Question Time

ANDRE VICE TALMANNEN

I would like to welcome the ministers. Questions will be answered today by Minister Andreas Carlson, Minister Johan Forssell, Minister for Employment and Integration Mats Persson, and Minister for Culture Parisa Liljestrand.

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

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Ardalan Shekarabi (S)

Madam Speaker! My question is addressed to the Minister for Employment. Sweden now has the highest unemployment in ten years, a youth unemployment that has been allowed to grow to very high levels and a long-term unemployment that continues to rise and risks leading to many Swedes ending up in total exclusion.

Yesterday, the Minister for Employment held a press conference where no announcements were made on how to handle the very serious situation due to Northvolt's bankruptcy.

What I intended to ask about concerns Arbetsförmedlingen, in this serious situation with mass unemployment. According to a report from Arbetsförmedlingen to the government, availability will decrease further during this year. And the government takes the opportunity to close service offices, where the unemployed have the opportunity to meet government officials who support them. What is, Madam Speaker, the government's idea regarding Arbetsförmedlingens presence in the country in a situation where mass unemployment has hit our country?

(Applause)

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Arbetsmarknads- och integrationsministern Mats Persson (L)

Madam Speaker! Thank you, Ardalan Shekarabi, for your question! I share the member's assessment and believe that we have the same commitment to ensuring that more people have a job to go to.

What happened in Skellefteå yesterday, the announcement that Northvolt is going bankrupt, naturally affects very many people in Skellefteå and that part of Sweden, and many there feel a strong anxiety. It is then important to say that we are now mobilizing and pooling resources in the entire society so that one can receive compensation from day one, so that one does not need to leave house and home, and support from the community, which will have a very high presence for those who are now losing their jobs up in Skellefteå. This shows that we in Sweden pool our resources when such a crisis occurs and that there is help and support to be had.

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Ardalan Shekarabi (S)

Madam Speaker! I suspect that the Minister may not have heard my question. What does the government intend to do regarding the Swedish Public Employment Service's presence? The Swedish Public Employment Service has recently reported to the government that it will not be able to maintain the same availability. And we must remember that the availability is already very poor due to the savings the agency has undergone in recent years.

Now the government is closing state service offices in Swedish rural areas and in large cities. This affects the unemployed and the opportunities to receive support. Why is the government doing this?

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Arbetsmarknads- och integrationsministern Mats Persson (L)

Madam Speaker! What Ardalan Shekarabi says is correct – after eight years of Social Democratic rule, this government inherited very large problems.

One thing that the previous government, where Ardalan Shekarabi sat, did was to focus very much on visits where one meets someone via a computer and on a link, far from a job counselor of flesh and blood. Now, work is being done where Arbetsförmedlingen is increasing its efforts to be able to provide support to people who need help.

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Angelica Lundberg (SD)

Madam Speaker! The development of violence is grim. The explosions and shootings continue, and the insecurity is spreading across the country.

It cannot have escaped anyone that a large part of the gang criminals are people with a foreign background and people who should not be here at all. This is a direct result of previous governments' inability to put the Swedish people first. We were asked instead to open our hearts and, thereby, also our wallets.

But the Swedish people have voted for change. They have voted for a paradigm shift in Swedish politics, and the Sverigedemokraterna are the largest party in the constellation that governs. I am, however, genuinely concerned about Sweden's future and about the pace at which the work at the ministry is proceeding. It is urgent now.

I would therefore like to ask a question to the Minister for Migration: How is it ensured that foreign gang criminals are deported and have their Swedish citizenships revoked?

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Statsrådet Johan Forssell (M)

Madam Speaker! Thank you, Angelica Lundberg, for the question!

We are working incredibly intensively, day and night, to fundamentally change Swedish migration policy. We are following the timeline that we have agreed upon with Sverigedemokraterna, and we follow up on this daily, weekly, and monthly.

When it comes to the conditions for deporting persons who are not citizens of Sweden when they commit crimes, I will receive an investigation on this in just a few weeks. The background is that far too many who are not citizens commit far too many crimes without being deported. It is a fact that it is that way. The latest evaluation showed that it was only 4.4 percent who actually were deported.

This will constitute another example of why it matters who is in power. We envision lowering the threshold for deportation significantly but also cleaning up among the many exceptions which mean that many crime victims today do not receive the redress they deserve.

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Angelica Lundberg (SD)

Madam Speaker! It is good that hard work is being done at the ministry and that measures are being taken to prevent more people who do not want Sweden from being let into our country and being granted residence permits or citizenship on incorrect grounds.

But the current situation worries me nonetheless. What can the Swedish people, who have voted for a government with the Sweden Democrats as the largest party in the government base, expect from the Minister for Migration moving forward? Will the pace increase from now on when it comes to dealing with the serious imported gang crime?

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Statsrådet Johan Forssell (M)

Madam Speaker! As I said in my first answer, the Swedish people can expect that we will implement reforms at the pace that we have agreed upon with, among others, the Sverigedemokraterna. We follow that model. In the near future, we will both lower the threshold for deportation, introduce a new possibility to deport persons who are not citizens due to lack of integrity, and implement a long series of other reforms, on top of everything that we have already achieved during the mandate period.

(Applause)

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Nadja Awad (V)

Madam Speaker! I want to ask a question to Minister for Employment Mats Persson, who is responsible for 10 percent unemployment, because 600,000 people are unemployed and because Sweden has the third highest unemployment in the EU. Nursing assistants, teachers, and personal assistants are being laid off.

So, Mats Persson's priority is to debate music genres and go out to the suburbs with a bulletproof vest. These are very poor priorities when people are furious that the government has caused this historical unemployment. This is not taking responsibility, Mats Persson. Take off the bulletproof vest and do the job!

Welfare is crying out for staff. Elderly care will need to hire 70,000 people by 2033 to meet the needs. What is the government's plan regarding this?

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Arbetsmarknads- och integrationsministern Mats Persson (L)

Madam Speaker! It is true that we have a prolonged international recession which has caused unemployment in Sweden and in many other countries to increase in recent years. Therefore, it is very important that we now strengthen households, so that their purchasing power can increase and we can get the economy moving again. An important part naturally also concerns ensuring that people educate themselves, so that they can take some of the many vacant jobs that exist at the current time. There are 140,000 jobs that are vacant despite the fact that we have a recession. It is about taking the training that exists so that one can take the vacant jobs that exist.

The focus is therefore on people having very great opportunities but also great obligations to do what they can to get a job and support themselves.

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Nadja Awad (V)

Madam Speaker! How is it possible to put people to work so that they are entitled to full-time employment, good wages and hope for the future when the government is now distributing budget cuts to the municipalities across the country, so that welfare staff are being laid off?

I repeat my question: In what way will the government ensure that we can employ 70,000 people within elderly care by 2033?

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Arbetsmarknads- och integrationsministern Mats Persson (L)

Madam Speaker! I think it is important in the political debate that we do not resort to falsehoods.

This government prioritizes welfare. Municipalities and regions have been given large amounts of money to ensure high quality in welfare and that one invests and commits to welfare. Do not mix up the cards and accuse the government of making cuts when large amounts of billions are now being allocated to municipalities and regions, Nadja Awad!

(Applause)

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Daniel Bäckström (C)

Madam Speaker! I would like to ask a question to Minister Andreas Carlson.

Throughout Värmland, national road 62 runs along the Klarälven. It stretches from Karlstad up through the municipalities, also through Torsby municipality, and then further towards the Norwegian border. Trafikverket has over the last ten years investigated the possibility of constructing erosion protection given the winding riverbed which risks eating up the road embankment so that this important road risks ending up in the river. The alternatives are very few.

The Land and Environment Court has now denied the measures, citing that the area along the river is a Natura 2000 area. This has serious consequences for business, residents, tourism development, and many other values.

My question to the Minister is: What does the Minister intend to do so that important infrastructure investments and necessary climate adaptation measures are not halted by the presence of Natura 2000 areas?

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Statsrådet Andreas Carlson (KD)

Madam Speaker! Thank you, Daniel Bäckström, for an important question! We have very great needs in the entire Swedish infrastructure, not least the road network, which is important for people to be able to make life work when it comes to taking children to practices and perhaps going to visit loved ones. It is also important for the business sector's opportunities for competitiveness and growth as well as for our preparedness, where the roads constitute a very important part of the capability.

When it comes to individual judgments – the member refers to a judgment in the Land and Environment Court – the members of the Riksdag know that it does not fall to an individual minister to comment on them. On the other hand, it is of course important in the ongoing work, which in many ways lies with Trafikverket and responsible authorities, to look at in what ways the goals can be achieved. With the very substantial reinforcements in the budget, it is clear that there will be funds for reinforcement in Swedish infrastructure.

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Daniel Bäckström (C)

Madam Speaker! Thank you, Minister, for the answer! The question remains to be answered. In this case, a Natura 2000 area blocks necessary and vital short-term and long-term measures for the road to be passable and for one to be able to have a long-term perspective when it comes to this important infrastructure. The alternative is to travel on very small roads, and that yields results that have major consequences not only for regional development but also for many more.

I repeat the question to the Minister: What measures are planned so that this does not become an obstacle?

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Statsrådet Andreas Carlson (KD)

Madam Speaker! It is several. Climate adaptation measures are important. I can neither can nor want to disagree in any way with what the member emphasizes. However, as an individual minister, I cannot comment on individual judgments.

What the government has done is that we have received a preliminary study regarding national physical planning. We are preparing what the next step should be there. There may be different interests that stand against each other. But a clear and distinct message is that we need investments in Swedish infrastructure, and there the government has presented a record-breaking infrastructure budget that provides the opportunity for new investments. Then we also need to sort out these interests.

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Leila Ali Elmi (MP)

Madam Speaker! The European Commission has in its work program for 2025 signaled its intention to withdraw the horizontal anti-discrimination directive, but a formal decision has not yet been made. The proposal has been blocked in the Council of Ministers for 17 years, particularly by Poland and Hungary. At the same time, the Commission has emphasized that it is now up to the European Parliament and the Member States to push the issue forward.

This is happening at a time when we see growing populism, homophobia, racism and resistance to equality both within the EU and globally. When these tendencies are reinforced, it would be a serious setback to let the proposal fall.

Sweden has opposed the withdrawal and supported the directive. But support is not enough; action is required. Therefore, I want to ask Mats Persson: What concrete initiatives is the government taking right now? Has the government taken the initiative for joint appeals or diplomatic efforts with like-minded countries to keep the issue alive?

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Arbetsmarknads- och integrationsministern Mats Persson (L)

Madam Speaker! I shall initially state that the question does not directly fall under my area of responsibility, but I shall nevertheless attempt to provide an answer.

It is correct as the member says that the government has opposed the tentative proposal to withdraw the proposed directive. We are following the issue closely and have at previous occasions marked that we have a different opinion, and we will act when it formally comes up on the agenda. As of today, this is however not formal, but we are following the issue closely.

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Leila Ali Elmi (MP)

Madam Speaker! If the commission nevertheless decides to withdraw the proposal, how does the government view the possibility of pursuing the issue further in a new initiative?

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Arbetsmarknads- och integrationsministern Mats Persson (L)

Madam Speaker! We have an arrangement in the Swedish Riksdag with an EU Committee that handles this type of issue. The question has been up for discussion in the EU Committee, I know. The Government will return when the question, so to speak, is sharp.

But the government's view is that the Commission's approach to withdrawing this is incorrect. That one should be treated equally regardless of background is an important issue for the government.

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Ann-Sofie Lifvenhage (M)

Madam Speaker! My question is addressed to the Minister for Infrastructure.

I know that public transport is an important part when it comes to being able to move many people smoothly and in a climate-smart way. We also know that the conditions for an efficient public transport system look very different across the country. The conditions are particularly good in, for example, Stockholm, where over 60 percent of Sweden's public transport is located.

Against this background, I am concerned when the S-led government in Stockholm has made decisions that complicate and prevent large numbers of people from commuting smoothly. This includes, among other things, withdrawn lines, which mean that, for example, the family with small children in Norra Djurgårdsstaden cannot make their daily lives work. This, in turn, leads to them acquiring a car – or perhaps another car. This results in increased congestion, and that is bad for the climate.

I would like to hear the Minister's view on the possibility of reaching the goal of increased public transport travel when S, V, C, and MP reduce the supply where it is most favorable.

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Statsrådet Andreas Carlson (KD)

Madam Speaker! I would like to thank Ann-Sofie Lifvenhage for an important question.

As the members know, it is the municipalities and regions that are responsible for ensuring that there is a functioning public transport system. They shall meet the needs of the residents. Within the framework of the responsibility they have, municipalities and regions decide on the transport supply themselves. It is part of the local self-government.

For that reason, I do not want to comment on the trade-offs being made at the municipal and regional level. But it is clear that it raises questions, and I understand why the member is asking these questions here in the chamber. There is, after all, a great and good potential for collective travel.

It is also the case that the government now, with the offensive investment in Swedish infrastructure, particularly looks at how we are to achieve better maintenance both on the road side and on the railway side. One should be able to rely on the train. I expect other actors to also take their share of the responsibility.

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Ann-Sofie Lifvenhage (M)

Madam Speaker! It is increased congestion. It is bad for the climate. Furthermore, it is almost impossible to reach the public transport targets. It will result in a smaller, worse, and more expensive supply. This is not directly easy to sell. Stockholm has previously, under moderate leadership, flown the flag high in terms of being an engine in Sweden's public transport by investing in safety and accessibility.

I wonder what concessions the minister would be willing to make to the red-green regional government so that they will understand the importance of participating and contributing to increased collective travel.

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Statsrådet Andreas Carlson (KD)

Madam Speaker! Now the government is investing a record amount in the maintenance of our neglected infrastructure in Sweden – on the railway side and on the road side. It is not just about more money for maintenance, but also about more maintenance for the money.

Regarding the Stockholm area and the other two metropolitan areas, a special spare parts strategy has been developed so that traffic disruptions can be rectified more quickly. It is a more proactive way of working.

All this is our responsibility, but I also expect other actors to take their responsibility.

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Hans Eklind (KD)

Madam Speaker! Unemployment lies behind almost half of all those who today receive social assistance. And despite the fact that foreign-born individuals make up 20 percent of the country's population, 58 percent of those who receive financial assistance are precisely foreign-born. This is largely due to the fact that they have not had time to qualify for other safety nets, for example, the unemployment insurance fund.

We Christian Democrats want the social assistance to be a safety net, not a municipal unemployment fund that takes resources needed within school and childcare and elderly care. We believe that those who are capable of working but are unemployed and who meet the criteria to be registered with Arbetsförmedlingen should be moved from social assistance to what we call state unemployment benefit, where clear requirements are set for the person who is capable of working to participate in education, to develop their skills and to be matched against jobs across the country. The unemployment benefit shall be linked to the individual, be a fixed amount per day and not be means-tested.

What does the Minister for Employment think about such a model?

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Arbetsmarknads- och integrationsministern Mats Persson (L)

Madam Speaker! Thank you, Hans Eklind, for your commitment to this issue!

It is very important that we have a policy where people who, for some reason, need the support of the state or the municipality – public support – receive support. They shall receive a grant, but they shall also do what is expected of them, that is, learn Swedish, seek jobs, and participate in different types of activities. The government is therefore working on a reform where we simply do not accept that people live on grants year after year without doing anything to earn the grant. Going forward, one will need to provide a counter-performance in order to receive a grant from society.

One can, of course, always discuss whether we should organize this under the municipality's auspices or do as the Kristdemokraterna propose. But what is important for the government's part is to ensure that we have a policy where we set requirements. To set requirements is to care.

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Hans Eklind (KD)

Madam Speaker! We are in very much agreement, but I still thought I would take the opportunity to have the Minister reflect on this with economic rationality. It is indeed irrational today for a person who has subsistence support to step in and take a job on a Saturday and so on, given that this is means-tested. The marginal effect is 100 percent. Everything is deducted.

Does the Minister not see a need for those receiving financial assistance to be able to earn money by taking a job, even if only for a few hours?

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Arbetsmarknads- och integrationsministern Mats Persson (L)

Madam Speaker! It is very important that it pays to work. It is very important that the person who chooses to work a few hours on a Saturday feels that it is worth it. It is very important that we have systems that encourage work.

Then one can discuss whether it should be the model that the Christian Democrats advocate for or whether it should be what the government is currently working on. We want to introduce a contribution ceiling and a work incentive that ensures it always pays to work. The exact methodology can always be discussed, but the political direction – that it must always pay to work – is fixed.

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Johanna Haraldsson (S)

Madam Speaker! The bankruptcy notice from Northvolt represents one of the largest Swedish layoffs in modern times. It is a hard blow to the thousands of employees who now risk losing their jobs. Many of those affected express concern for the future, for the uncertain job situation, and for being cast into unemployment.

It is a particularly difficult situation, which in my opinion requires powerful efforts. I wonder what specific efforts and measures the Minister for Employment intends to take to provide security to the thousands of employees who now risk losing their jobs.

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Arbetsmarknads- och integrationsministern Mats Persson (L)

Madam Speaker! Thank you, Johanna Haraldsson, for your question!

It is exactly as the questioner describes it. Many people feel a justified great concern. They have a feeling of unease and are shaken after the announcement we received yesterday. After much speculation in the media, over a long period, they have now decided to throw in the towel and request the company be declared bankrupt.

What is important that we do now is that we pool our resources. We pool resources among all actors in society at different levels so that in this situation, one knows that one receives a salary or a compensation and does not need to move from house and home. One is not left alone in this. The united society stands ready to provide help and educational initiatives and to guide to the vacant jobs that exist. In this tough and difficult time, one can get help. That help means that we show empathy and take care of one another.

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Roger Hedlund (SD)

Madam Speaker! My question is directed to Housing Minister Andreas Carlson.

The European Commission is now laying the foundation for a new investment platform for housing. In the coming years, 10 billion euros will be invested in this. This is – it resembles many other cases when it comes to the European Commission – a new interference in, among other things, Swedish housing policy, which they would like to develop. This applies to many political areas.

If you ask me, the member state Sweden handles this fastest and easiest itself with the Swedish housing policy.

How does the Minister view this issue?

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Statsrådet Andreas Carlson (KD)

Madam Speaker! I thank you for the question.

Housing policy is formally not an EU competence but is nevertheless affected by EU legislation in various ways. Sweden considers that the Commission should avoid detailed and cost-driving proposals within the housing policy area. Financing solutions within the plans for affordable housing should be voluntary for member states and sufficiently flexible so as not to disturb the functioning of the Swedish housing market. This is an issue that we will, of course, continue to monitor.

I want to give this clear answer to Roger Hedlund's pressing question.

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Isabell Mixter (V)

Madam Speaker! My question also concerns Northvolt and the grim news that arrived yesterday regarding their bankruptcy filing. It is, of course, primarily a hard blow to all those who are employed there and who are now worried about their future.

It is still very unclear what will happen. What we can state is that it is the largest bankruptcy in modern times in Sweden, which also calls for a special sense of responsibility from the government. One can also state that Arbetsförmedlingen has received reduced appropriations, and during this government's mandate period, people at Arbetsförmedlingen have been laid off.

My question to the Minister for Employment today is directed at what the government is doing to ensure that the relevant actors, particularly Arbetsförmedlingen in Skellefteå, have sufficient resources to handle the exceptional situation we are currently in.

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Arbetsmarknads- och integrationsministern Mats Persson (L)

Madam Speaker! Thank you, Isabell Mixter, for the question!

In this situation, I believe it is very important that society pools its resources and does what we are supposed to do, so that people can feel safe. No one should be left to the mercy of the waves; instead, society must be there and provide security and support.

This support manifests in several different ways. An important part of that is that Arbetsförmedlingen has a strong local presence on-site in Skellefteå. That has been the case previously, and it will, naturally, be maintained to an equal or even greater extent, given the bankruptcy.

It is also about the fact that different safety organizations are on site to be able to guide people to vacant jobs and provide different types of interventions and training or equivalent. This ensures that people can take the jobs that are available or train for jobs for which they do not currently have the competence to take.

This is a group of workers who have very high competence. They have good prospects of finding a job. Society does not stand aside, but rather society joins forces and provides support.

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Catarina Deremar (C)

Madam Speaker! When the investigation "A digital development support for certain periodicals" was submitted a year ago, the Minister for Culture stated that the proposals would not be pursued. The reason was that it turned out that a different support was requested in the referral responses received from the referral bodies.

Then the minister stated that the government takes the magazines' concern very seriously. It is certainly true that the importance of independent journalism is now needed more than ever. This is an important democratic issue.

I want to ask the Minister for Culture how we proceed now with the work of securing the future of independent journals.

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Kulturministern Parisa Liljestrand (M)

Madam Speaker! It is undeniable that periodicals constitute an important part of our media landscape, where we are keen that there should be a breadth and a diversity for democracy.

It was very much the case that this government took the initiative to reform the media support, so that it shall promote local and regional journalism, and at the same time appointed an inquiry to look at the future of periodicals. What we could observe when the inquiry was presented was exactly what the member was referring to. It turned out when this was referred that the proposed support in the inquiry was not what the industry itself is requesting. Therefore, the government announced that we will not proceed with that support.

I am, however, in good contact with the industry, and we have an open and good discussion about the journals' future.

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Jan Riise (MP)

Madam Speaker! My question also goes to Minister for Culture Parisa Liljestrand. It concerns the Sami language centers which have initiated important activities, not least with the normalization of the Sami languages, in recent years.

Sápmi extends, as is known, across Sweden, Norway and Finland, and to some extent also Russia. Therefore, the Swedish, Norwegian and Finnish Sámi Parliaments jointly fund the language center Sámi Giellagáldu. It is physically located in Norway, but it also has employees in Sweden and Finland. The center's activities are not only important from a linguistic point of view. They are also, I believe, a recognition of the indigenous people, the Sámi, in themselves – a people whose history and language span several countries.

For this year's operations, the Swedish grant to Giellagáldu was removed, and for 2026 the situation is, to say the least, concerning. This is due in no small part to the fact that the culture grant to the Sami Parliament has stood still since several years back.

My question is whether the Minister for Culture can provide an assurance that the activities for 2026 can be secured, through a direct grant or a grant via the Sámi Parliament, so that Sámi Giellagáldu can continue its important activities.

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Kulturministern Parisa Liljestrand (M)

Madam Speaker! Språkcentrum and Giellagáldu are somewhat different things. What the government did in the budget was to strengthen the possibility for the language centers to continue their important activities. They were based on temporary funds – which were running out – and therefore the government made a reinforcement that enables the language centers to continue their important activities. These are now not funds that are temporary and running out, but they are permanent.

When it comes to Giellagáldu, it has previously been financed by the state with the help of the temporary funds. The Government has now, in talks with the Sámi Parliament, said that the Sámi Parliament themselves must make their own prioritizations, within the framework of self-government, with the funds they request and receive.

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Magnus Resare (M)

Madam Speaker! My question is directed to Migration Minister Forssell.

Quite a few of us reacted some years ago when a gang criminal murderer became a Swedish citizen while he was being detained on suspicion of murder. I know that the government has already tightened the rules so that this cannot happen again. I also understand that the government wants to tighten the requirements placed on those who want to become a Swedish citizen even further.

I wonder if the Minister for Migration could tell us a little about how the work is progressing and his thoughts in general regarding this issue.

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Statsrådet Johan Forssell (M)

Madam Speaker! Thank you, Magnus Resare, for the question!

I want it to mean something to be a citizen in our country. I want people to be proud of being a citizen in Sweden, and one becomes proud only when one needs to make an effort to be a citizen.

I can state that during many years of red-green governments, the requirements to be a citizen were very low. Now we are seeing to change this fundamentally. In the near future, we will move forward with new legislation which means that, for example, one needs to be able to speak Swedish to be a citizen in Sweden. One needs to have basic knowledge about Sweden, and one should naturally not have committed a lot of crimes if one wants to become a part of our society and our country.

We will also reintroduce a principle that has not existed for over 50 years, namely that those who are to become citizens in Sweden must also be able to support themselves. These are important and reasonable reforms that the government is implementing. We do it both so that it means something to be a citizen in Sweden and because we have very high expectations that those who come to our country will participate and contribute and build a better Sweden. That is how we move this country forward.

(Applause)

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Gudrun Brunegård (KD)

Madam Speaker! Being able to speak and understand Swedish is crucial for being able to establish oneself on the Swedish labor market and become part of society. The conditions exist, as the need for labor is great – especially in occupations where education and a certain level of knowledge in Swedish are required. Despite this, the challenges are great, particularly among newly arrived people and the long-term unemployed. Many get stuck in a dependency on benefits instead of quickly entering employment.

Denmark has recently introduced clearer requirements. There, financial support is linked to active participation in language training and labor market measures. A similar model is also used in Sweden to strengthen integration and reduce dependency on benefits.

I would like to ask the Minister for Employment what measures the government plans to take to strengthen the incentives for newcomers and the unemployed to actively participate in language learning and vocational training.

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Arbetsmarknads- och integrationsministern Mats Persson (L)

Madam Speaker! Thank you, Gudrun Brunegård, for the question!

It is quite true that Sweden is, and shall be, the land of opportunity. One is warmly welcome to Sweden, but when one comes to Sweden, one is expected to work and support oneself, learn Swedish and stand behind liberal democratic values regarding equality, homosexual rights and the like. These are things we have fought hard for in our country, and they are values that hold our society together.

One is welcome here, but one also has a very great personal responsibility to do everything one can to become a part of Swedish society. That lies in that one cannot, in the future, go year after year and live on benefits without making a counter-performance to receive the benefit. One must attend a language course, one must learn Swedish, one must do an internship. One cannot live in passive benefit dependency. It helps no one.

(Applause)

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Fredrik Stenberg (S)

Madam Speaker! I have a question for Minister Andreas Carlson.

In a time when the security situation is more serious than it has been in many decades, the SD government is making the historical mistake of not doing what is required in the infrastructure area. This risks weakening the total defense and the society's resilience.

Does the Minister not see – given today's global situation – the need for extraordinary investments in both maintenance and expansion of the infrastructure, for example through new rails, in order to strengthen Sweden's defense capability and security of supply?

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Statsrådet Andreas Carlson (KD)

Madam Speaker! Yes, I see that. That is why the government is so eager to not only talk about Swedish infrastructure but also to deliver. In recent decades, there has been a great deal of talk about maintenance but very little workshop.

The road network has deteriorated with every plan over the last eight years, even though the previous government knew that the roads would get worse if the funds that Trafikverket says are needed for road maintenance were not allocated. Now we have a historically large maintenance debt on the roadside. But now we are maximizing maintenance and addressing the deferred maintenance during the upcoming twelve-year period. The Social Democrats, however, want to scale back this investment in the budget that has been presented here in the chamber.

Even on the railway, we are maximizing maintenance. We are adding funds for new investments in our historically large investment in infrastructure. We are also opening up for alternative financing so that we can get more money for infrastructure.

The answer to the question is therefore yes.

(Applause)

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Ann-Christine Frohm (SD)

Madam Speaker! Unemployment in Sweden is increasing significantly, and we know that it is largely an imported problem, inherited from governments that have engaged in head-less immigration policy without requirements for adaptation. The proportion of foreign-born unemployed is three times as large as the proportion of domestic-born. Many foreigners who have come here have such poor skills that they will never work and will instead have to continue being supported by Swedish taxpayers.

Previous governments have not had any solution to the problem. I would therefore like to ask if the Minister for Employment and the sitting government has one.

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Arbetsmarknads- och integrationsministern Mats Persson (L)

Madam Speaker! I thank Ann-Christine Frohm for her question.

It is quite true that very large groups who have come to Sweden cannot support themselves. There are also people who have come to our country who contribute to industry and welfare every day. The picture is therefore quite split.

It is naturally a major problem that people do not stand on their own feet, and foreign-born people are definitely overrepresented among these. It is a matter of the systems today being too lax. One can live on benefits year after year without having to provide any counter-performance to receive the benefit. One does not need to learn Swedish, and there are no requirements in full that one must learn Swedish.

Point by point, whether it concerns citizenship, migration policy, or the entire labor market policy, the changes that the government is now making collectively aim for people to learn the language, be able to take part in all the opportunities one gets in Sweden, and fully be able to become a part of Swedish society.

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Anders Karlsson (C)

Madam Speaker! My question is addressed to Minister Andreas Carlson.

For the Centre Party, a stable, robust railway system with proper maintenance is incredibly important. That is why we have allocated significantly more money than the government has.

The railway has a maintenance debt of 91 billion today. The government's ambition to handle this over two planning periods is good. But I wonder: Is it realistic to only handle 10–15 percent during the first twelve-year period? Is it not the same thing as not prioritizing the railway?

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Statsrådet Andreas Carlson (KD)

Madam Speaker! The answer to this is no. This is not in any way unrealistic. What the government is doing now is, on the contrary, exactly as much as can be invested in railway maintenance. I understand that there may be parties that want to invest more. I do, and the government does too. But if it is not possible to convert these billions into practical railway maintenance – in signaling systems, switch replacements, reinforcements of rail yards, overhead line replacements, and new power supply facilities that are needed – it will just be a clanging cymbal here in the chamber, Madam Speaker.

What is needed is steel in the ground and new facilities, and that is what we are doing. We are investing as much as Trafikverket assesses they can do. But we are not satisfied with that; instead, we have given a very clear mandate to Trafikverket to strengthen the railway's robustness and speed up maintenance so that we focus on more money for maintenance but also on getting more maintenance for the money. Time is critical, and the work is being carried out expeditiously.

This is, however, something that has been intended for a long time. To believe that one can reverse this during a single parliamentary term is, unfortunately, unrealistic.

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Jacob Risberg (MP)

Madam Speaker! My question is addressed to Minister for Employment Persson.

The green industrial transition is in an intensive period of build-up. In Boden, Stegra expects to have 1,500 employees when the production of steel has commenced. In Ludvika, Hitachi has chosen to invest 3.7 billion in the production of large transformers, which will lead to 2,000 new jobs. In Karlskrona, NKT is building the world's largest factory for marine high-voltage cables and will need to hire 500 new employees.

After this week's tragic news that Northvolt has applied for bankruptcy, we face a situation where a thousand highly educated foreign workers could quickly be forced to leave Sweden, as they only have three months to find a new job. This could happen despite the fact that the demand for exactly this workforce is clearly large over the coming years.

How is the government working to ensure that the highly educated available labor that is now forced to leave Northvolt can remain in Sweden until companies such as Stegra, Hitachi, and NKT can begin hiring?

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Statsrådet Johan Forssell (M)

Madam Speaker! I thank Jacob Risberg for the question. We have jointly prepared an answer here, and it is I who will answer the question because the area of responsibility lies with me.

There is a piece of legislation today that has applied for a number of years and which means that labor migrants who are laid off can remain in Sweden for three months after their employment has ended to find a new job. We realize, of course, that it is very important that many of the emerging companies – or the established ones as Jacob Risberg mentions – have good opportunities to recruit people. The opportunity exists so that other companies, perhaps the industries mentioned here or other sectors, can recruit these people during this time. But there is, of course, always a balance point for how long one can be in a country and receive various welfare benefits without having a job.

This is a difficult situation. The Swedish Migration Agency is now working on-site to help individuals move on to other work tasks and answer questions in this regrettable situation. We are, of course, following the work very closely and are very active in the process.

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Kristina Axén Olin (M)

Madam Speaker! My question is addressed to Minister for Culture Parisa Liljestrand.

In 2017, the Social Democrats and the Green Party nationalized Swedish film policy by raising the cinema VAT from 6 percent to 25 percent, moving the decisions to the Swedish Film Institute, removing the cinema fee, and introducing a non-functioning production support incentive. It has been devastating for Swedish film policy and our cinemas.

My question to Minister for Culture Parisa Liljestrand is therefore: What can the current government and the Minister for Culture do to improve things for the Swedish film industry?

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Kulturministern Parisa Liljestrand (M)

Madam Speaker! I thank the member for the question.

It is exactly as the member describes it: Swedish film finds itself, if you will, in both an ice age and a golden age. There is a lot of Swedish film and Swedish content that performs well, but the conditions for the industry to function well are poor. And they did not improve with the fully state-run film policy, which was introduced in 2017 by the previous government.

That is why the current government appointed a film inquiry which has worked for a year, and I have had the pleasure of receiving its report. It contains a number of proposals that we will now process within the government. The whole thing will, of course, also be referred so that we can hear the industry's views.

I look forward to continuing the work on film policy and providing solutions to some of the problems that the previous government caused.

(Applause)

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Heléne Björklund (S)

Madam Speaker! My question is addressed to Minister Andreas Carlson.

This year, Sweden is the chair of the Nordic Council, and the Swedish presidency has decided to prioritize removing as many border obstacles as possible. A recurring border obstacle is the coordination of transport of raw materials, materials, and persons within the Nordic region. A solution to this could be to establish a Nordic transport minister council. The entire Nordic Council, with all eight parliaments, stands behind this. The Swedish government has, however, opposed it.

How does the government justify this, and how is the Council of State working with the coordination to avoid upcoming crises similar to the one we saw during the covid pandemic now that we are in this difficult security policy situation?

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Statsrådet Andreas Carlson (KD)

Madam Speaker! The Nordic cooperation in the transport area is very close and, I believe, closer than it has been in many years. In 2022, we signed a declaration on expanded cooperation. We have followed up on this at every meeting, and we meet regularly.

In Gothenburg, I gathered my Nordic transport minister colleagues last year, and we then took a new step in Nordic integration. We agreed to encourage our agencies to sign a memorandum of understanding to synchronize the work with long-term infrastructure planning at the agency level. The cooperation is now in place, and Trafikverket has entered into agreements with its Nordic counterparts.

We also see that the preparedness needs to be strengthened, and we have made joint visits and agreed to strengthen the cooperation not only between the defense departments, where the cooperation is tight, but also between the transport ministers. I had my Danish colleague here at the beginning of the week, and we talked about border barrier issues regarding the Öresund. A few weeks ago I met my Norwegian colleague in Luleå, and at the beginning of the year I inaugurated a new railway section, Laurila–Torneå–Haparanda, with my Finnish colleague. These are just a few examples. I could continue for several minutes, but now my speaking time is over.

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Ludvig Aspling (SD)

Madam Speaker! Migration Minister Johan Forssell recently stated on Sveriges Television that multiculturalism is not a problem as long as people who move to Sweden adopt Swedish values. I believe this view is naive, and it creates a division of culture and values that is not reflected in reality.

Are there really values that have come with migration and that we all find problematic, for example clan rule, forced marriage, honor violence and the like, which are completely independent of the cultural home in these persons' home countries? In other words: Does the minister really believe that, for example, the honor culture has nothing at all to do with culture?

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Statsrådet Johan Forssell (M)

Madam Speaker! I thank Ludvig Aspling for the question.

This is a concept that can mean very different things depending on who you ask, and for that very reason, I usually try to avoid it and instead focus on the historical reforms that we are now implementing to overhaul large parts of the Swedish migration policy.

When one looks at today's society – one should start from how society looks – it is obvious that Sweden, in the foreseeable future, will consist of people with many different backgrounds. Some aspects of this I see as completely unproblematic. To take an example, this year we celebrate 250 years of Jewish life and Jewish culture in Sweden – something that has also been good for Swedish society.

As long as one follows Swedish laws and shares Swedish values, I see no problem. The important thing is not where one comes from, but where one is headed. This does not mean that I am indifferent to the problems or naive regarding honor culture etcetera, and it is precisely for that reason that we are changing large parts of the Swedish migration policy, not least the rules for Swedish citizenship.

(Applause)

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Ulrika Liljeberg (C)

Madam Speaker! My question to Minister Andreas Carlson concerns charging infrastructure for vehicles.

The climate crisis is acute and is becoming increasingly tangible. We know that the use of fossil fuels within the transport sector is one of the most important problems to solve for the sake of the climate.

Trafikverket has conducted a preliminary study on charging points at rest areas, and the same agency received a government mandate last week to analyze and report on the conditions for stationary charging at its rest areas for both heavy and light vehicles. Trafikverket shall, by November at the latest this year, submit proposals for a pilot project for stationary charging at one or more rest areas in our country.

It is a preliminary study and a pilot project. Given the tangible climate threat and the OECD's report on Sweden's insufficient efforts, does the Minister assess that the government's pace in this matter is high enough to meet the climate crisis we face?

(Applause)

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Statsrådet Andreas Carlson (KD)

Madam Speaker! Ulrika Liljeberg mentions two important initiatives, but she does not mention the other measures the government is taking to facilitate the expansion of charging infrastructure.

Let me nevertheless elaborate on the examples Liljeberg mentions. Being able to charge, not least heavy vehicles, at rest areas is an important step toward accelerating the transition of the vehicle fleet, also regarding the heavy segment. Then, at the rest area, one can combine charging of one's own batteries, when stopping in accordance with driving and rest times, with charging of the truck's batteries. Therefore, this pilot activity is important. The assignment is also quite short, so that we can consider different measures in the work with the national plan for infrastructure.

There is also significant support available for both the expansion of charging infrastructure and the purchase of heavy vehicles. The cost is indeed higher for a truck powered by electricity than for one powered by fossil fuel.

So, a lot is going on here, and the pace is high.

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David Josefsson (M)

Madam Speaker! In the Hyresgästföreningens report Unga vuxnas boende from 2023, it is stated that more than every fourth person aged 20–27 still lives with their parents. The report also shows that every third person hesitates to move to pursue an education or start a job because they are worried about not finding a home. Many even hesitate to start a family.

According to Hyresgästföreningen, the fact that the situation looks the way it does is due to previous governments not having had a functioning housing policy for decades. Now, the Moderate-led government is pursuing an offensive housing policy in order, among other things, to reduce the regulatory burden, shorten lead times, and increase buildable land.

What measures has Housing Minister Andreas Carlson taken or intends to take to facilitate the construction of more housing for, for example, students and young adults?

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Statsrådet Andreas Carlson (KD)

Madam Speaker! An offensive work is underway, and part of the offensive simplification package the government has announced and also presented during the spring contains extensive reliefs to build student housing.

We have today accessibility requirements that make the costs of building student housing here higher than in, for example, Norway. Boverket has also been inspired by Norway, where there are requirements that 20 percent of student apartments shall be accessibility-adapted. The government has today presented just this in a proposition which I look forward to the Riksdag addressing for a swift entry into force at the mid-year turn so that more student housing can be built at a lower cost. This makes it more attractive to build and can also lead to lower rents for students.

This is an example, and there are more. These are important steps away from a neglected housing policy.

(Applause)

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Serkan Köse (S)

Madam Speaker! Sweden now has the highest unemployment in 25 years, and Northvolt's newly filed bankruptcy petition risks worsening the situation further. At the same time, every fourth young person is unemployed, and long-term unemployment is becoming entrenched. We are also seeing a wave of bankruptcies that particularly affects the construction sector.

In a situation where Sweden is in an acute job crisis, an employment service with resources to support job seekers back into work and education is needed. But Arbetsförmedlingen states in its latest budget document to Mats Persson that it lacks sufficient funds to fulfill its mission and has therefore requested additional appropriations.

Will Minister for Employment Mats Persson act to ensure that Arbetsförmedlingen has the resources required to be able to meet the acute situation on the labor market?

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Arbetsmarknads- och integrationsministern Mats Persson (L)

Madam Speaker! The answer is yes. Naturally, our authorities should have the powers they need to be able to do a good job. Therefore, the government is now changing the regulatory framework so that Arbetsförmedlingen and the municipalities can cooperate and people can attend training or learn the Swedish language as intended.

I also want to say that there is an over-reliance on the idea that individual authorities can create jobs. Fundamentally, it is about individual entrepreneurs, large as well as small, having to see that they can hire and operate in Sweden. Therefore, it is important that we have an economic policy that invests in the future – in infrastructure, research, and education – while simultaneously ensuring that Swedish households' wallets and purchasing power are strengthened so that the economic wheels can roll faster.

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Jonas Andersson (SD)

Madam Speaker! I have a question for the Minister for Culture. In Swedish cultural policy, film is the area where artistic freedom has perhaps been worst affected in recent years by woke and restrictive identity politics from the political left. Agency reports have shown this.

From the Swedish Film Institute, various quota ideas and requirements for education in norm-creativity have emerged over the years, followed by support and so on. These politically correct lectures in Swedish film policy are a consequence of the national equality and diversity goals that exist today.

Last week, the report from the film investigation that the government appointed in cooperation with the Sverigedemokraterna was released. In the report, changed film policy goals are proposed and it is suggested that the equality and diversity goal should be removed, which is something that the Sverigedemokraterna have pushed for.

We need to give Swedish film the conditions to do better in cinemas and in other viewing windows instead of making it more woke. I therefore wonder: How does the Minister want to change Filmsverige to put a stop to identity politics that restricts filmmakers' artistic freedom?

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Kulturministern Parisa Liljestrand (M)

Madam Speaker! I thank you for the question.

Film engages undeniably. It is not so strange considering that it is both an art form and an industry that it lies close to many people to take part in.

Just as the member describes, there is much that has influenced Swedish film and which has affected the industry negatively, not least the political meddling that has led to the artistic freedom being called into question. Therefore, it was important to give broad directives to the Film Commission. It is therefore also pleasing that the Film Commission has addressed the film policy goals and submitted proposals on how they can be designed so that artistic freedom within film can be secured.

I look forward to further processing the investigation and I also look forward to referring it so that the industry can have its say.

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Emma Ahlström Köster (M)

Madam Speaker! Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine is also an attack on its culture. In what ways can our government in Sweden assist in helping our friends in Ukraine, who are currently forced to watch as their cultural heritage is being shattered?

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Kulturministern Parisa Liljestrand (M)

Madam Speaker! I thank you for a question that lies close to all of our hearts, and especially to mine.

I had the privilege of traveling to Ukraine a few weeks ago and was awakened by an air raid alarm after parts of cultural cities and cultural objects in certain cities had been attacked. This is extremely serious.

We know that culture is an incredibly important part of strengthening people's will to defend themselves and their identity. It is part of a sustaining democracy. Therefore, we in Sweden shall do everything we can to enable Ukraine to preserve and protect its culture and its cultural heritage. We also do this through close cooperation between authorities and in close cooperation with Ukraine's government and culture minister. We are doing many things and will do more in the future.

(Applause)

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Markus Kallifatides (S)

Madam Speaker! In September 2023, the extensive memorandum National Physical Planning was submitted to Minister for Infrastructure and Housing Andreas Carlson. A year later, the government announced in the budget bill for 2025 that there were reasons to review the existing regulatory framework for the state's claims to land and water areas. It was stated that today's system had major deficiencies, and the government therefore intended to carry out a review with the aim of establishing a more coherent order for just national physical planning, furthermore based on a unified socio-economic analysis.

Madam Speaker! Housing construction is now far too low, and unemployment, not least in the construction sector, is far too high. We Social Democrats believe that many more urgent measures are needed, and we regret that the government has rejected virtually all of our proposals.

My question to the Minister is: When will the review begin, and when will it be completed?

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Statsrådet Andreas Carlson (KD)

Madam Speaker! Markus Kallifatides has in a meritorious manner described what the government has seen a need for regarding the review that we have signaled.

We are now in the month of March. We will return with a decision regarding the review, which is urgent for many different reasons, not least the reasons that appear in the budget bill and which the member just read out.

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Arber Gashi (S)

Madam Speaker! Recently, the heavy news arrived that 60 of the 270 employees at the paper mill in Hylte are being laid off. It is yet another in a series of layoffs hitting Swedish industry and which strike extra hard against smaller municipalities, where every job opportunity is crucial.

The paper mill is and has historically been one of Hylte municipality's largest employers. For Hylte, this means reduced tax revenues, weakened welfare, and an uncertain future for many families, in a time when, for example, food prices continue to rise.

I am thinking particularly of the employee Matilda, whom we have been able to read about. She is 21 years old and has finally signed a first-hand contract on an apartment to move out from home. Now, instead, she is about to step into an enormous uncertainty as she is expected to be laid off.

What message does the Minister for Employment have for the residents of Matilda and Hylte municipality? And above all: Are there any measures whatsoever that the government intends to take?

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Arbetsmarknads- och integrationsministern Mats Persson (L)

Madam Speaker! Thank you, Arber Gashi, for your question! This is something that Sweden has great experience with, namely that within the industry, sometimes it goes up and sometimes it goes down. Now there are parts of the industry where it goes down, and there are parts of the industry where it is going very well.

Hylte, which the member refers to, is located in Halland, which is a prosperous region where there are relatively good job opportunities. I am convinced that many of those who have been affected in the case in question will be able to find work in the same municipality or in surrounding municipalities.

If one has competence from work within Swedish industry, one has a good labor market ahead of them, and one has very good opportunities to find a new job.

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Jonathan Svensson (S)

Madam Speaker! In Sweden, we face major challenges regarding skills supply within both the private and public sectors. Very many people need to be employed.

At the same time as we have great challenges with the supply of skills, we have long-term unemployment that is becoming entrenched and is increasing. If one looks at the long-term unemployed, one sees that as much as 31 percent of them have a functional impairment that results in reduced work capacity.

People with disabilities who are unemployed are a group that is extra vulnerable in the labor market and quite often need extra support to be able to take the step into working life. Despite that insight, it echoes relatively empty regarding measures from the government to ensure that these people get an easier path into work.

I therefore want to ask the Minister for Employment if the government recognizes the seriousness of the situation for these people and if the government intends to take any measures to handle the situation.

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Arbetsmarknads- och integrationsministern Mats Persson (L)

Madam Speaker! Thank you, Jonathan Svensson, for the question! That is quite correct.

We Swedes should feel great pride, I think, in the society we have built where we ensure that we take care of people, not least people with disabilities.

People with disabilities are offered support in Sweden that is not available in other countries. It can involve getting the opportunity to support oneself or to be at a workplace and be included. In that regard, we have a number of different systems within the framework of Samhälls' activities. We have wage subsidies and similar systems that ensure people receive support to be able to be in a community, to be needed, and to be able to support themselves. It is something that is unique to Sweden and that we should be very proud of.

With that said, there are constantly things that need to be improved. What the government is now implementing is that we make specific investments for people with disabilities so that the opportunity to participate in the labor market is strengthened.

The question period was hereby concluded.

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