar. EU-regler ska i stället förenkla och förbättra konkurrensen, och nya lagar ska prövas ur ett småföretagarperspektiv.
- delimited EU competencedecisive»En avgränsning av EU:s uppgifter är nödvändig för att« (party programme ↗)“A delimitation of the EU's tasks is necessary to”
- contract freedom and property rights»fritt kan äga, förvärva och förvalta egendom och företag.« (party programme ↗)“freely can own, acquire and manage property and enterprises.”
- simplified EU rules»Det måste ske genom att förenkla regler och förbättra konkurrensen« (party programme ↗)“This must be done by simplifying rules and improving competition”
- small business perspective»Tillkommande lagar bör prövas ur ett småföretagarperspektiv.« (party programme ↗)“New laws should be tested from a small business perspective.”
The plan states that the EU shall neither do nor decide on everything and that decisions shall be made at the lowest possible level, and that overregulation and overimplementation shall be countered.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan states that the EU shall neither do nor decide on everything and that decisions shall be made at the lowest possible level, and that overregulation and overimplementation shall be countered. An EU regulation with mandatory payment terms and a ban on waiving default interest interferes with companies' contractual freedom in precisely the way the plan opposes. The counter-proposal's demand not to object to the proposal therefore lacks support in the plan.
Original (Swedish)
Planen slår fast att EU varken ska göra eller besluta om allt och att beslut ska fattas på lägsta möjliga nivå, samt att överreglering och överimplementering ska motverkas. En EU-förordning med tvingande betalningstider och förbud mot att avstå dröjsmålsränta griper in i företagens avtalsfrihet på just det sätt planen vänder sig mot. Motförslagets krav att inte invända mot förslaget saknar därför stöd i planen.
- subsidiarity in the EUdecisive»EU ska varken göra eller fatta beslut om allt. Beslut ska fattas på lägsta möjliga nivå, så nära medborgarna som möjligt.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The EU shall neither do nor decide on everything. Decisions shall be made at the lowest possible level, as close to citizens as possible.”
- against overregulation»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 red tape and unnecessary bureaucracy, among other things by countering overimplementation in Sweden of EU decisions – as a general rule EU directives shall be implemented at minimum level”
- contractual freedom and market economy»Grunden för Sveriges välstånd är en marknadsekonomi baserad« (party programme ↗)“The foundation for Sweden's prosperity is a market economy based”
- member states' competence»Men EU ska aldrig utvecklas på medlemsstaternas bekostnad.« (party programme ↗)“But the EU shall never develop at the expense of member states.”
flags: citat_migrerat
The plan requires that transfers of power to the EU be stopped, that intergovernmentalism be re-established and views very negatively any initiatives that increase the EU's grip on economic policy.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan requires that transfers of power to the EU be stopped, that intergovernmentalism be re-established and views very negatively any initiatives that increase the EU's grip on economic policy. The counter-proposal instead wants a binding EU regulation of payment terms to be introduced without objection. This contradicts the plan's commitment to national self-determination and its demands for fewer and less cost-driving rules for businesses.
Original (Swedish)
Planen kräver att maktöverföringar till EU stoppas, att mellanstatligheten återupprättas och ser mycket negativt på initiativ som ökar EU:s grepp över den ekonomiska politiken. Motförslaget vill i stället att en tvingande EU-reglering av betalningstider införs utan invändning. Det strider mot planens åtagande om nationellt självbestämmande och mot dess krav på färre och mindre kostnadsdrivande regler för företagen.
- stop transfer of power to the EUdecisive»Stoppa maktöverföringar och EU-skatter« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Stop transfers of power and EU taxes”
- against EU-controlled economic policy»Vi ser mycket negativt på flera planerade initiativ som ökar EU:s grepp över den ekonomiska politiken samt på förslag på införandet av nya EU-skatter och avskaffad vetorätt inom utrikespolitiken.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“We view very negatively several planned initiatives that increase the EU's grip on economic policy as well as proposals for new EU taxes and abolition of the right of veto in foreign policy.”
- intergovernmentalism before supranationalism»Återupprätta mellanstatligheten och stärka väljarnas påverkansmöjligheter« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Re-establish intergovernmentalism and strengthen voters' ability to influence”
- regulatory simplification for businesses»Verka för regelförenkling och avlasta småföretagens administrativa börda« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Work for regulatory simplification and reduce the administrative burden on small businesses”
Share and embed
Sources and documents
- The committee report on riksdagen.se (2023/24:CU18)
- Committee report full text (HB01CU18)
- Per-MP voting data (API)
- Case status (API)
Source: The Swedish Parliament