2023-02-082022/23:NU8 · p.2NUBusiness & energy
Overall regarding regional development
State responsibility for regional development across the country
What's at stake: The decision affects how well coordinated authorities and regions can work to ensure the whole country - cities, towns and rural areas - can develop, and how clearly the state's responsibility for regional development is set out in the governance of authorities. The Swedish National Audit Office has pointed to weak conditions for effective, coordinated state action in this area.
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 government should be tasked with clarifying and reviewing the state's regional-policy responsibility, including through directives to authorities, or whether the current work and division of responsibility should continue unchanged.
Yes Yes — the committee proposal
The committee welcomes the Audit Office's review and notes that the government partly agrees with its findings and intends to consider the recommendations in its continued work, including that several authorities are already required to report on how they contribute to regional development policy. Against that background, the committee rejects the motions, citing ongoing efforts, and proposes that the government communication be filed away.
No No — the reservations
Reservation 1 (S)
S argues that the state's regional-policy responsibility is not clearly enough set out in directives to authorities, which hampers cooperation between regions and agencies, and that the work of meeting parliament's goals for regional development involves many actors at different levels. The party therefore wants the government to review the state's regional-policy responsibility.
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 S.
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 0/0/21/3 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| S | No | No 0/94/0/13 | follows the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| MP | No | Abstain 0/0/14/4 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| C | No | Abstain 1/0/16/7 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| L | No | Yes 14/0/0/2 | departs from the plan | confidence: low | not addressed |
| KD | No | Yes 15/0/0/4 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| M | Yes | Yes 60/0/0/8 | follows the plan | confidence: low | not addressed |
| SD | No | Yes 61/0/0/12 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
Broke with the party line
| CAnders Ådahl (C, Västra Götalands läns västra) | 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
Parliament rejects the motions 2022/23:38 by Elisabeth Thand Ringqvist (C) amendment points 1-4, 2022/23:805 by Fredrik Lundh Sammeli (S), 2022/23:1121 by Elisabeth Thand Ringqvist et al. (C) amendment point 29, 2022/23:1167 by Lars Isacsson et al. (S), 2022/23:1233 by Nooshi Dadgostar et al. (V) amendment point 20, 2022/23:1344 by Peter Hultqvist et al. (S) and 2022/23:1986 by Malin Larsson and Anna-Belle Strömberg (both S).
Original (Swedish)
Riksdagen avslår motionerna 2022/23:38 av Elisabeth Thand Ringqvist (C) yrkandena 1-4, 2022/23:805 av Fredrik Lundh Sammeli (S), 2022/23:1121 av Elisabeth Thand Ringqvist m.fl. (C) yrkande 29, 2022/23:1167 av Lars Isacsson m.fl. (S), 2022/23:1233 av Nooshi Dadgostar m.fl. (V) yrkande 20, 2022/23:1344 av Peter Hultqvist m.fl. (S) och 2022/23:1986 av Malin Larsson och Anna-Belle Strömberg (båda S).
Riksdag decision: The National Audit Office has examined the government's organization, governance and monitoring of regional development policy. An overarching finding is that the government's handling has created weak conditions for effective coordinated government action to achieve the policy's goals. Following the examination, the government submitted a letter stating that it partially agrees with the National Audit Office's findings and will consider the agency's recommendations in continued work. The government also emphasizes that several government agencies, including the county administrative boards, according to their appropriation directions for 2022 should report how they have contributed to the implementation of regional development policy and the integrated rural policy. Parliament has also taken positions on a number of motion proposals dealing with, for example, commercial services in rural areas, location of government agencies and return of funds and production values from natural resources. Parliament voted no to all motion proposals, citing ongoing work, and placed the government's letter on file—that is, concluded the matter.
Counter-proposals
- The counter-proposal wants the state to more clearly mark regional policy considerations in regulations and directives and review regional development responsibility. (S) — 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 requires that the state steps in and takes greater responsibility for expansion and services throughout the country, that regional policy is pursued to reduce gaps and that economic planning takes account of everyone's right to work, education and welfare in all parts of the country.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan requires that the state steps in and takes greater responsibility for expansion and services throughout the country, that regional policy is pursued to reduce gaps and that economic planning takes account of everyone's right to work, education and welfare in all parts of the country. A review of the state's regional policy responsibility in agency governance is in line with this.
Original (Swedish)
Planen kräver att staten går in och tar ett större ansvar för utbyggnad och service i hela landet, att regionalpolitiken drivs för att minska klyftorna och att den ekonomiska planeringen tar hänsyn till allas rätt till arbete, utbildning och välfärd i landets alla delar. En översyn av statens regionalpolitiska ansvar i myndighetsstyrningen ligger i linje med detta.
- greater state responsibilitydecisive»Utbyggnaden av transportinfrastruktur och fiber går alldeles för sakta, staten behöver gå in och ta ett större ansvar för utbyggnaden.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The expansion of transport infrastructure and fiber is going far too slowly, the state needs to step in and take greater responsibility for the expansion.”
- regional policy against gaps»Regionalpolitiken ska därför drivas för att minska klyftorna.« (party programme ↗)“Regional policy should therefore be pursued to reduce gaps.”
- welfare in all parts of the country»allas rätt till arbete, utbildning och social välfärd i landets alla delar.« (party programme ↗)“everyone's right to work, education and social welfare in all parts of the country.”
- services throughout the country»Välfärden måste vara till för alla och finnas överallt.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Welfare must be for everyone and exist everywhere.”
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 it as a national responsibility to maintain basic conditions for growth throughout the country and requires that the state be present everywhere.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan establishes it as a national responsibility to maintain basic conditions for growth throughout the country and requires that the state be present everywhere. If the regional policy responsibility is not clearly inscribed in the agencies' governance, that commitment is not fulfilled. For this reason, a review of the state's regional policy responsibility is supported.
Original (Swedish)
Planen gör det till ett nationellt ansvar att upprätthålla grundläggande förutsättningar för tillväxt i hela landet och kräver att staten finns närvarande överallt. Om det regionalpolitiska ansvaret inte är tydligt inskrivet i myndigheternas styrning uppfylls inte det åtagandet. Därför stöds en översyn av statens regionalpolitiska ansvar.
- national regional policy responsibilitydecisive»Det är ett nationellt ansvar att upprätthålla grundläggande förutsättningar för tillväxt genom en väl utbyggd infrastruktur och en jämn spridning av kunskapscentra över hela landet.« (party programme ↗)“It is a national responsibility to maintain basic conditions for growth through well-developed infrastructure and an even distribution of knowledge centres throughout the country.”
- state presence»Staten ska finnas närvarande i hela landet.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The state shall be present throughout the country.”
- equivalent conditions in the regions»Alla regioner ska därför ge goda förutsättningar för arbete, företagande och studier samt erbjuda goda levnadsvillkor.« (party programme ↗)“All regions shall therefore provide good conditions for work, enterprise and studies as well as offer good living conditions.”
- service throughout the country»För att säkra välfärden i hela landet behöver vi se över skatteutjämningssystemet, så att det garanterar offentlig service av hög kvalitet i hela landet, även i små kommuner som kämpar med sitt befolkningsunderlag.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“To secure welfare throughout the country, we need to review the tax equalisation system so that it guarantees public services of high quality throughout the country, even in small municipalities struggling with their population base.”
The party programme has a decentralist fundamental view where regions and municipalities shall be given increased responsibility, and requires that public functions are available throughout the country and that welfare and jobs are developed throughout the country.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The party programme has a decentralist fundamental view where regions and municipalities shall be given increased responsibility, and requires that public functions are available throughout the country and that welfare and jobs are developed throughout the country. A clearer regional policy responsibility in the management of the agencies is a means for precisely this. The plan therefore supports the counter-proposal's requirement for a review.
Original (Swedish)
Partiprogrammet har en decentralistisk grundsyn där regioner och kommuner ska ges ökat ansvar, och kräver att samhällsfunktioner finns tillgängliga över hela landet och att välfärd och jobb utvecklas i hela landet. Ett tydligare regionalpolitiskt ansvar i styrningen av myndigheterna är ett medel för just detta. Planen stöder därför motförslagets krav på en översyn.
- increased regional responsibilitydecisive»Miljöpartiet har en decentralistisk grundsyn som« (party programme ↗)“The Green Party has a decentralist fundamental view which”
- state presence throughout the country»Samhällsfunktioner som polis, arbetsförmedling och« (party programme ↗)“Public functions such as police, employment agencies and”
- regional development»Ett fungerande samhälle bygger på välfärd, utveckling och högkvalificerade jobb i hela landet.« (party programme ↗)“A functioning society is built on welfare, development and high-skilled jobs throughout the country.”
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 demands that all parts of the country are given equivalent conditions for development and growth and that public service is close and reliable across the country.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan demands that all parts of the country are given equivalent conditions for development and growth and that public service is close and reliable across the country. It explicitly points out that government agencies' presence and understanding of people's situation has diminished and demands that state agencies cooperate better. A review of the state's regional political responsibility in agency administration thus lies in the plan's line.
Original (Swedish)
Planen kräver att alla delar av landet ges likvärdiga förutsättningar för utveckling och tillväxt och att offentlig service är nära och pålitlig i hela landet. Den pekar uttryckligen ut att myndigheternas närvaro och förståelse för människors livssituation minskat och kräver att statliga myndigheter samverkar bättre. En översyn av statens regionalpolitiska ansvar i myndighetsstyrningen ligger därför i planens linje.
- equivalent conditions across the countrydecisive»Alla delar av landet ska ges likvärdiga förutsättningar för utveckling och tillväxt.« (party programme ↗)“All parts of the country shall be given equivalent conditions for development and growth.”
- agencies' lacking presence»På många håll har myndigheters närvaro och förståelse för människors livssituation minskat, vilket leder till lägre tillit.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“In many places government agencies' presence and understanding of people's situation has diminished, which leads to lower trust.”
- agencies must cooperate»Statliga myndigheter måste samverka och arbeta marksnålt när man tar ny mark i anspråk för väg, tåg, el, etc.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“State government agencies must cooperate and work at ground level when new land is brought into use for road, railway, electricity, etc.”
- public service across the country»Offentlig service ska vara nära och pålitlig i hela landet.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Public service shall be close and reliable across the country.”
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 that state authorities are present in all parts of Sweden and that access to state services is secured across the whole country, and it notes that globalisation creates regional opportunities and challenges within the country.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan requires that state authorities are present in all parts of Sweden and that access to state services is secured across the whole country, and it notes that globalisation creates regional opportunities and challenges within the country. To review how the state's regional policy responsibility is written into the direction of agencies aligns with this. The plan nonetheless prefers general measures over new targeted assignments.
Original (Swedish)
Planen kräver att statliga myndigheter finns närvarande i alla delar av Sverige och att tillgången till statlig service säkras i hela landet, och den konstaterar att globaliseringen skapar regionala möjligheter och utmaningar inom landet. Att se över hur statens regionalpolitiska ansvar är inskrivet i myndigheternas styrning ligger i linje med det. Planen föredrar samtidigt generella åtgärder framför nya riktade uppdrag.
- state presence across the countrydecisive»Vägnätet ska fungera och statliga myndigheter ska finnas närvarande i alla delar av Sverige.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The road network shall function and state authorities shall be present in all parts of Sweden.”
- state services across the country»Tillgången till statlig service ska säkras i hela landet.« (party programme ↗)“Access to state services shall be secured across the whole country.”
- regional challenges within the country»Globaliseringen skapar regionala möjligheter och utmaningar inom Sverige.« (party programme ↗)“Globalisation creates regional opportunities and challenges within Sweden.”
- general measures rather than targeted»Viktigast är generella åtgärder för att förbättra« (party programme ↗)“Most important are general measures to improve”
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 counter-proposal wants the state's regional policy responsibility to be reviewed, since it is not sufficiently clearly written into the management of agencies.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The counter-proposal wants the state's regional policy responsibility to be reviewed, since it is not sufficiently clearly written into the management of agencies. The party programme requires an active regional policy, states the state's responsibility for state services being available throughout Sweden and sets the goal that every municipality and region shall be a functioning society. To clarify responsibility in agency management aligns with the plan, which also makes follow-up a political task.
Original (Swedish)
Motförslaget vill att statens regionalpolitiska ansvar ses över, eftersom det inte är tillräckligt tydligt inskrivet i styrningen av myndigheterna. Principprogrammet kräver en aktiv regionalpolitik, slår fast statens ansvar för att den statliga servicen är tillgänglig i hela Sverige och sätter målet att varje kommun och region ska vara ett fungerande samhälle. Att tydliggöra ansvaret i myndighetsstyrningen ligger i linje med planen, som också gör uppföljning till en politisk uppgift.
- active regional policydecisive»Därför krävs en aktiv regionalpolitik.« (party programme ↗)“Therefore an active regional policy is required.”
- state responsibility for services»den statliga servicen är tillgänglig i hela Sverige.« (party programme ↗)“state services are available throughout Sweden.”
- all of Sweden shall live»Målet är att hela Sverige ska leva och att varje kommun och region ska vara ett fungerande samhälle, där« (party programme ↗)“The goal is that all of Sweden shall live and that every municipality and region shall be a functioning society, where”
- follow-up of management»Utvärdering, kostnadsuppföljning och kvalitetskontroll är därför viktiga politiska« (party programme ↗)“Evaluation, cost follow-up and quality control are therefore important political”
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 capitalize on all of Sweden's opportunities, but the way there is through concrete measures like roads, railways and broadband and significantly reduced red tape and bureaucracy – not a new review of the state's regional policy responsibility in government administration.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan wants to capitalize on all of Sweden's opportunities, but the way there is through concrete measures like roads, railways and broadband and significantly reduced red tape and bureaucracy – not a new review of the state's regional policy responsibility in government administration. The party programme emphasizes that politics must prioritize and choose not to do things. The demand is therefore rejected, based on derived principles.
Original (Swedish)
Planen vill ta vara på hela Sveriges möjligheter, men vägen dit är konkreta åtgärder som vägar, järnväg och bredband samt kraftigt minskat regelkrångel och byråkrati - inte en ny översyn av statens regionalpolitiska ansvar i myndighetsstyrningen. Partiprogrammet betonar att politiken måste prioritera och välja bort. Kravet avvisas därför, utifrån härledda principer.
- reduced bureaucracydecisive»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 red tape”
- prioritize core tasks»Politiken har en viktig uppgift att prioritera och välja bort,« (party programme ↗)“Politics has an important task to prioritize and choose not to do things,”
- all of Sweden should function»Moderaterna vill ta vara på hela Sveriges möjligheter.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The Moderate Party wants to capitalize on all of Sweden's opportunities.”
The counter-proposal wants the state's regional political responsibility to be reviewed because it is not sufficiently clearly inscribed in agency governance.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The counter-proposal wants the state's regional political responsibility to be reviewed because it is not sufficiently clearly inscribed in agency governance. The plan states that all of Sweden should flourish and that policy should be pursued for the entire country, and requires that agencies have a supportive rather than hindering function for business throughout the country. A review of the state's regional responsibility is therefore in the plan's direction.
Original (Swedish)
Motförslaget vill att statens regionalpolitiska ansvar ses över eftersom det inte är tillräckligt tydligt inskrivet i myndighetsstyrningen. Planen slår fast att hela Sverige ska leva och att politiken ska föras för hela landet, och kräver att myndigheterna får en stödjande snarare än hindrande funktion för näringsliv i hela landet. En översyn av statens regionala ansvar ligger därför i planens riktning.
- all of Sweden should flourishdecisive»Principen om att hela Sverige skall leva är mycket viktig för Sverigedemokraterna.« (party programme ↗)“The principle that all of Sweden should flourish is very important to Sweden Democrats.”
- policy for the entire country»Bedriva en politik för hela Sverige« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Conduct policy for all of Sweden”
- supportive agency role»Myndigheterna får inte bli företagens fiender som sätter käppar i hjulen utan måste få en mer stödjande funktion.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Agencies must not become the enemies of companies that put spokes in their wheels, but must have a more supportive function.”
- business throughout the country»Underlätta för industri och näringsliv i hela landet« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Facilitate industry and business throughout the country”
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
- The committee report on riksdagen.se (2022/23:NU8)
- Committee report full text (HA01NU8)
- Per-MP voting data (API)
- Case status (API)
Documents under consideration
- Motion 2022/23:1022 — Sverigevänlig skatte- och indrivningspolitik för välfärd, trygghet och företagande av Per Söderlund m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2022/23:1084 — Värdet av vattenkraftsproduktion av Jörgen Berglund (M)
- Motion 2022/23:1121 — Fler företag, fler jobb och stärkt konkurrenskraft i hela landet av Elisabeth Thand Ringqvist m.fl. (C)
- Motion 2022/23:1157 — Göteborg som experimentstad för ny teknik av Dennis Dioukarev och Jimmy Ståhl (båda SD)
- Motion 2022/23:1167 — Hela Sverige ska växa och utvecklas av Lars Isacsson m.fl. (S)
- Motion 2022/23:1208 — Livskraftig skånsk landsbygd av Peter Ollén m.fl. (M)
- Motion 2022/23:1233 — Transporteffektivt och hållbart samhälle av Nooshi Dadgostar m.fl. (V)
- Motion 2022/23:1235 — Omställning till förnybar energiförsörjning av Nooshi Dadgostar m.fl. (V)
- Motion 2022/23:1344 — Likvärdighet i hela landet av Peter Hultqvist m.fl. (S)
- Motion 2022/23:1348 — Norrland som Sveriges och EU:s tillväxtzon av Lars Isacsson och Sofie Eriksson (båda S)
- Motion 2022/23:1350 — Stärkt kompensation till den lokala bygden vid vindkraftsutbyggnad av Sofie Eriksson m.fl. (S)
- Motion 2022/23:1416 — En svensk ö-politik av Jesper Skalberg Karlsson (M)
- Motion 2022/23:1430 — Myndigheter till Halland av Adnan Dibrani och Jennie Nilsson (båda S)
- Motion 2022/23:1515 — Myndighet i Halland av Larry Söder (KD)
- Motion 2022/23:1539 — Stärkta förutsättningar för nyindustrialisering av Linus Sköld m.fl. (S)
- Motion 2022/23:1626 — Utvärdering av fastighetsskatten av Martina Johansson (C)
- Motion 2022/23:1672 — En levande landsbygd för Sveriges bästa av Annie Lööf m.fl. (C)
- Motion 2022/23:1673 — Jämställdhet för hållbar utveckling av Annie Lööf m.fl. (C)
- Motion 2022/23:1886 — Klimatsmart Stockholmsregion av Kerstin Lundgren m.fl. (C)
- Motion 2022/23:1911 — Stockholm - möjligheternas storstadsregion av Malin Danielsson m.fl. (L)
Source: The Swedish Parliament