Question Time

ANDRE VICE TALMANNEN

I would like to welcome the ministers. Questions today will be answered by Minister for Employment and Integration Johan Pehrson, Minister for Foreign Affairs Tobias Billström, Minister Jessika Roswall, and Minister for Social Affairs Jakob Forssmed.

A question must be of an overarching and general political nature or concern a subject that falls within the Council of State's area of responsibility and concerns his performance of duties. The question shall therefore not concern, for example, conditions within political parties. Minister for Employment and Integration Johan Pehrson answers both general political questions and questions within his own area of responsibility.

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Jytte Guteland (S)

Mr. Speaker! My question concerns the EU and climate, and I address it to the Minister for EU Affairs.

The climate crisis means, as is well known, that we are experiencing more extreme weather, natural disasters with severe storms, fires, and floods. Extreme weather is increasing right now, and the Swedes are suffering severely under many of the floods that the country is experiencing at this moment.

Sweden has historically pursued an active policy in the EU regarding the climate, but now the EU's climate council says that the member states are doing too little to live up to the 2030 goal. This is very serious, not least in the situation we find ourselves in. My question to the Minister for EU Affairs is therefore: What is the Swedish government's plan for the EU as a whole to meet the 2030 goals, and what is Sweden's role in this?

The idea of buying emission allowances seems very difficult, not least because the negotiations on this have not started at the EU level. What is the government's plan, actually?

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Statsrådet Jessika Roswall (M)

Mr. Speaker! Thank you, Jytte Guteland, for the question!

We share the view that the climate is one of the greatest challenges we face in the future, and therefore one of the Swedish presidency's priorities was precisely to make the EU greener.

Sweden is and will continue to be a pioneering country, and that is why we used the presidency. The EU is also a pioneering region, and together we made a decision during the presidency on the EU's largest and the world's most ambitious climate package. Now it is about ensuring that we also implement the proposals that were decided upon during the Swedish presidency.

For Sweden, the EU is our most important climate policy platform.

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Jytte Guteland (S)

Mr. Speaker! Thank you, the Minister for EU Affairs, for the answer! Now, the Climate Council's conclusion was that the framework and the Fit for 55 climate package and also the EU's Climate Law risk failing if the EU countries do not increase the pace.

The government as a collective often says that we will manage this, but beyond 2030. At that point, I have a question. Now, a debate is being held at the EU level regarding the 2040 goals instead. One could imagine that the Swedish government would be active in this debate, as our neighboring country Denmark and even Bulgaria have been. What is the situation with the Swedish government when it comes to the 2040 goal? What are we going to do?

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Statsrådet Jessika Roswall (M)

Mr. Speaker! Thank you, Jytte Guteland, for the follow-up question!

Sweden is active in these discussions, and we were particularly active during the Swedish presidency. Sweden is the country at the forefront together with our Nordic neighbors, for example Denmark. What sets us apart is possibly certain views regarding how we see the forest as part of the climate transition. Last Friday, we hosted a visit from Ursula von der Leyen here in Sweden, where Sweden and Finland joined forces to talk about the forest's importance in the transition.

I completely share the view that we must get the regulatory framework in place.

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Sara Gille (SD)

Mr. Speaker! The text "Does your job cause injuries to the genitals? Don't miss out on deducting the VAT!" in the Stockholm metro has recently been noticed. This relates to the Swedish Tax Agency's role in taxing income from prostitution, an activity where it is legal to sell but illegal to buy in Sweden.

This legislation reflects our view of society, where the purchase of sexual services is seen as a form of violence by men against women. However, a complexity arises when the sale of these services, despite the purchase being illegal, is to be taxed. This can potentially lead to a normalization and trivialization of prostitution.

With this in mind, I wish to pose the following question: Does the Minister for Employment consider that prostitution should be regarded as a job like all others, which should be reported and taxed, or should it continue to be seen as part of the issues surrounding men's violence against women?

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Arbetsmarknads- och integrationsministern Johan Pehrson (L)

Mr. Speaker! Thank you, Sara Gille, for the question!

Selling one's body is not work. Selling one's body for sexual services is definitely not work. I am not aware of the advertisement or marketing or the claim being made.

The government has a very active work to reduce the vulnerability and the violence that occurs against women within the framework of prostitution, as Sara Gille describes. It is about doing more at the European level to reach the organized gangs that engage in pimping and human trafficking, but also about striking with full force in Sweden against the activity where men take the liberty to buy another human being. It is usually men who do it, but women also occur.

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Sara Gille (SD)

Mr. Speaker! The individual who is a victim of prostitution but still wants to follow the law and do the right thing is expected to register their business with Skatteverket, but in practice, it is not possible to register it. To a direct question, Skatteverket answers that it should be registered, but they themselves do not know how.

How is it that information is given that the activity shall both be registered and taxed when it is not even possible in practice?

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Arbetsmarknads- och integrationsministern Johan Pehrson (L)

Mr. Speaker! Sara Gille focuses on the fact that the activity is de facto not criminalized. The vulnerable person who is in distress, who is under severe pressure and who has a life situation that they cannot manage and thus ends up in this situation should, of course, cease the activity. It would be very strange if we had pre-printed forms for this.

The goal is that people should not prostitute themselves. It occurs, but it should naturally not be supported in any way.

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Håkan Svenneling (V)

Mr. Speaker! Gaza is dying and starving right now. The blockade and occupation from Israel mean that people in Gaza do not have access to food, water, medicine, and fuel.

Sweden demands a ceasefire following the decision in the UN General Assembly. The Foreign Minister has been clear that the displacement of Palestinians is a violation of international law. We see a horrific settler violence on the West Bank and an increasingly militarized settler movement, perhaps partly with Swedish weapons in its hands.

Sweden has recognized Palestine as a state. And we believe that Israel should recognize Palestine as a state, so that we can achieve a two-state solution with two peoples who can live in peace side by side.

I therefore wonder if Foreign Minister Tobias Billström intends to summon Israel's ambassador and demand all these things that Sweden stands behind but which Israel opposes.

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Utrikesministern Tobias Billström (M)

Mr. Speaker! Let me begin by saying that when we summon ambassadors, we often do so on the occasion of a specific incident. The issue that Håkan Svenneling raises is considerably broader than that. It is an issue where Sweden instead chooses other forums to communicate the Swedish government's views, such as the EU and the UN or bilateral talks with different parties. Such talks are also ongoing.

I was in the Committee on Foreign Affairs this morning and then had the opportunity to inform the committee, among other things, about the conversations that took place on Monday in connection with the meeting of foreign ministers in Brussels, where we had a large contingent of representatives from both the Arab League as well as Israel and Palestine present so that we could discuss these issues.

The difficult humanitarian situation in Gaza definitely calls for a ceasefire for humanitarian reasons. It is important that we work intensively to bring more supplies into Gaza. But beyond this, the two-state solution awaits. And that is a much larger and more important project, where Sweden also intends to play a role if we can.

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Håkan Svenneling (V)

Mr. Speaker! South Africa took Israel to the ICJ, the International Court of Justice, to find out whether it is genocide or not that is occurring in Gaza. Tomorrow at 13:00 we will receive the verdict. Regardless of this, what we see before our eyes is a human catastrophe where Gaza is dying and starving. I think it is obvious that the government and Foreign Minister Tobias Billström have not put sufficient pressure on Israel's government. Therefore, I demand that the government calls in Israel's ambassador and is clear about what the Swedish opinion is regarding what we are now seeing before our eyes.

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Utrikesministern Tobias Billström (M)

Mr. Speaker! Sweden has been consistent through the government in its position that it is incredibly important that we achieve a ceasefire for humanitarian reasons, and that was also what we voted for in the UN General Assembly on December 12.

We will continue to work to ensure and emphasize all parties' responsibility to protect civilians and enable humanitarian aid to reach the civilian population in Gaza. We will not tire of that. It is urgent and important to work to ensure that human lives are saved in the situation that has arisen due to Hamas's attacks against Israel and the war that has followed.

(Applause)

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Helena Vilhelmsson (C)

Mr. Speaker! Several of us here in the chamber were today in the Chamber of the First House to attend the Holocaust Remembrance Day. And once again we are faced with the question: How could this happen?

In Sweden, we are secure with legislation that protects citizens' right to think what they want, say what they want, and write what they want. We have constitutionally protected freedom of opinion, freedom of assembly, and freedom of religion. Judge, therefore, our surprise when on Monday we could read what the chairman of the Committee on Justice stated to the media. He said that his party could consider limiting or banning Muslim symbols. That is something that is a direct violation of freedom of religion. One should not have to apply for a vote in the Committee on Justice in order to wear a cross, a Star of David, or a crescent moon.

It is unfortunately not the first time that the SD government has bordered on throwing liberal and liberal values into the trash.

My question to Johan Pehrson is therefore: Do the government parties still stand behind these fundamental values, or will the government open up to banning religious symbols?

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Arbetsmarknads- och integrationsministern Johan Pehrson (L)

Mr. Speaker! The answer is no to the last question. We therefore stand behind the right to wear religious symbols in Sweden. One can be Christian and Swedish, one can be Jewish and Swedish, and one can be Muslim and Swedish. And one does not need to be anything at all and be Swedish. We have freedom of religion. We have fought for that in Sweden, and we shall preserve it. And we shall do what we can to strengthen the conditions for people to be able to live in safety and community in our country, and there faith is a private matter.

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Helena Vilhelmsson (C)

Mr. Speaker! Given Johan Pehrson's answer, it is still strange that a Tidö party has been given such influence but at the same time does not sit in the government so that they can be here and be held accountable. That is why we must ask these questions to the government parties.

I believe that the Swedish people want to know if the government is a government for all the people or just for some.

If it is as Johan Pehrson says, can the Minister then guarantee that the question of limiting religious symbols will not be raised in a possible revision of the Tidö Agreement?

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Arbetsmarknads- och integrationsministern Johan Pehrson (L)

Mr. Speaker! Yes, it will not happen. There is a reason why the government is working to ensure that we strengthen and protect freedom of religion. One example of this is the enhanced protection that, for example, religious communities can receive if needed, and which the government has provided space for in the budget. We know, however, that many people are, because of their religious faith, exposed to threats, violence, and for that matter, hate. That is why we are strengthening this protection from the government's side.

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Emma Berginger (MP)

Mr. Speaker! My question is directed to Foreign Minister Tobias Billström.

Russia's brutal and large-scale war of aggression against Ukraine has been ongoing for nearly two years, and Sweden's support for Ukraine has been and remains strong. Miljöpartiet has stood behind all support packages and urges the government to continue planning for how we can support Ukraine in the long term, both militarily as well as humanitarily and economically.

Supporting Ukraine is important for the security of all of Europe. It must not pay to violate international law and attack other states militarily. It is therefore surprising, contradictory and outrageous that the government still has not stopped the import of Russian fossil gas to Sweden, an import that sponsors Russia's war chest and which the Riksdag in a declaration unanimously has urged the government to stop.

My question to the Minister for Foreign Affairs is therefore: Why has the import of Russian fossil gas not been stopped?

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Utrikesministern Tobias Billström (M)

Mr. Speaker! A fundamental principle of sanctions policy is that sanctions are most effective when they have international support. The Government is therefore pushing in the EU that the European dependence on Russian energy, not least fossil energy, should cease as soon as possible.

But it is important to remember that the government in the EU is also pushing that it is necessary for the EU to adopt sanctions against Russian fossil gas. We have conveyed this during the discussions in the Council, and we are also discussing the conditions with other member states.

Furthermore, the question of a ban on the import of Russian natural gas, with reference to the gas market regulation, will also be analyzed in the Government Offices' implementation work. This work is ongoing while I stand here and speak.

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Emma Berginger (MP)

Mr. Speaker! It is important to push issues within the EU, and it is important to have broad support for the sanctions policy. But it is also important to choke off Russia's revenues from fossil gas as soon as possible. These are revenues that lead to the war against Ukraine being able to continue and that lead to people being killed and injured.

Neighboring countries such as Latvia and Lithuania have stopped gas imports through national bans. Finland is preparing to do the same.

When can we expect the Swedish government to stop the import of Russian fossil gas to Sweden?

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Utrikesministern Tobias Billström (M)

Mr. Speaker! In the political agreement on the EU's revised gas market regulation, a country can, quite literally, temporarily limit the import of Russian gas if certain criteria are met. But the gas market regulation has not yet been formally adopted. When it is adopted, implementation work will begin at the Government Offices and the Energy Markets Inspectorate, which have already been tasked to start looking into implementation and follow-up legislation. And the Government Offices' implementation work needs to be completed in the analysis I just spoke about. We must also consider how we can act individually.

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Ann-Sofie Alm (M)

Mr. Speaker! I wish to receive an answer from the Minister for Foreign Affairs.

In these turbulent times with great security policy challenges, we need unity and cooperation more than ever. Europe and the West, the free part of the world, are threatened in very many different ways. In that case, it is good to have good neighbors who are also good friends. And we are lucky. Finland, on the other hand, has it a bit worse on its side.

With the Nordics and the Baltics, we share geography, history, and culture, and we share values. Together, we have a powerful economy that gives us resilience. When the government took office, the Foreign Minister said that the Nordics and the Baltics would receive an increased focus in foreign policy. This has not become less important in light of our joint NATO membership. I therefore simply wonder how this work is progressing.

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Utrikesministern Tobias Billström (M)

Mr. Speaker! I thank Ann-Sofie Alm very much for the question.

Yes, Nordic and Nordic-Baltic cooperation is central for us to be able to handle common challenges for our countries and citizens. It is also quite true that we in the Nordic and Baltic countries, if our economies were added together, could qualify not only for the G20 but actually even for the G10 as one of the world's ten most important and wealthiest regions.

During the current year, 2024, Sweden is chairing both the Nordic Council and the informal foreign and security policy collaborations N5 and NB8, and this gives us good conditions to further strengthen our ties. We have ambitious chairmanship programs together with our neighbors, and there is a great interest in forging closer ties between these states. We have very much in common, but due to Russia's aggression against Ukraine, we are also faced with other challenges than those this cooperation has seen during previous decades.

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Ann-Sofie Alm (M)

Mr. Speaker! I thank the Minister for Foreign Affairs for the answer.

We are approaching the two-year anniversary of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, and we are also approaching the ten-year anniversary of the annexation of Crimea. Russia is preparing for elections, and on Putin's election posters it says: Russia's borders continue without end.

If we do not take decisive action now and jointly stop Russia, when then will we do it? A follow-up to the question is therefore what the government is actually doing in cooperation with the Baltic and Nordic countries to continue the support for Ukraine.

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Utrikesministern Tobias Billström (M)

Mr. Speaker! An important part is, of course, to continue the work of standing up before the rest of the world and speaking about what this means for our countries' security as well as creating stronger support for Ukraine among global partners.

Just as Ann-Sofie Alm said initially, we also face a major change: In addition to Russia, all states with coasts around the Baltic Sea will soon be NATO members, that is to say when Sweden also becomes one. That change will give us a different basis for a deepened defense cooperation and link our neighboring area, to the benefit of the entire transatlantic community's security. We must work on this issue on many fronts simultaneously.

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Joar Forssell (L)

Mr. Speaker! I also have a question for the Minister for Foreign Affairs.

Israel recently gave Hamas the opportunity for a two-month ceasefire on the condition that the hostages would be released. Unfortunately, Hamas chooses instead to continue the war, which it is also Hamas that started. A sustainable peace and a two-state solution are impossible as long as Hamas remains, because their goal is to annihilate their neighbor. Hamas is also the aggressor, and it is they who bear the responsibility for all the tragedy that is now unfolding.

I therefore wonder if the government is making the same demands as, for example, the Moderaterna, Kristdemokraterna, and Liberalerna have made in the European Parliament regarding both the unconditional release of the hostages and that Hamas must be dissolved or surrender unconditionally.

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Utrikesministern Tobias Billström (M)

Mr. Speaker! It is undoubtedly the case that the hostages need to be released, and it has been a constant demand that the Swedish government has put forward in all contexts ever since the grotesque and horrific events on October 7. It is obvious.

It is just as self-evident for us Swedes and Europeans that Israelis have a self-evident right to a Jewish, democratic state within secure borders - just as the Palestinians have a right to the establishment of a secure state that can live side by side with the Jewish state. It is the foundation of the two-state solution.

We are not a party to the negotiations that Joar Forssell refers to - they are conducted by others - but we have a very firm view regarding the release of hostages, and we will stick to that. We also hope and believe that it will be possible to achieve this, as well as to exert the pressure needed on the parties to, even after the hostage releases are completed, sit down and begin negotiating a two-state solution that can be sustainable.

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Joar Forssell (L)

Mr. Speaker! Most people, of course, want to see a two-state solution and a sustainable peace, but we believe that such a thing is not possible as long as Hamas remains. Hamas is a terrorist organization that must be dismantled. They must be fought with the means we have available.

This is also driven by the Moderaterna and Kristdemokraterna via the EPP group in the European Parliament. The Liberals in the European Parliament have stood behind the demand for the dissolution of Hamas. Does the moderate Minister for Foreign Affairs stand behind the demand that the Moderaterna are driving in the European Parliament?

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Utrikesministern Tobias Billström (M)

Mr. Speaker! I referred in a previous response to the resolution that Sweden voted for in the UN General Assembly. A prerequisite for us to vote for this resolution was its demand for the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages held by Hamas and other groups in Gaza. It is a self-evident matter for me.

When it comes to the discussions about the continuation of the peace negotiations, Sweden, as I said, is not a party to the negotiations regarding the release. Therefore, it is not possible for me to make a clearer position on this issue here and now than what I have done regarding the hostages.

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Tomas Eneroth (S)

Mr. Speaker! Today we could see on TV4 how civilian Palestinians waving a white flag in a so-called safety zone are being shot to death. It is a British TV documentary that shows this.

This is consistent with the series of acts now being committed in the warfare being waged by Israel, which is appalling. There are 25,000 dead in Gaza, of whom 10,000 are children. It is testified that pregnant women are now forced to give birth without anesthesia because the import of supplies and humanitarian aid is being prevented by Israel, among others. A massive use of excessive force is being exercised that must be stopped.

In Sweden, we have been united in quickly condemning Hamas's attack against Israel, but we have also strongly pushed for the demand of an immediate ceasefire. After some hesitation, the Swedish government nevertheless stood behind that demand. Therefore, I now pose the question to Minister Tobias Billström: In what way is Sweden pushing the demand for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza?

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Utrikesministern Tobias Billström (M)

Mr. Speaker! The EU and Sweden support Israel's right to defend itself, but that right must be exercised in accordance with international law and international humanitarian law. Civilians must always be protected in accordance with international humanitarian law.

Like my European and American colleagues, I am deeply concerned about the situation for the civilian population in Gaza. This applies in particular to the children and the consequences of the warfare for them. Every innocent life that is spilled in this war is a tragedy, and it is important that we remember this. It is entirely possible to see the suffering on both sides and to recognize both the rights of Israelis and Palestinians.

I have in other answers here earlier explained the government's view regarding the ceasefire. We believe that it is important that such a ceasefire is established. We have also clearly stated our positions to the Riksdag, not least in the EU Committee, ahead of the deliberations that have taken place in the Council of Foreign Ministers.

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Tomas Eneroth (S)

Mr. Speaker! Thank you for the answer, Minister for Foreign Affairs! As said, it is gratifying that the government is now standing behind the demand for an immediate ceasefire, for that is what is needed.

There is, however, a Swedish tradition of not only being together with others in the EU circle but also of pushing forward, not least when it comes to the defense of human rights and ensuring that conflicts cease. With our tradition of demanding a two-state solution and a recognition of Palestine, we have a unique role here in actively entering conflict resolution mechanisms. Does the government intend to take any such initiatives?

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Utrikesministern Tobias Billström (M)

Mr. Speaker! It is quite true that Sweden has a long such tradition, and it is one that we also intend to live up to. It is, however, important to put it into perspective.

In order to be able to achieve a two-state solution, cooperation is required between several different parties – naturally between Israel and Palestine but also between the USA, the Arab League, and the EU, which is our strongest and most important foreign policy platform even in this regard. This is something we will emphasize moving forward, that is, how important it is that all these parties come together. I would, for example, welcome it if the US Secretary of State also attends the EU Council of Foreign Affairs at some point in the future and explains the American plans and positions.

(Applause)

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Rasmus Giertz (SD)

Mr. Speaker! My question is addressed to the Minister for Foreign Affairs.

We are all closely following the developments in Israel and Gaza following Hamas's brutal terror attack with war as a consequence. Israel has both a duty, a right and an obligation to secure its population, its territory and its existence and to ensure that something similar does not happen again.

At the same time, we must not lose focus on a negotiated two-state solution where Israel and Palestine can coexist. A two-state solution is and remains the only sustainable path toward peace. What does the way forward look like for this, according to the government's assessment, after Netanyahu's rejection of a two-state solution in discussions with Biden?

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Utrikesministern Tobias Billström (M)

Mr. Speaker! Since the terrorist attack on October 7, the Swedish government has stood up for several central and common European positions. We condemn Hamas's barbaric terrorist attack unreservedly. We stand behind Israel's self-evident right to defend its country and its people. No state can live with a terrorist movement on the other side of the border that aims to annihilate its neighbor and which carries out terrorist attacks and engages in indiscriminate rocket fire.

Israel's goal to eliminate Hamas's military capability is understandable and legitimate. If this succeeds, it will also provide hope to the Palestinians who for many years have suffered under Hamas's authoritarian and Islamist rule.

The two-state solution is a project that is urgent and important, and it is something that we must not allow ourselves to lose sight of in the midst of the darkness that now prevails due to the war. The Swedish government's position is to be active and forward-looking in the discussions in the EU and to provide the contributions that can be provided in the discussions on the creation of the EU's positions on these issues during the coming weeks and months.

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Rasmus Giertz (SD)

Mr. Speaker! I thank the Minister for the answer.

The hasty recognition of Palestine that the previous S-led government pushed through cannot be seen as representative of Sweden, because the government at that time did not have a parliamentary majority behind it. The decision also lacked a basis in international law. There is now nothing to indicate that we will see a long-term functioning government.

My question is whether the government is prepared to review the possibilities and, if possible, revoke the recognition of Palestine.

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Utrikesministern Tobias Billström (M)

Mr. Speaker! The Swedish government's position is very clear on this point. We consider the 2014 decision to have been premature, but since the decision has been made, it would damage the Swedish recognition doctrine and damage confidence in Swedish foreign policy if we were to withdraw the recognition.

What we must work for instead is to strengthen the Palestinian authority and ensure that it resolves the problems that exist with corruption and lack of leadership, so that it becomes a credible party that can sit at the negotiating table. This is a task that we intend to carry out together with others, not least within the EU but also together with the USA and the Arab League.

(Applause)

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Lotta Johnsson Fornarve (V)

Mr. Speaker! My question also goes to Foreign Minister Tobias Billström.

Today, Nobel Prize winner Narges Mohammadi and 60 other women are starting a hunger strike in protest against the unjust executions of dissidents in Iran. This is taking place in the notorious Evin Prison. Several political prisoners and prisoners of conscience have also announced that they are joining the protest action.

The oppression and human rights violations in Iran increase every day. Women and Kurds are particularly vulnerable. Those who dare to stand up for democracy and human rights risk being imprisoned and even executed - the regime executed 746 people during 2023.

Eight months have passed since the Swedish Riksdag unanimously announced to the government that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard should be branded as a terrorist organization. The Revolutionary Guard is a military organ with decisive influence over the political and economic system in Iran. What is happening with this issue? What has the government done, and what is the government doing to stop all unjust imprisonments and executions in Iran?

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Utrikesministern Tobias Billström (M)

Mr. Speaker! The Government has both individually and, naturally, together with other EU countries powerfully condemned the Iranian authorities' violence against peaceful protesters and other violations of human rights in statements and in direct talks with Iranian representatives, including at the ministerial level and in contacts with former Iranian ambassadors present here. It remains important for Sweden to act through the EU and the UN to ensure that the messages are clear and that the pressure on Iran remains high. Iranian authorities must know that continued repression has a price.

When it comes to creating unity within the EU to list the Islamic Revolutionary Guard as a terrorist organization under the sanctions regime, we are conducting standard diplomatic work on Sweden's part to advocate for our position in accordance with the Riksdag's declaration. We have also actively consulted other member states on the issue. However, broad support within the EU for such a listing is still lacking. We must be clear before the Riksdag, which has issued this declaration, that this is the case.

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Lotta Johnsson Fornarve (V)

Mr. Speaker! I thank the Minister for Foreign Affairs for the answer.

It is good that the government is acting in this matter, but I think we probably have to step up even more, specifically regarding the terror labeling of the Revolutionary Guard. It would mean an enormous amount, because it would then be possible to target sanctions against individual members of the Revolutionary Guard. It would be a powerful signal and mean a lot, above all, for the democracy fighters. This is also something that they are setting as a demand today when they go on hunger strikes in the prison in Iran.

I hope that the government will step up even more in this issue.

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Utrikesministern Tobias Billström (M)

Mr. Speaker! Sweden naturally holds no illusions regarding Iran, neither regarding the state itself nor its actions in the region where it is geographically located. But a listing under the EU's terrorism sanctions needs to meet the criteria of the legal act and be legitimate. It must also be supported by a national authority or an equivalent competent authority and by a preliminary investigation, indictment, and judgment for terrorist acts or attempts thereof. No such basis for listing has yet been presented by any member state. I therefore do not perceive that there is any broad support within the EU at this time to pursue the issue of listing IRGC under the EU's terrorism sanctions.

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Mona Smedman (C)

Mr. Speaker! The Government has sent clear signals that we in Sweden need to prepare for unrest - war - and that the regions and municipalities are expected to take an increased responsibility for preparedness.

In the reporting, we see how one region after another is forced to lay off employees due to poor finances, which is caused by increased costs and missing state support. In my home county Värmland, it concerns 750 people. These are 1,500 hands that are needed in healthcare to give patients the care they need. This also has unwanted effects on my home municipality Arvika.

Therefore, Mr. Speaker, I want to ask Minister Jakob Forssmed: How is the healthcare system to cope with war when it already today, in peacetime, has difficulty managing its operations?

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Socialministern Jakob Forssmed (KD)

Mr. Speaker! The Government is working very actively on preparedness issues in order to be able to transition the organization in the event of war or crisis. This also applies, of course, to health and medical care and the mission that lies with the regions and with our authorities in that context.

We have a lot of cooperation to support Ukraine in the very vulnerable situation they are in. We also have the opportunity to in this way draw lessons regarding how we can change and organize ourselves in such a way that we can maximize our capacity if we were to be hit by difficult things.

The same applies to the issue of medicines. We must ensure that there is access to medicines, not least to effective antibiotics, which I work with a great deal.

Mona Smedman's question was about the difficult economic situation for the regions. The Government is, of course, following this closely. I also want to remind that 40 percent of the reform space was allocated to initiatives to strengthen and maintain the welfare.

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Mona Smedman (C)

Mr. Speaker! I thank the Minister for the answer and welcome him to Värmland to tell this to the employees there who are being laid off.

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Socialministern Jakob Forssmed (KD)

Mr. Speaker! I would of course gladly visit different regions. I often do so and discuss the operations and how we can develop them in different ways with staff members.

It is a difficult economic situation. The government has provided additional funds. Many regions have concerns regarding the economy. This is driven, not least, by the high inflation, which has put a very high cost pressure on the regions.

We need to reflect together on what we can do to best maintain the welfare. It is both about the responsibility that the regions have for their finances and about what the government can do. The government is also doing quite a lot in the budget that currently applies.

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Jacob Risberg (MP)

Mr. Speaker! My question is addressed to Minister Johan Pehrson.

When I was forced to get a car in 2009 for family reasons, I made sure to get a biogas car, which can also be driven on gasoline if needed. Biogas is a good fuel that is produced by using, among other things, food waste and manure. Some claim that it can even be the most climate-smart fuel. Furthermore, it has always been cheaper to drive on biogas than on gasoline, which has made it easy to always choose the climate-smart alternative at the pump. But on January 1, the government lowered the reduction obligation, and then suddenly both gasoline and diesel became significantly cheaper than biogas.

What is the government doing to promote biogas, which can be our most climate-smart fuel?

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Arbetsmarknads- och integrationsministern Johan Pehrson (L)

Mr. Speaker! The pure internal combustion engine powered by gasoline and diesel is on its way out. The EU has announced a ban, and we are now moving towards electrification. Biogas can, however, continue to play an important role, not least for heavier transports such as buses and the like.

It is correct that the temporary change of the reduction obligation to a lower level makes diesel and gasoline somewhat cheaper, which was also a side effect from the Riksdag before the election.

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Jacob Risberg (MP)

Mr. Speaker! I thank you for a somewhat evasive answer, but I still wonder what the government is doing to favor biogas specifically. Now you have favored gasoline and diesel, which is hardly particularly climate-smart. Biogas, on the other hand, is climate-smart. It is produced from food waste and manure which would otherwise become methane gas and increase climate emissions even more than carbon dioxide.

What is the government doing to favor biogas specifically?

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Arbetsmarknads- och integrationsministern Johan Pehrson (L)

Mr. Speaker! If we are now to transition the entire transport sector and make it fossil-free, we shall use biogas where it does the most good, and that is not in passenger cars. The car fleet shall be electrified; it shall be electric motors. Other things have been experimented with. Ethanol was in for a while. Then everyone here in the chamber said that it was the solution, but it wasn't. The solution is to electrify vehicles and produce more electricity. Biogas will be able to be used, but primarily in other types of transport, so in that sense, it was a poor investment for the member.

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Crister Carlsson (M)

Mr. Speaker! My question is addressed to Minister Jakob Forssmed.

The Swedish conscripts aged 18 become, according to a study, an average of half a kilogram heavier for each year. Young people whose parents have low education have greater problems with weight. The initiative the government is making with a state leisure card for children and young people aged 8-16 shall provide increased access to movement, sports and outdoor life, counteract physical and mental ill health and increase equal health in society, which is very good.

How will the initiative be followed up, and how will the outcome of the initiative be evaluated?

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Socialministern Jakob Forssmed (KD)

Mr. Speaker! I thank Crister Carlsson for the question.

It is a great challenge that children and young people are moving less and that fewer are participating in, for example, sports clubs. Furthermore, many children at the age of twelve feel forced to choose between participating and supporting the household economy. No child should have to make that choice, and therefore we are making this investment in a leisure card for all children between 8 and 16 years old. More money will go to those with socioeconomic challenges so that finances do not determine their opportunity to participate.

Of course, we will follow up on this closely so that the initiative is not eaten up by, for example, increased fees. We want to see that more people get moving with the help of this. However, we need to do much more in this area.

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Crister Carlsson (M)

Mr. Speaker! Can the Minister imagine further investments, and if so, what?

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Socialministern Jakob Forssmed (KD)

Mr. Speaker! One thing I want to highlight is that we are now investing heavily in home visits in areas with poorer health. I believe that preventive measures early in life are good for establishing good habits. Another important measure is various interventions to curb children and young people being exposed to poor nutrition. We must also consider the hours of passivity in front of screens. It is difficult to get around that as a factor in this.

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Eva Lindh (S)

Mr. Speaker! My question is addressed to the Minister for Nordic Cooperation, Jessika Roswall.

Last year, some parliamentarians from the Nordic Council and the Nordic Council of Ministers were at the Women's Summit in New York. Among other things, a seminar was held that was well-attended and appreciated precisely because parliamentarians were involved. The Nordic Council's Welfare Committee would like to continue the cooperation because the issue of equality is enormously important and the Women's Summit is an important arena for driving equality in Sweden, the Nordic countries, and the world. But now the Nordic Council of Ministers has declined the cooperation.

This question is important for how we cooperate in the Nordic region. It is crucial that we do this together. It is important for equality. It is also important for democracy that we find good ways to cooperate.

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Statsrådet Jessika Roswall (M)

Mr. Speaker! I thank Eva Lindh for the question.

I cannot answer why the Nordic Council has declined. I am the Nordic Minister, and as Tobias Billström previously entered, I am also the Nordic Cooperation Minister.

I hope that during our chairmanship of the Nordic Council of Ministers, we will highlight the important work that takes place within the framework of Nordic cooperation. Democracy and equality are, of course, important issues, and we have a sector program for culture and education where equality is also included. I cannot speak about more detailed program points today, but I look forward to returning to many different parts of Nordic cooperation because there is great potential here. But already today, we have a good dialogue together with the members of the Riksdag.

(Applause)

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Mona Olin (SD)

Mr. Speaker! Jakob Forssmed has had to step in for the Minister for Social Services, but I hope that he can still answer my question.

SOU 2023:66 on children and young people in society's care, which was presented in November last year, is a very good, extremely important and highly relevant investigation that gathers both facts and many proposals for measures. Several feared deficiencies are confirmed, including a lack of coherence and security, a lack of care, and a lack of good and close relationships.

In light of what has emerged in the investigation, I wonder if the Minister intends to take any initiatives in line with the proposals therein to strengthen the work for safe and well-being children and young people.

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Socialministern Jakob Forssmed (KD)

Mr. Speaker! I thank Mona Olin for the question. The Government is very keen to strengthen the situation of children when they end up in the society's care in different ways. This applies regardless of whether they are placed in foster homes, HVB homes, or Sis homes.

Extensive reform work is already underway to strengthen children's situation and to improve the quality of foster homes and recruit more so that more people get that opportunity.

When it comes to the proposals in that specific report, the government is preparing them, of course. We think this is a very important investigation that provides a basis for us to be able to move forward, but the responsible minister will have to come back regarding exactly how we proceed with these proposals.

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Nadja Awad (V)

Mr. Speaker! Israel's occupation of Palestine has been ongoing for over 75 years. Since then, Palestinians have been subjected to illegal settlement policy, apartheid, and ethnic cleansing. They are imprisoned, tortured, abused, and murdered. Now it has reached its peak. Israel is committing genocide against the Palestinians in Gaza - the majority are children. Israel's Prime Minister Netanyahu also says now that he opposes an independent Palestinian state.

This right-wing government defends Israel's terror by calling it self-defense and proportionate. They call Palestinian protesters criminal gangs. They finance Israel's terror machinery through trade agreements. They vote no to a ceasefire several times. They stop aid to Palestine. They do not even bring home all Swedish citizens from Gaza. It is a despicable view of humanity.

Does the government distance itself from Israel? Does the government distance itself from Netanyahu saying no to a Palestinian state – yes or no?

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Utrikesministern Tobias Billström (M)

Mr. Speaker! I have already clarified earlier in this debate that a negotiated two-state solution is something that is obvious for the government. Naturally, we will always criticize those who say that a two-state solution is not on the table; I have already done so publicly several times.

The extent of the consequences of the warfare for the civilian population in Gaza undeniably raises questions about whether international humanitarian law has been complied with. But it is not I or the questioner who decides whether Israel has violated international humanitarian law, for we do not have the information to determine that. We cannot, for example, determine whether Hamas has placed a military target under a civilian building. Independent legal bodies should do that, and as is known, for example, the International Criminal Court has an ongoing preliminary investigation of the situation in Palestine.

(Applause)

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Anna Lasses (C)

Mr. Speaker! I have a question for Minister Johan Pehrson.

For those who are liberal in soul and heart, it is obvious that what the chairman of the Committee on Justice has said this week is a direct threat to democracy and yet another step towards a harsher, colder and more exclusive society, where some are seen as slightly better than others and where we enter people's innermost lives and speak of what hundreds of thousands of Swedes have celebrated their love for or mourned the passing of their loved ones at as being wrong.

It carries a heavy responsibility that as a liberal in this situation, one does not just act as a watchdog, as Minister Johan Pehrson himself expressed it, but actually says "enough is enough!".

My question is: When will the Prime Minister and the rest of the government, not just in words but also in action, say "stop, here is the limit"?

(Applause)

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Arbetsmarknads- och integrationsministern Johan Pehrson (L)

Mr. Speaker! We have freedom of speech in Sweden, and we have freedom of religion in Sweden. These sometimes clash, because people think differently. Some people think very strange things and use their freedom of speech for this.

We have freedom of religion, as referred to, enshrined in the constitution, and so it shall remain. It does not matter to me as party leader for the Liberals or as a minister in our government what a member or anyone else says - we defend freedom of religion and the right both to and from religion.

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Saila Quicklund (M)

Mr. Speaker! My question is addressed to Minister for Employment Johan Pehrson.

The year 2023 is a black year when it comes to fatal accidents in working life. A total of 65 people died at their workplaces. It is terrible and unacceptable. The employer always has the ultimate responsibility for the work environment, and systematic work on the work environment is extremely important.

My question is: How is the government working to counteract fatal accidents in working life?

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Arbetsmarknads- och integrationsministern Johan Pehrson (L)

Mr. Speaker! It is as Saila Quicklund describes here: We have a dark year behind us. We have several dark years behind us when it comes to safety in Sweden's labor market. People have died, been injured for life, and become ill as a result of their work. This is, of course, something that must be combated.

It is not possible to have anything other than a zero vision. I can state that the work environment strategy that is currently in place and which this government has inherited is insufficient. We are now working on strengthening it. But it is not enough to work with a strategy. We are also working on, for example, ensuring that the Swedish Work Environment Authority is able to conduct more unannounced visits to workplaces where it is suspected that the regulations might be ignored. We are making efforts against work-life crime broadly. Those individuals who are cheating, are part of organized crime, and run companies rarely follow any work environment rules.

We are taking a number of different measures, and we are now also calling on the parties in the labor market, not least within the industries that are exposed to fatal accidents.

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Marcus Wennerström (S)

Mr. Speaker! In Ulf Kristersson's Sweden, the people are becoming poorer, and yesterday was the poorest day of the year. At the same time, there are many parents who in these days are receiving the invoices for the term fees for their children's extracurricular activities. It is about children in Enköping, Örsundsbro, Fjärdhundra or Hummelsta who long for the rugby pitch, the football pitch, the sports hall or the swimming hall, with dreams of victories, camaraderie or perhaps just a moment's peace from an otherwise rowdy home environment.

My question is directed to the Minister for Social Affairs. What measures are being taken here and now to ensure that in 2024, youth sports do not become a class issue where only children of wealthy parents have the opportunity for a leisure time full of movement?

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Socialministern Jakob Forssmed (KD)

Mr. Speaker! It is incredibly important that children and young people get access to movement and sports in different ways.

The government is working on the leisure card to introduce a support that can only be used for exactly this, so that it does not have to compete with the food basket or the electricity bill. We know that many quit because the fees become too high and compete.

The Social Democrats have had a somewhat ambivalent attitude towards this, I can state. First, it was said that it bears the hallmarks of poor relief. Then the proposal was accepted, but today one is again a bit ambivalent towards it. I think that is unfortunate, because I believe we see the need for this and for trying to do something new regarding this.

We will also return with further proposals for the current year on how we can support and, in an even better way than today, ensure that more children get the chance for sports and other association life. We are also making a special initiative on sports in vulnerable areas which we started during this year and which we will continue with during the coming years.

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Ulf Lindholm (SD)

Mr. Speaker! With the rapid development of artificial intelligence and robotics, we observe a growing impact on jobs and employment opportunities globally, including in Sweden. Furthermore, technological advances are both exciting and potentially worrying, given that certain occupational groups risk being completely replaced. While AI can bring about positive changes and create new opportunities, there is a growing concern about its negative effects, especially for those who are furthest from the labor market.

Against this background, I would like to ask Minister for Employment Johan Pehrson if he sees any particular risk with too rapid digitalization, especially regarding its impact on the most vulnerable groups in the Swedish labor market.

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Arbetsmarknads- och integrationsministern Johan Pehrson (L)

Mr. Speaker! I truly do! Sweden faces great challenges. The new technology is incredibly exciting, creates great opportunities, and can help people in a fantastic way - if we see to it that we put the right things in, especially in artificial intelligence. Otherwise, junk will come out.

For the labor market, it remains central that we start in school and work with good opportunities for people to transition in life. This government works with both. When it comes to strengthening the school, I can say this: If one is worried about not managing to operate AI, become a part of AI, or become a user of AI, one must take command. Then one must be able to read, count, and write.

We people who are a bit older have an opportunity for transition support in the middle of life that is completely unique compared to many other European countries, this in order to be able to make an upgrade and become even more skilled in, for example, AI technology and also become more firmly anchored in the labor market.

The question is important. Furthermore, the Government has a special AI commission to be able to look closely at this.

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Kerstin Lundgren (C)

Mr. Speaker! Most in Sweden agree that Ukraine is fighting for all of us and defending all of us - every minute, every hour, around the clock - and has done so for nearly two years. But the prerequisite for them to succeed is that they receive resources.

We now have a week ahead of us that is extremely important. On one hand, the EU must manage to secure the support package that has been promised, EU 27 or EU 26, and on the other hand, weapons and ammunition are also required.

I would like to hear if the Minister for Foreign Affairs is interested in engaging in a debate or a conversation with other colleagues to try to shift the countries' orders from the defense industry so that weapons that have been ordered can be prioritized for Ukraine, and whether credit guarantees can be secured for this.

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Utrikesministern Tobias Billström (M)

Mr. Speaker! There is no doubt that, just as Kerstin Lundgren says, several different measures are required to ensure that Ukraine can continue to defend itself in its fight against the Russian aggression. We have support. The military support is naturally important; another type of support is the macro-financial support, which it is also important that the EU can put in place.

The question that Kerstin Lundgren poses falls partly under the Minister for Defence's area of responsibility. It must be stated that we within the government have a fairly clear division. This does not, however, mean that the government does not have a coherent policy in the area.

We are currently working to try to ensure that we can guarantee that the military support that Ukraine needs can be achieved. This includes, for example, the need to increase ammunition deliveries and, above all, the production of artillery ammunition for Ukraine.

I do not rule out further cooperation regarding this, nor do I rule out that there may be conditions to perhaps go out and procure this even outside the European market. But all of this is a matter that the Minister for Defence is better positioned to answer in detail than I am as Minister for Foreign Affairs.

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Jesper Skalberg Karlsson (M)

Mr. Speaker! The IT infrastructure in Swedish healthcare is fragmented. The fact that health data cannot be shared throughout the entire care chain leads to poorer quality, to weakened patient safety, and to a greater administrative burden for healthcare workers.

Getting this situation in order is mentioned very clearly in the Tidö Agreement. I would therefore like to ask Social Minister Jakob Forssmed what the government is doing so that this will be put in place in a fast and legally secure manner. These are reforms that should have been made a long time ago.

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Socialministern Jakob Forssmed (KD)

Mr. Speaker! Thank you for the question, Jesper Skalberg Karlsson!

I completely agree: This should have been done a long time ago. We have relied too much on voluntary cooperation and that it should solve the problem. It has not worked. Today we have a situation where patients have to repeat their medical history, where investigations and examinations are carried out that would not be necessary because the information is not there and where staff have to use their expensive time to enter the same data into different data systems. It is not sufficient.

I am glad that we are going to take a clear grip on this. We are doing it now. The Public Health Agency has a mandate to develop a roadmap for what we are to achieve. We have appointed a national coordinator who will work together with the regions so that we can identify the right needs and do the right thing.

Yesterday, I believe, we also appointed a new investigator who will review exactly the legal aspects surrounding personal data processing and how we are to get the Swedish national system that we want to establish to work together with the European one, so that we can have our healthcare data available when we are abroad if we should have the misfortune of being struck by an illness or an injury.

I fully share the questioner's ambitions in this area.

(Applause)

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Carita Boulwén (SD)

Mr. Speaker! The number of children and young people in need of social care is increasing. In many cases, the reason is destructive lifestyle, criminal behavior, or the risk of ending up in criminal networks. Far too many are placed in institutions even though the best alternative would be placement in a foster home, in many cases simply because the social services lack alternatives, and despite knowing that it is an additional risk factor.

Many come from broken circumstances and need just that small, secure environment. Research also shows that it is this that provides the best conditions for the young person to move away from their destructive path.

There is a shortage of foster homes in the country's municipalities, in particular reinforced or specially trained treatment families that could to a greater extent replace institutional care.

Now Forssmed has stepped in instead of the Minister for Social Services, but I hope that the minister can answer this from his areas of mental health and youth policy.

It is the municipalities that are responsible for recruiting foster homes. What measures does the government intend to take to support the municipalities in the important work of obtaining more, but also better equipped foster homes, for placements that are as favorable and safe as possible?

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Socialministern Jakob Forssmed (KD)

Mr. Speaker! Thank you, the questioner Carita Boulwén, for the question!

It is extremely important that we get more foster home placements, that we work with recruitment, and that we get more safe, good families in Sweden who feel so secure that they are prepared to open their doors for a child in need of security, community, and help. Therefore, the government is investing in increasing support to the municipalities to be able to recruit more foster homes and also subsidize further so that this becomes a form that people use more. We are also naturally investing in different types of interventions to strengthen the recruitment of foster homes. There is also a special coordinator for this, to recruit and ensure that it works better.

I am pleased with the great commitment that exists here in the Riksdag regarding the need for more foster homes. It is a very important measure so that children and young people with great needs shall receive a better and safer environment and a better start in life.

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Marie-Louise Hänel Sandström (M)

Mr. Speaker! My question is addressed to Minister for Social Affairs Jakob Forssmed.

I have written many motions in the Riksdag regarding involuntary loneliness, an issue that is constantly relevant and where the situation is unfortunately worsening. When I previously worked as a doctor in the emergency room, we had many who were seeking help, and we saw then that more than half of them had exactly involuntary loneliness as a problem. Back then, it was mostly about the elderly, but now it concerns children, young people, and young adults as well as the elderly. Almost every fourth inhabitant in Sweden has this concern.

I feel a great concern about this. I know that many different attempts have been made. Sometimes they have been short-sighted; sometimes they have not gone far enough, and the problem has progressed and, unfortunately, sometimes worsened.

I know that the Minister for Social Affairs is very engaged in this and that projects are now being carried out, for example together with the business sector. I hope that this is something that will become more permanent and endure. I am a bit curious about how this is going, if there are more proposals and what is planned right now.

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Socialministern Jakob Forssmed (KD)

Mr. Speaker! I thank you for the question, which is extremely urgent.

A good first step is that the government has now raised this as a societal problem. This is not an individual problem that only affects the individual, but this affects the body of society. We also know that it has major health effects, that one is more easily affected by cardiovascular diseases and that one is affected to a greater extent by depression. The body, so to speak, protests against living in conflict with being a community being. We need to take this very seriously.

We are working, among other things, with support for civil society so that they can develop their activities around this. We have a national strategy, precisely so that it does not become short-term projects but something that we lift nationally together. I have also taken the initiative for a business network to include the business sector as well in this important work. There is a very great interest surrounding this.

I also work in various global contexts to find methods that can work. This is a difficult area that has not been tested very much. In that case, it is a matter of finding methods that work on the individual level but also on the societal level so that we get a large return on what we do.

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Ludvig Aspling (SD)

Mr. Speaker! In November, the European Parliament voted for a treaty reform. The stated purpose of the reform is that the union should be able to function when more member states are added in the future. That is at least the intention. The proposals concern, among other things, a European taxing right, a reduction of the member states' influence over foreign policy, and a significant concentration of power in Brussels at the expense of the member states and the Riksdag.

We have all seen this before. The Treaty of Lisbon took the union in the same direction. It ultimately led to the United Kingdom choosing to leave the union. The reform that is now being discussed would make the reasons for doing the same significantly stronger than they are today, I think.

What does the EU Minister think? I am particularly wondering what she says about many seeing this reform as a prerequisite for the expansion. The latter is something that her party has stood strongly behind.

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Statsrådet Jessika Roswall (M)

Mr. Speaker! Thank you for the question, Ludvig Aspling!

It is quite true that the European Parliament held a vote.

I would like to say that the expansion is here and now. The EU is therefore entering a new formative phase. The reason we are talking so much about expansion is, of course, the war in Ukraine. The question, therefore, is not if but when an expansion will take place. Therefore, we in the EU need to future-proof ourselves.

The discussion on treaty changes has been ongoing. My view is that the Treaty of Lisbon, as we have it, is expansion-proof, that is to say, that it can withstand more expansions.

The European Parliament has had different votes at different times, and we know that there are more federal voices heard there than how it sounds here in the Swedish Riksdag.

But in the council, there is no appetite for treaty changes. We discuss which changes we need to make without making treaty changes. We do not have time for that, and there is no need to do it.

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Margareta Cederfelt (M)

Mr. Speaker! My question is addressed to the Minister for Foreign Affairs.

I want to ask about Russia. We all know that Russia poses a major threat to the security in, I would like to say, large parts of our earth, but I am thinking mostly about here in Sweden and of course in Europe.

I wonder how the Minister for Foreign Affairs views and believes we should best meet Russia's threat from a long-term perspective.

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Utrikesministern Tobias Billström (M)

Mr. Speaker! It is unfortunately a question that will fill the Swedish foreign and security policy debate for a long time to come. So serious is the Russian aggression against Ukraine, and so far-reaching are the consequences it has for us, for our region, for Europe and for the world.

What we will need to do is, together with other partners within the EU and the UN, work out strategies to handle a Russia that, regardless of the outcome of the war in Ukraine, will remain where it is. Even if they were to be defeated in the war against Ukraine, which is our hope, Russia will remain as a revanchist country that will have power claims in our region.

We must therefore find partners who are interested in discussing this with us. Not least in the Nordic-Baltic region, there are plenty of such partners. When we have soon become members of Nato, we will also be able to join an even broader group of countries consisting of Poland and Germany, which will also be able to build security in our region together with us.

But we must look beyond this and understand that what happens in Europe also has repercussions and consequences in other parts of the world. Not least, the USA is an important partner in this context.

(Applause)

Question time was hereby concluded.

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)