2025-11-122025/26:KU12 · p.2KUConstitution
The future design of legislation
The primacy of the constitution and the use of dynamic references in implementing the EU Media Freedom Act
What's at stake: The decision affects the balance between EU-level regulation of the media market and the constitutional protection for press and freedom of expression that already exists in Sweden, as well as how much ongoing influence the Riksdag retains over media legislation as the EU's rules change over time.
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 it is sufficient for the legislation to refer dynamically to the EU Media Freedom Act, as it applies at any given time, without an explicit statutory statement that the Freedom of the Press Act and the Fundamental Law on Freedom of Expression take precedence, or whether the law should instead explicitly establish the primacy of the constitution and use static references to safeguard national control over media legislation.
Yes Yes — the committee proposal
The committee notes that the purpose of the Media Freedom Act is to introduce common minimum standards and that the regulation does not prevent member states from having more detailed or stricter rules. A dynamic reference technique means that references relate to the EU legal act as it applies at any given time, but according to the committee this does not prevent the need for legislative changes from being examined even though national legislation normally does not need to change when the EU act changes. Swedish interests are also monitored on an ongoing basis in legislative processes at EU level. Against that background, the committee sees no reason to take any initiative in response to the motions calling for the constitution's primacy to be strengthened or for changes to the use of dynamic references, and the motions are rejected by the committee.
No No — the reservations
Reservation 1 (SD)
The reservation (SD) points out that Sweden has one of the world's strongest constitutional protections for press and freedom of expression through the Freedom of the Press Act and the Fundamental Law on Freedom of Expression, and that several consultation bodies have expressed concern that the government's proposal does not clearly guarantee the primacy of the constitution. The reservation holds that this must be explicitly established and that the government should ensure that the Media Freedom Act is not applied in a way that restricts the constitutional protection that already exists. By using a dynamic reference technique, every future change at EU level automatically becomes applicable Swedish law, according to the reservation, which undermines national self-determination and risks giving the EU direct power over Swedish media. The reservation holds that it is the Riksdag that should decide on Swedish legislation and therefore calls for the government's proposal on dynamic references to be rejected.
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 1 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 | Yes 18/0/0/4 | departs from the plan | confidence: high | derived |
| S | No | Yes 93/0/0/13 | departs from the plan | confidence: low | derived |
| MP | Yes | Yes 15/0/0/3 | follows the plan | confidence: low | derived |
| C | No | Yes 21/0/0/3 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | derived |
| L | Yes | Yes 13/0/0/3 | follows the plan | confidence: medium | derived |
| KD | No | Yes 16/0/0/3 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | derived |
| M | No | Yes 60/0/0/8 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | derived |
| SD | No | No 0/63/0/9 | follows the plan | confidence: high | explicit |
Committee proposal
The Riksdag rejects motion 2025/26:213 by Michael Rubbestad et al. (SD) propositions 1 and 2.
Original (Swedish)
Riksdagen avslår motion 2025/26:213 av Michael Rubbestad m.fl. (SD) yrkandena 1 och 2.
Riksdag decision: The Riksdag approved the government's proposal to bring together provisions that complement the EU Media Freedom Regulation in a new law. The proposal means among other things that The Media Authority will have supervisory responsibility and, among other things, monitor rules, manage a new database of media ownership and assess media concentrations. media service providers shall have an obligation to provide information to the Media Authority, such as the provider's legal name and contact information. The purpose of the Media Freedom Regulation is among other things to promote media pluralism, protect journalists and ensure that media companies can operate independently, without political or economic influence. The proposal also includes an amendment to the new law. The amendment is because certain provisions of the law are to enter into force at a later date. The new law enters into force on 1 January 2026 and certain amendments to the law enter into force on 8 May 2027.
Counter-proposals
- The counter-proposal wants to ensure that the EU's media freedom regulation does not restrict the protection for press and expression freedom provided in the Swedish press freedom and free speech basic laws. (SD) — 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 states that international cooperation must be built with national self-determination as the foundation and that EU law contains unreasonable restrictions on member states' right to implement their own policy.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan states that international cooperation must be built with national self-determination as the foundation and that EU law contains unreasonable restrictions on member states' right to implement their own policy. Explicitly establishing the primacy of the constitution and limiting dynamic references protects exactly that self-determination, and Swedish constitutional protection for freedom of the press and expression is, according to the plan, one of democracy's most important building blocks. The counter-proposal's demands are therefore supported by the plan.
Original (Swedish)
Planen slår fast att internationella samarbeten ska byggas med den nationella självbestämmanderätten som grund och att EU-rätten innehåller orimliga begränsningar av medlemsländernas rätt att genomföra sin egen politik. Att uttryckligen slå fast grundlagarnas företräde och begränsa dynamiska hänvisningar skyddar just det självbestämmandet, och det svenska grundlagsskyddet för tryck- och yttrandefriheten är enligt planen en av demokratins viktigaste byggstenar. Motförslagets krav stöds därför av planen.
- national self-determinationdecisive»Väl fungerande internationella samarbeten behöver byggas med den nationella självbestämmanderätten som grund.« (party programme ↗)“Well-functioning international cooperation needs to be built with national self-determination as the foundation.”
- EU restricts democracy»EU-rätten innehåller orimliga begränsningar av medlemsländernas rätt att genomföra den politik de vill, även när besluten har fattats demokratiskt.« (party programme ↗)“EU law contains unreasonable restrictions on member states' right to implement the policy they want, even when decisions have been made democratically.”
- press and expression freedom»Några av den politiska demokratins viktigaste byggstenar är föreningsfriheten, yttrande- och tryckfriheten, demonstrationsfriheten, meddelarfriheten och offentlighetsprincipen.« (party programme ↗)“Some of democracy's most important building blocks are freedom of association, freedom of expression and freedom of the press, freedom to demonstrate, the right to inform the public and the principle of public access to official records.”
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 requires free and independent media as well as protection for civil liberties and rights, and wants to constitutionally protect public service.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan requires free and independent media as well as protection for civil liberties and rights, and wants to constitutionally protect public service. It also establishes that national self-determination shall remain for certain issues. This supports the counter-proposal's demand that the priority of constitutions is explicitly stated and that the national legislator, not an automatic referral mechanism, determines the content. The plan's strong EU line makes the assessment uncertain.
Original (Swedish)
Planen kräver fri och oberoende media samt skydd för medborgerliga fri- och rättigheter, och vill grundlagsskydda public service. Den slår också fast att den nationella bestämmanderätten ska vara kvar för vissa frågor. Det ger stöd åt motförslagets krav på att grundlagarnas företräde slås fast uttryckligen och att den nationella lagstiftaren, inte en automatisk hänvisningsmekanism, avgör innehållet. Planens starka EU-linje gör bedömningen osäker.
- free and independent mediadecisive»Fri och oberoende media.« (party programme ↗)“Free and independent media.”
- protection of liberties and rights»Skydd för medborgerliga fri- och rättigheter.« (party programme ↗)“Protection of civil liberties and rights.”
- preserved national self-determination»För andra frågor, som exempelvis skatter, ska den nationella bestämmanderätten vara kvar.« (party programme ↗)“For other issues, such as for example taxes, national self-determination shall remain.”
- constitutionally protected public service»Bred, oberoende och grundlagsskyddad public service som är gemensamt finansierad.« (party programme ↗)“Broad, independent and constitutionally protected public service that is jointly financed.”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
The plan sees the EU as a peace project to value and develop and means that cross-border problems require more cooperation, not less.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan sees the EU as a peace project to value and develop and means that cross-border problems require more cooperation, not less. The counter-proposal's requirement that the primacy of the constitution be written in explicitly and that dynamic references be limited is based on a national sovereignty argument that the plan does not support. The plan strongly values freedom of expression, however, so the conclusion is uncertain.
Original (Swedish)
Planen ser EU som ett fredsprojekt att värna och utveckla och menar att gränsöverskridande problem kräver mer samarbete, inte mindre. Motförslagets krav på att grundlagarnas företräde skrivs in uttryckligen och att dynamiska hänvisningar begränsas bygger på ett nationellt suveränitetsargument som planen inte ställer sig bakom. Planen värnar samtidigt yttrandefriheten starkt, varför slutsatsen är osäker.
- EU valued and developeddecisive»Den Europeiska unionen är i grunden ett fredsprojekt som Miljöpartiet värnar och vill« (party programme ↗)“The European Union is fundamentally a peace project that the Greens value and want to”
- more cross-border cooperation»Vi är övertygade om att det behövs mer samarbete mellan länder för att lösa« (party programme ↗)“We are convinced that there is a need for more cooperation between countries to solve”
- strong freedom of expression»förstärka yttrandefriheten och stödja oberoende medier i hela landet« (2022 manifesto ↗)“strengthen freedom of expression and support independent media across the country”
The plan regards the constitutionally protected freedoms and rights, including freedom of press and expression, as self-evident and guaranteed, and wants press freedom to be protected.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan regards the constitutionally protected freedoms and rights, including freedom of press and expression, as self-evident and guaranteed, and wants press freedom to be protected. At the same time, it wants the EU to do fewer things and for questions to be moved back to the national level, rather than Union law automatically taking effect. Stating the superiority of the constitutions and limiting dynamic references in the media area follows from that combination.
Original (Swedish)
Planen betraktar de grundlagsskyddade fri- och rättigheterna, inklusive tryck- och yttrandefriheten, som självklara och garanterade, och vill att pressfriheten skyddas. Den vill samtidigt att EU gör färre saker och att frågor kan flyttas tillbaka till nationell nivå, snarare än att unionsrätten automatiskt får genomslag. Att slå fast grundlagarnas företräde och begränsa dynamiska hänvisningar på medieområdet följer av den kombinationen.
- constitutionally protected freedoms and rightsdecisive»För oss är de grundlagsskyddade fri- och rättigheterna« (party programme ↗)“For us, the constitutionally protected freedoms and rights”
- protected press freedom»En allsidig, oberoende och livskraftig mediebevakning i hela landet är avgörande för demokratin. Pressfriheten ska skyddas och oberoende public service försvaras.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Comprehensive, independent and vigorous media monitoring throughout the country is crucial for democracy. Press freedom should be protected and independent public service defended.”
- limited EU power»Unionens byråkrati får inte överskugga demokratin.« (party programme ↗)“The Union's bureaucracy must not overshadow democracy.”
- national self-determination»öppna för att frågor flyttas tillbaka från EU till nationell nivå« (party programme ↗)“open to questions being moved back from the EU to the national level”
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 Sweden's strong freedom of the press and freedom of expression regulation shall be defended within the framework of European cooperation, not by giving national law explicit priority over EU law.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan establishes that Sweden's strong freedom of the press and freedom of expression regulation shall be defended within the framework of European cooperation, not by giving national law explicit priority over EU law. It wants Sweden to participate fully in European cooperation and has as vision a federal Europe. The counter-proposal's requirement for statutory constitutional priority and abandoning dynamic references thereby conflicts with the plan's direction.
Original (Swedish)
Planen slår fast att den starka svenska tryck- och yttrandefrihetsregleringen ska försvaras inom ramen för det europeiska samarbetet, inte genom att nationell rätt ges uttryckligt företräde framför EU-rätten. Den vill att Sverige deltar fullt ut i Europasamarbetet och har som vision ett federalt Europa. Motförslagets krav på lagfäst grundlagsföreträde och att dynamiska hänvisningar överges strider därmed mot planens linje.
- constitutional protection within EU cooperationdecisive»reglering i Sverige och denna måste fortsatt försvaras inom ramen för det europeiska samarbetet.« (party programme ↗)“regulation in Sweden and this must continue to be defended within the framework of European cooperation.”
- full participation in the EU»vill vi att Sverige ska delta fullt ut i Europasamarbetet och sträva efter att vara en del av EU:s« (party programme ↗)“we want Sweden to fully participate in European cooperation and strive to be part of the EU's”
- federal Europe»Vår vision är ett federalt Europa som står starkt och enat i de frågor där samarbete behövs, och« (party programme ↗)“Our vision is a federal Europe that stands strong and united on issues where cooperation is needed, and”
- independence of the media»Mediernas oberoende måste värnas.« (party programme ↗)“The independence of the media must be valued.”
The party programme establishes that the public may not intervene against freedom of expression except in the manner prescribed by the constitution, that the EU's tasks must be limited to prevent unwelcome centralization and that member states themselves shall approve the transfer of decision-making authority.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The party programme establishes that the public may not intervene against freedom of expression except in the manner prescribed by the constitution, that the EU's tasks must be limited to prevent unwelcome centralization and that member states themselves shall approve the transfer of decision-making authority. The counter-proposal's requirements for explicit constitutional priority and that the national legislator, not an automatic referral mechanism, determines the content follow from this.
Original (Swedish)
Principprogrammet slår fast att det allmänna inte får ingripa mot yttrandefriheten annat än i den ordning grundlagen föreskriver, att EU:s uppgifter måste avgränsas för att förhindra ovälkommen centralisering och att medlemsstaterna själva ska godkänna överföring av beslutsrätt. Motförslagets krav på uttryckligt grundlagsföreträde och på att den nationella lagstiftaren, inte en automatisk hänvisningsmekanism, avgör innehållet följer av detta.
- constitutionally protected freedom of expressiondecisive»det allmänna inte får ingripa mot yttrandefriheten, annat än i de fall och den ordning som föreskrivs i grundlagen.« (party programme ↗)“the public may not intervene against freedom of expression, except in the cases and manner prescribed by the constitution.”
- limited EU competence»En avgränsning av EU:s uppgifter är nödvändig för att förhindra ovälkommen centralisering.« (party programme ↗)“A limitation of the EU's tasks is necessary to prevent unwelcome centralization.”
- national approval of EU power»Ändringar i fördragen ska beslutas med enhällighet.« (party programme ↗)“Amendments to the treaties shall be decided unanimously.”
- strong protection of communicator freedom»Ett starkt skydd för yttrande- och meddelarfriheten samt anonymitetsskyddet, liksom för mötes- och före- ningsfriheten, är av stor vikt för en levande demokrati.« (party programme ↗)“Strong protection for freedom of expression and communication friedom and anonymity protection, as well as for freedom of assembly and association, is of great importance for a living democracy.”
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 establishes that the constitutions shall provide irrevocable protection for freedom of expression and the press, and that the EU shall never develop at the expense of the member states, with decisions made at the lowest possible level and EU law implemented at minimum level.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan establishes that the constitutions shall provide irrevocable protection for freedom of expression and the press, and that the EU shall never develop at the expense of the member states, with decisions made at the lowest possible level and EU law implemented at minimum level. An explicitly established constitutional precedence and limited use of dynamic references follow from these commitments. The plan therefore supports the counter-proposal's demands.
Original (Swedish)
Planen slår fast att grundlagarna ska ge ett oavvisligt skydd för yttrande- och pressfriheten och att EU aldrig ska utvecklas på medlemsstaternas bekostnad, med beslut på lägsta möjliga nivå och EU-rätt genomförd på miniminivå. Ett uttryckligt fastslaget grundlagsföreträde och en begränsad användning av dynamiska hänvisningar följer av dessa åtaganden. Planen ger därför stöd åt motförslagets krav.
- irrevocable constitutional protectiondecisive»Våra grundlagar ska ge ett oavvisligt skydd för« (party programme ↗)“Our constitutions shall provide irrevocable protection for”
- member state sovereignty»Men EU ska aldrig utvecklas på medlemsstaternas bekostnad.« (party programme ↗)“But the EU shall never develop at the expense of the member states.”
- subsidiarity»Beslut ska fattas på lägsta möjliga nivå, så nära medborgarna som möjligt.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Decisions shall be made at the lowest possible level, as close to citizens as possible.”
- clear rights catalogue»Vår svenska grundlag ska ha en tydlig katalog av fri- och rättigheter.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Our Swedish constitution shall have a clear catalogue of freedoms and rights.”
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 wants to defend freedom of speech against EU censorship and prevent directives from the EU about what content is allowed to be provided through digital services.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan explicitly wants to defend freedom of speech against EU censorship and prevent directives from the EU about what content is allowed to be provided through digital services. The counter-proposal's requirement that the supremacy of the Constitution is established and that dynamic references to EU law are avoided responds directly to that commitment and to the plan's requirement for stopped power transfers. National self-determination is a core principle in the plan.
Original (Swedish)
Planen vill uttryckligen försvara yttrandefriheten mot EU-censur och förhindra pekpinnar från EU om vilket innehåll som får tillhandahållas i digitala tjänster. Motförslagets krav på att grundlagarnas företräde slås fast och att dynamiska hänvisningar till EU-rätten undviks svarar direkt mot det åtagandet och mot planens krav på stoppade maktöverföringar. Nationellt självbestämmande är en bärande princip i planen.
- against EU censorshipdecisive»Försvara yttrandefriheten mot EU-censur och politiska påverkansoperationer« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Defend freedom of speech against EU censorship and political influence operations”
- no to EU-controlled media content»Sverigedemokraterna vill förhindra pekpinnar från EU som hotar att bestämma vilket innehåll som får tillhandahållas genom digitala tjänster och hur material får spridas på Internet.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Sweden Democrats want to prevent directives from the EU that threaten to determine what content is allowed to be provided through digital services and how material may be spread on the Internet.”
- stop power transfer»Stoppa maktöverföringar och EU-skatter« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Stop power transfers and EU taxes”
- national self-determination»Stärka det nationella självbestämmandet« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Strengthen national self-determination”
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Sources and documents
- The committee report on riksdagen.se (2025/26:KU12)
- Committee report full text (HD01KU12)
- Per-MP voting data (API)
- Case status (API)
Documents under consideration
- Motion 2025/26:213 — med anledning av prop. 2024/25:197 Kompletterande bestämmelser till EU:s mediefrihetsförordning av Michael Rubbestad m.fl. (SD)
- Proposition 2024/25:197 — Kompletterande bestämmelser till EU:s mediefrihetsförordning
Source: The Swedish Parliament