2024-10-232024/25:MJU4 · p.6MJUEnvironment & agriculture

Follow-up and Further Measures Regarding Permit Processes

Follow-up on permitting processes in environmental review

What's at stake: Faster, clearer permitting processes affect how quickly companies can invest in new green technology and infrastructure, which in turn affects jobs, competitiveness, and the pace of the green transition.

Case texts and AI reasoning are AI-translated from the Swedish originals; the Swedish text is authoritative.

What the vote decides

Whether parliament should direct the government to bring forward further measures to shorten lead times in permitting processes, or whether work already under way is sufficient.

Yes Yes — the committee proposal

The committee rejects the motion. It shares the government's assessment that ongoing review work — including further simplification and shortening of environmental permit review under the environmental code — makes it unnecessary to direct a new call on the government for further measures to shorten lead times.

No No — the reservations

Reservation 7 (C)

The Centre Party argues that far more needs to be done: the environmental code should be reformed with a climate-benefit balancing rule, government contact with business should be consolidated through the county administrative board into a single clear point of entry, and a temporary licensing commission — modelled on the Defence Commission — should be set up to resolve companies' biggest permitting problems within a year, since the government took two years to produce this bill and has done too little to make environmental permitting more efficient.

Summarised from the committee report. Party labels in the summary come from the report, not from the vote.

VSMPCLKDMSD
YesNoAbstainAbsent

What do the votes mean here?

Yes The committee proposal: rejecting the motions (keeping things as they are).

No Backing the counter-proposal: reservation 7 by C.

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: SSocialdemokraterna

Ja 274–19Ja 185–108

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.

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.

PlanVoteConfidenceEvidence
VYesYes 20/0/0/4follows the planconfidence: lownot addressed
SNoYes 89/0/0/17departs from the planagainst own programmeconfidence: mediumexplicit
MPYesYes 15/0/0/3follows the planconfidence: lownot addressed
Cown reservationNoNo 0/19/0/5follows the planconfidence: highexplicit
LNoYes 13/0/0/3departs from the planconfidence: mediumnot addressed
KDNoYes 16/0/0/3departs from the planconfidence: mediumnot addressed
MNoYes 57/0/0/11departs from the planconfidence: mediumnot addressed
SDNoYes 62/0/0/10departs from the planconfidence: highnot addressed

Committee proposal

The Riksdag rejects motion 2023/24:2914 by Stina Larsson et al. (C) points 1 and 2.

Original (Swedish)

Riksdagen avslår motion 2023/24:2914 av Stina Larsson m.fl. (C) yrkandena 1 och 2.

Riksdag decision: The Riksdag voted in favor of the government's proposal for steps towards more efficient environmental review. The purpose of the law changes is to create a more modern and efficient environmental review and to simplify the regulatory framework through greater uniformity and clearer requirement levels. Among other things, so-called modification permits (ändringstillstånd) shall be able to be used to a greater extent than today, in order that the willingness to invest is not hindered and that the implementation of new technology is not delayed. Furthermore, the validity period of time-limited permits shall be able to be extended by three years. The law changes also mean that the county administrative board's (länsstyrelsen's) tasks under the scoping consultation (avgränsningssamrådet) shall be developed to increase the possibility of obtaining good background material. The number of party authorities is also reduced as Kammarkollegiet (Supreme Administrative Court of Appeal) shall no longer be such an authority. Further, changes are made so that more oral proceedings are held and the use of schedules increases. Furthermore, more cases shall be decided without main hearings and the scope for digital processing shall increase. The new provisions shall enter into force on 1 January 2025.

Counter-proposals

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.

VVänsterpartietYesYesfollows the plannot addressed

The counter-proposal's main requirement is significantly more efficient permit processes based on companies' main problems, with a temporary permit-preparation body and a pathway in.

Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto

Reasoning and quotes

The counter-proposal's main requirement is significantly more efficient permit processes based on companies' main problems, with a temporary permit-preparation body and a pathway in. The plan, conversely, wants ambitious environmental goals to be followed up with strict legislation and assumes that profit-driven companies are unable to see the broader consequences of their decisions. The plan simultaneously requires that strategic technology shifts be implemented decisively and strengthened direction based on stricter climate goals, which makes the assessment uncertain, but it does not support the requirement for relaxed assessment.

Original (Swedish)

Motförslagets huvudkrav är betydligt effektivare tillståndsprocesser utifrån företagens största problem, med en tillfällig tillståndsberedning och en väg in. Planen vill tvärtom att ambitiösa miljömål följs upp med skarp lagstiftning och utgår från att vinstdrivande företag inte förmår se de större konsekvenserna av sina beslut. Planen kräver samtidigt att strategiska teknikskiften genomförs beslutsamt och stärkt styrning utifrån skärpta klimatmål, vilket gör bedömningen osäker, men den bär inte kravet på uppluckrad prövning.

  • strict environmental legislationdecisive»miljömål som följs upp med skarp lagstiftning och praktiskt arbete.« (party programme ↗)“environmental goals that are followed up with strict legislation and practical work.”
  • companies' short-termism»Vinstdrivande företag är inte gjorda för att lyfta blicken och se de« (party programme ↗)“Profit-driven companies are not made to look up and see the”
  • strengthened direction and stricter climate goals»Investeringar i grön teknik, industri och infrastruktur, utbyggd energikapacitet och stärkt styrning utifrån nya, skärpta klimatmål behövs.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Investments in green technology, industry and infrastructure, expanded energy capacity and strengthened direction based on new, stricter climate goals are needed.”
  • strategic technology shifts»Vi vill att Sverige beslutsamt genomför de strategiska teknikskiften« (party programme ↗)“We want Sweden to decisively implement the strategic technology shifts”
SSocialdemokraternaNoYesdeparts from the planexplicit

The election manifesto explicitly states that slow licensing processes should be accelerated and that long-term conditions for business should be strengthened, with state investments that increase the pace of industrial transformation.

Plan documents: 2022 manifesto

Reasoning and quotes

The election manifesto explicitly states that slow licensing processes should be accelerated and that long-term conditions for business should be strengthened, with state investments that increase the pace of industrial transformation. The counter-proposal's requirement for significantly more efficient licensing processes, a clear path in, and that climate benefits are weighed in is consistent with the plan's link between climate leadership and growth. The plan does not comment on ongoing investigation work.

Original (Swedish)

Valmanifestet säger uttryckligen att långsamma tillståndsprocesser ska snabbas på och att de långsiktiga förutsättningarna för företagande ska stärkas, med statliga investeringar som ökar takten i industrins omställning. Motförslagets krav på betydligt effektivare tillståndsprocesser, en tydlig väg in och att klimatnytta vägs in ligger i linje med planens koppling mellan klimatledarskap och tillväxt. Planen uttalar sig inte om pågående utredningsarbete.

  • faster licensing processesdecisive»Långsamma tillståndsprocesser ska snabbas på.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Slow licensing processes should be accelerated.”
  • better conditions for business»Stärk de långsiktiga förutsättningarna för företagande och innovation.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Strengthen the long-term conditions for business and innovation.”
  • state investments in transformation»Genom statliga investeringar kan vi öka takten i industrins omställning och underlätta ett klimatsmart liv.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Through state investments we can increase the pace of industrial transformation and facilitate climate-smart living.”
  • climate benefits create growth»Genom att gå före kan Sverige göra en insats både för klimatet och för tillväxten i vårt land.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“By leading the way Sweden can make a contribution both to the climate and to growth in our country.”

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.

MPMiljöpartietYesYesfollows the plannot addressed

The counter-proposal requires generally more efficient permit processes for industry and infrastructure and a special route in for business.

Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto

Reasoning and quotes

The counter-proposal requires generally more efficient permit processes for industry and infrastructure and a special route in for business. The plan prioritises environmental considerations over short-term exploitation interests and requires that activities stay within the limits set by nature, which speaks against broad loosening of assessment. The plan does want offshore wind power to be built quickly, so support for faster assessment according to the plan applies to the transition, not permit-giving in general.

Original (Swedish)

Motförslaget kräver generellt effektivare tillståndsprocesser för industri och infrastruktur och en särskild väg in för näringslivet. Planen sätter miljöhänsyn före kortsiktiga exploateringsintressen och kräver att verksamhet håller sig inom naturens ramar, vilket talar mot en bred uppluckring av prövningen. Planen vill dock att havsbaserad vindkraft byggs snabbt, så stödet för snabbare prövning gäller enligt planen omställningen, inte tillståndsgivningen i stort.

  • environmental considerations before exploitationdecisive»Miljöhänsyn ska väga tyngre än« (party programme ↗)“Environmental considerations shall weigh more heavily than”
  • nature's limits as boundary»All verksamhet måste hålla sig inom de ramar naturen sätter.« (party programme ↗)“All activities must stay within the limits nature sets.”
  • long-termism before profit interest»och balans ska prioriteras före kortsiktiga vinstintressen.« (party programme ↗)“and balance shall be prioritised before short-term profit interests.”
  • rapid offshore wind expansion»bygga ut vindkraften till havs snabbt i hela landet, med hänsyn till livet i havet.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“expand wind power at sea quickly across the country, with consideration for life in the sea.”
CCenterpartietNoNofollows the planexplicit

The counter-proposal requires that the Environmental Code be reformed so that climate benefit is weighed in, that the state's contacts with business are collected in one point and that a temporary permit preparation solves business's biggest problems within a year.

Plan documents: 2022 manifesto

Reasoning and quotes

The counter-proposal requires that the Environmental Code be reformed so that climate benefit is weighed in, that the state's contacts with business are collected in one point and that a temporary permit preparation solves business's biggest problems within a year. The plan contains the same commitments: halved permit processing times, reformed Environmental Code with greater weight for climate benefit and a crisis commission for faster emission-free electricity production. The plan therefore directly supports the counter-proposal's requirement.

Original (Swedish)

Motförslaget kräver att miljöbalken reformeras så att klimatnyttan vägs in, att statens kontakter med näringslivet samlas i en väg in och att en tillfällig tillståndsberedning löser företagens största problem inom ett år. Planen innehåller samma åtaganden: halverade tillståndstider, reformerad miljöbalk med större vikt för klimatnyttan och en kriskommission för snabbare utsläppsfri elproduktion. Planen bär därmed direkt upp motförslagets krav.

  • reformed Environmental Codedecisive»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 get permits for green investments and reform the Environmental Code so that a project's climate benefit is given greater weight in environmental assessment.”
  • crisis commission for permits»Det krävs en kriskommission för att snabbare öka Sveriges utsläppsfria elproduktion och tillstånd för vindkraft ska få ta max två år.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“It requires a crisis commission to faster increase Sweden's emission-free electricity production and permits for wind power should take a maximum of two years.”
  • sort out red tape»Rensa upp i regelträsket för entreprenörer, stora som små.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Sort out the red tape for entrepreneurs, large and small.”
  • reduced bureaucracy»Dyra, krångliga och innovationshämmande regelverk ligger som en våt filt över delar av landsbygden. Vi ska rensa upp bland överflödiga regler och byråkrati.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Expensive, complicated and innovation-inhibiting regulations lie like a wet blanket over parts of the countryside. We shall sort out unnecessary rules and bureaucracy.”
LLiberalernaNoYesdeparts from the plannot addressed

The election manifesto wants to modernise regulations so that new fossil-free production can get in place and notes that the transition requires twice as much electricity, while the party programme makes it politics' task to quickly remove obstacles for companies.

Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme

Reasoning and quotes

The election manifesto wants to modernise regulations so that new fossil-free production can get in place and notes that the transition requires twice as much electricity, while the party programme makes it politics' task to quickly remove obstacles for companies. Demands for more efficient permit processes, an entry pathway and temporary permit processing follow from this. The plan does not address the Environmental Code's design, so coverage is derived.

Original (Swedish)

Valmanifestet vill modernisera regelverken för att ny fossilfri produktion ska komma på plats och konstaterar att omställningen kräver dubbelt så mycket el, medan partiprogrammet gör det till politikens uppgift att snabbt undanröja hinder för företagen. Krav på effektivare tillståndsprocesser, en väg in och en tillfällig tillståndsberedning följer av detta. Miljöbalkens utformning behandlas inte i planen, varför täckningen är härledd.

  • modernised regulationsdecisive»modernisera regelverken och ge kärnkraften betalt för att den alltid finns tillgänglig« (2022 manifesto ↗)“modernise regulations and pay nuclear power for always being available”
  • remove obstacles for companies»Politikens uppgift måste vara att snabbt undanröja hinder« (party programme ↗)“Politics' task must be to quickly remove obstacles”
  • transition requires expansion»Klimatomställningen kräver dubbelt så mycket el som i dag.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Climate transition requires twice as much electricity as today.”
  • decreased regulatory burden»Regelbördan för små företag ska minska« (party programme ↗)“The regulatory burden for small businesses shall 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.

KDKristdemokraternaNoYesdeparts from the plannot addressed

The plan requires that bureaucracy and complicated rules are counteracted, that incoming laws are tested from a small business perspective and that assessment processes are characterised by efficiency and good service spirit.

Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto

Reasoning and quotes

The plan requires that bureaucracy and complicated rules are counteracted, that incoming laws are tested from a small business perspective and that assessment processes are characterised by efficiency and good service spirit. The election manifesto also wants to expand nuclear power with long-term conditions, which presupposes functioning permitting. Requirement for significantly more efficient permit processes, a clear entry path and that climate benefit is weighed in thus lie in the plan's line.

Original (Swedish)

Planen kräver att byråkrati och krångliga regler motverkas, att tillkommande lagar prövas ur ett småföretagarperspektiv och att prövningsprocesser präglas av effektivitet och god serviceanda. Valmanifestet vill dessutom bygga ut kärnkraften med långsiktiga villkor, vilket förutsätter fungerande tillståndsgivning. Krav på betydligt effektivare tillståndsprocesser, en tydlig väg in och att klimatnyttan vägs in ligger därför i planens linje.

  • counteract complicated rulesdecisive»regler ska motverkas. Direkta företagssubventioner avvisas. Tillkommande lagar bör prövas ur ett småföretagarperspektiv.« (party programme ↗)“rules shall be counteracted. Direct business subsidies are rejected. Incoming laws should be tested from a small business perspective.”
  • efficient processes»Men planprocessen måste också präglas av effektivitet och god serviceanda« (party programme ↗)“But the planning process must also be characterised by efficiency and good service spirit”
  • expanded nuclear power»Satsa på kärnkraften med långsiktiga villkor att utvecklas. Förläng befintliga reaktorers drift och bygg ut med nya reaktorer.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Invest in nuclear power with long-term conditions to develop. Extend existing reactors' operation and expand with new reactors.”
  • long-term rules»lagstiftningen och en god etik upprätthålls på marknaden. Det är viktigt att de regler staten ställer upp för« (party programme ↗)“legislation and good ethics are upheld on the market. It is important that the rules the state sets for”

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.

MModeraternaNoYesdeparts from the plannot addressed

The counter-proposal demands reformed environmental law that weighs climate benefit, a clear path for companies via the county board and a temporary permit process that within a year solves the biggest problems.

Plan documents: 2022 manifesto

Reasoning and quotes

The counter-proposal demands reformed environmental law that weighs climate benefit, a clear path for companies via the county board and a temporary permit process that within a year solves the biggest problems. The plan establishes that complicated permit processes can never be accepted, wants to shorten agencies' processing times with an upper time limit and simplify the review for industry and environment. The demand thus lies in the plan's direction, even if these specific tools are not named.

Original (Swedish)

Motförslaget kräver reformerad miljöbalk som väger in klimatnytta, en tydlig väg in för företagen via länsstyrelsen och en tillfällig tillståndsberedning som inom ett år löser de största problemen. Planen slår fast att krångliga tillståndsprocesser aldrig kan accepteras, vill korta handläggningstiderna med en bortre tidsgräns och förenkla prövningen för industri och miljö. Kravet ligger därmed i planens riktning, även om just dessa instrument inte namnges.

  • red tape hinders growthdecisive»Men höga skatter, krångliga tillståndsprocesser och byråkrati sätter käppar i hjulet för innovation och tillväxt. Det kan vi aldrig acceptera.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“But high taxes, complicated permit processes and bureaucracy stand in the way of innovation and growth. We can never accept that.”
  • upper time limit»Korta myndigheternas handläggningstider genom en bortre tidsgräns« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Shorten agencies' processing times through an upper time limit”
  • faster environmental permits»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”
  • less red tape»Ta bort en tredjedel av företagens administrationskostnader och en tredjedel av regelkrånglet« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Remove one-third of companies' administrative costs and one-third of regulatory red tape”

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.

SDSverigedemokraternaNoYesdeparts from the plannot addressed

The plan requires that permit processes for industry, mining, and the electrical grid be streamlined and that authorities take a supportive rather than obstructive role toward businesses.

Plan documents: 2022 manifesto

Reasoning and quotes

The plan requires that permit processes for industry, mining, and the electrical grid be streamlined and that authorities take a supportive rather than obstructive role toward businesses. The counter-proposal's demands for reformed evaluation, a clear path in, and permit preparation that solves companies' major problems within a year is a direct application of that. The plan thus supports the demand.

Original (Swedish)

Planen kräver att tillståndsprocesserna för industri, gruvnäring och elnät effektiviseras och att myndigheterna får en stödjande snarare än hindrande roll mot företagen. Motförslagets krav på en reformerad prövning, en tydlig väg in och en tillståndsberedning som löser företagens största problem inom ett år är en direkt tillämpning av det. Planen stöder därför kravet.

  • streamlined permit processesdecisive»Tillståndsprocesser för gruvnäring, elnätsutbyggnad och industri behöver effektiviseras och göras snabbare.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Permit processes for mining, electrical grid expansion, and industry need to be streamlined and made faster.”
  • supportive authorities»Myndigheterna får inte bli företagens fiender som sätter käppar i hjulen utan måste få en mer stödjande funktion.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Authorities must not become companies' enemies putting obstacles in the way but must have a more supportive function.”
  • stop industry-hindering politics»Symbolpolitiska åtgärder som riskerar att hämma förutsättningarna för industrin ska rivas upp.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Symbolic political measures that risk hampering conditions for industry shall be torn down.”
  • faster permit processing for mines»Det behöver också bli enklare och gå snabbare att öppna gruvor för de mineraler som behövs för exempelvis tillverkning av batterier.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“It also needs to become easier and faster to open mines for the minerals needed for, for example, battery manufacturing.”

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.

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Sources and documents

Documents under consideration

Source: The Swedish Parliament