Question Time

TREDJE VICE TALMANNEN

I would like to welcome the ministers. Questions will be answered today by Minister for Defence Pål Jonson, Minister Camilla Waltersson Grönvall, Minister Carl-Oskar Bohlin, and Minister Benjamin Dousa.

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 for Defence Pål Jonson answers both general political questions and questions within his own area of responsibility.

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Peter Hultqvist (S)

Madam Speaker! As the situation has developed, we have a global situation that is, to say the least, changing, and where what was believed to be given is no longer given in various situations.

We from our side have previously put forward the demand that a new security policy analysis should be carried out, as we believe that the conditions have changed to a large extent since the defense decision was made in December. We also believe that this should ultimately lead to a supplementary package to the current defense decision, which naturally must remain firm.

When we initially raised the demands, we specified no form, but the idea was that the government could take some kind of initiative. But now a long time has passed without any initiative being taken, and our demand is therefore that the Defense Preparation Board (Försvarsberedningen) should be reactivated. My question to Pål Jonson is: When does the government intend to activate the Defense Preparation Board?

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Försvarsministern Pål Jonson (M)

Madam Speaker! I thank Peter Hultqvist for the question, which concerns several issues.

Regarding the question linked to the security analysis, the government took the first step toward it in connection with our invitation last week to the party leaders to have deliberations and discussions about the current security policy global situation. The military intelligence and security service was also there and gave a lecture. I do not rule out that there will be more such opportunities to discuss the security policy global situation and subsequently make analyses.

Another dimension concerns the work that now lies ahead of us in establishing the military capability requirements that we will have as a Nato ally. Here, we have given a mandate to the Swedish Armed Forces to calculate the costs and look at the feasibility. I have said all along that during the spring we will invite the parties in the Riksdag to find a new agreement linked to the defense economy and Nato's new military capability requirements.

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Peter Hultqvist (S)

Madam Speaker! Information of this kind is not the same as deep involvement. The Defence Preparation Board provides a different type of involvement and can form the basis for decisions directly here in the Riksdag that are anchored through the work that has been performed. That is what I want to say.

The second thing I want to say is that NATO's capability requirements are not a process that automatically needs to lead to us having to wait with taking the initiative. The capability requirements can well be integrated into this. We believe that the initiative should be taken now.

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Försvarsministern Pål Jonson (M)

Madam Speaker! I am not seeking conflict in defense policy, Peter Hultqvist, and I do not believe the Social Democrats are doing so either. I merely note that varying messages are coming from the Social Democrats. Three weeks ago, it was stated clearly and distinctly that the Defense Preparation Board should not be activated, but today it is said that it should be.

I also note that Magdalena Andersson said it would be a finance and defense committee. For me, the form is secondary. Let us find a new, broad political agreement. The Government stands ready to invite the parties in the Riksdag to find good conditions for this.

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Per Söderlund (SD)

Madam Speaker! I also wish to pose my question to Minister of Defence Pål Jonson.

We live in a serious time. It has been a long time since it was this important to have a strong defense with competent personnel who can and want to defend our country.

For the Sweden Democrats, it is important that we take advantage of people who want to work within the defense, who have knowledge and commitment and who have dedicated their lives and their free time to this. We need people who are prepared to defend our Sweden and our leaders at the risk of their own lives in the event of war.

In recent days, the media has highlighted a 20-year-old guy who has had a dream since childhood of being a part of the defense of Sweden. His dreams are unfortunately shattered because he is a diabetic and has therefore received the answer that he cannot be a part of the Armed Forces' operations.

My question to Defense Minister Pål Jonson is therefore: How does the government ensure that we take advantage of people's commitment and competence in defense matters to promote a strong defense force in these important times?

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Försvarsministern Pål Jonson (M)

Madam Speaker! Thank you, Per Söderlund, for an important question!

At its core, it is positive that more and more young people are now interested in and engaged in fulfilling the conscription. The figure has risen since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine broke out.

I am aware of this case, but since it is a legal case, I cannot comment on it other than at a general level. There are a couple of aspects there. Performing military service is an obligation but not a right, and we have the privilege that more people want to perform military service than are allowed to do so.

With that said: When it comes to the medical examinations, there is a continuous ongoing effort to create the conditions for the Armed Forces to grow. What has been the limitation for people with different diagnoses is that they, for example, need medication in the field, which can be difficult to arrange under war conditions.

I know that the Swedish Defence Evaluation Authority, in dialogue with the Swedish Armed Forces, is constantly working on these issues.

(Applause)

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Per Söderlund (SD)

Madam Speaker! Thank you, Minister for Defence, for the answer!

I view the Minister for Defence's commitment to these issues positively, and I am pleased that we agree on much.

In Finland, a report has been produced on, among other things, the possibilities for diabetics within the Defence Forces, and in reports that the Finnish Ministry of Defence is to address, the possibility for diabetics to serve in the defence after a voluntary health examination is highlighted.

Does the Minister intend to work with the issue in the same way as Finland does, and does one intend to take initiative for something similar in Sweden to ensure that everyone who can and wants to and who is suitable gets to contribute to the defense force's important work of defending Sweden?

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Försvarsministern Pål Jonson (M)

Madam Speaker! We sat as late as last week with Jakob Forssmed and discussed these issues, given that more and more young people are affected by mental ill-health but also different types of diagnoses. It may not be reasonable that everyone who is affected by diagnoses does not have the opportunity to fulfill the conscription, now that we know that we will be expanding that instrument.

Work is ongoing both in the Government Offices and at the agency level.

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Lotta Johnsson Fornarve (V)

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

The fragile ceasefire in Gaza is broken, and the Israeli bombs are falling again over Gaza, where hospitals, schools, and homes are already in ruins. Children who are already severely traumatized can no longer sleep peacefully at night. At least another 1,000 people have been killed, which can be added to the 50,000 who have already lost their lives in this brutal genocide.

Necessities are not coming in, and the catastrophe is total. Even on the West Bank, the situation is becoming increasingly acute. Now Israel must be pressured into a permanent ceasefire, and when Israel does not listen, sanctions must be used as a means of pressure.

Does Sweden intend to increase support for the severely affected Palestinians, and is it not high time to reconsider the decision regarding UNRWA and resume the absolutely crucial support to this UN agency, which has the mandate and capacity to reach out on the ground?

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Statsrådet Benjamin Dousa (M)

Madam Speaker! I agree that the situation for civilian Palestinians in Gaza but also in the West Bank is very, very vulnerable.

We naturally regret that the ceasefire has been broken. The ceasefire provided at least a temporary pause and a breathing space for the civilian families who every day struggle to find food for the day and obtain shelter and a roof over their heads.

Sweden is a very large donor to several UN organizations that also carry out important humanitarian work, both in Gaza and on the West Bank. The reason we chose to end the support to UNRWA was that we want the money not to be stuck in a bank account but to make a difference in Gaza. It was also the main reason why the previous support to UNRWA of 400 million kronor is now at 800 million kronor.

The government is therefore taking a very large responsibility when it comes to supporting the civilian population in Gaza.

(Applause)

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Lotta Johnsson Fornarve (V)

Madam Speaker! That humanitarian aid is being redistributed to other organizations shows that the government has not understood UNRWA's unique role.

No other organizations have the mandate or capacity to replace UNRWA, which has the infrastructure for education, healthcare, and humanitarian assistance to the Palestinians both in Gaza, in the West Bank, and in the region.

We also know that UNRWA reaches out on the ground. After the ceasefire, UNRWA reached out with, for example, food rations to 2 million people in Gaza. They vaccinated 213,000 children and established temporary school places for 50,000 children. These are just a few examples of what UNRWA achieved in a very short time.

UNRWA really reaches out, and Sweden is the only country in Europe that has withdrawn its support. Why?

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Statsrådet Benjamin Dousa (M)

Madam Speaker! First and foremost, it is not only Sweden that has decided to withdraw support for UNRWA. The Netherlands has also decided to phase out support to UNRWA.

It is true that UNRWA is one of several organizations that have important logistical capabilities in Gaza, but there are other organizations as well. Before the ceasefire was broken, WFP delivered food into Gaza daily. That winter package the government decided on delivered school materials and built up classrooms for thousands of children in Gaza. There are, therefore, other organizations.

(Applause)

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Ulrika Liljeberg (C)

Madam Speaker! In the EU, legislative work is underway regarding the installation of digital backdoors into encrypted communication services. It is called chat control.

The government has been in favor of this. But, among others, the Netherlands just mentioned has said no to it, as it would entail serious security risks for the country's resilience. Instead, the importance of access to encryption is emphasized.

Now there is a proposal from the government in a draft for a referral to the Council on Legislation regarding data storage and access to electronic information that very much resembles chat control.

My question is how Minister Jonson views the fact that the Armed Forces, in its referral response, states that the proposal cannot be implemented without simultaneously introducing vulnerabilities and backdoors that could be exploited by third parties.

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Försvarsministern Pål Jonson (M)

Madam Speaker! I thank you for the question. It is a question that we have worked on at the Government Offices, and the short answer is that it is also being prepared at the Government Offices.

I am familiar with what the Armed Forces have said in its statement. I also know what the Defence Radio Establishment has pointed out in its statement.

This can possibly be supplemented with the question of Signal and how the Armed Forces should be able to use Signal. During the war in Ukraine, Signal has been central for the Ukrainian armed forces to use for a high degree of encryption.

I have no new announcements to give today from the government's side. We are preparing it here and looking at it from different perspectives.

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Ulrika Liljeberg (C)

Madam Speaker! Yes, in a time of a least said restless security situation, C's assessment is that just as important as it is to create forces and increase capabilities is it to not create new vulnerabilities.

Should I interpret that the Minister considers that only actors with good intentions would find these installed backdoors or switches, or whatever it will be called?

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Försvarsministern Pål Jonson (M)

Madam Speaker! The member should not interpret me in any other way than that we are now looking at this issue and that we are preparing it at the Government Offices. Those are the messages I have today.

We are well aware of what different stakeholders have said about this. It is, as mentioned, also a European issue, but there are also important lessons to be learned from the war in Ukraine.

Otherwise, I actually have no information on the matter.

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Malte Tängmark Roos (MP)

Madam Speaker! Swedish international development cooperation is among the best and most effective in the world, and in the global situation we find ourselves in today, Swedish aid plays a particularly important role.

Sweden has a long tradition of distributing aid funds through Swedish civil society organizations because these can cooperate with and strengthen civil society in the recipient countries in a more effective way. It also reduces the risk of corruption and strengthens local democracy.

Unfortunately, the government chose before 2023 to phase out the so-called info-support to Swedish aid organizations that helped them communicate about their activities to the Swedish people and to review Swedish aid policy. This has led to them having to let go of much staff, which in turn has resulted in both that private donations to many of the organizations have decreased and that the transparency in Swedish aid has become worse.

My question to Minister for Migration Benjamin Dousa is whether the government is open to reintroducing the infokom support.

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Statsrådet Benjamin Dousa (M)

Madam Speaker! I thank you for the question.

The simple answer is no. We will not take 155 million kronor annually of the taxpayers' money for communication efforts in Sweden regarding aid.

I would much rather that the money go to gas turbines in Ukraine or to food packages in Gaza – or to Uganda, which I recently returned from, where there is currently a shortage of food due to the decisions that have been made in the USA. I would much rather that the money go there than that it goes to communication efforts in Sweden.

(Applause)

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Malte Tängmark Roos (MP)

Madam Speaker! As the Minister for Development Aid says, the support was 155 million. That is less than 3 per mille of the current development aid budget. I see no reason to set the two things against each other.

The government has chosen to reduce Swedish aid by quite a bit more than 155 million, so can the government consider increasing other aid to Swedish aid organizations?

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Statsrådet Benjamin Dousa (M)

Madam Speaker! As politicians, one must make tough priorities every day. Neither we at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs nor any of the other cabinet ministers here have a secret money tree from which one can take thousands and distribute them within the operations.

No, 155 million kronor may not be that much in percentage, but it is still a very large amount of money that could go towards new food parcels, towards gas turbines, and towards mine clearance in other places on the globe.

We have very extensive support for the civil society organizations – 1.8 billion kronor per year.

(Applause)

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Oskar Svärd (M)

Madam Speaker! My question is addressed to Minister of Defence Pål Jonson.

Since Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Sweden has played an active role in supporting the country through economic, humanitarian and military resources. Together with the support from other countries, it has contributed to Ukraine's ability to withstand the Russian aggression.

During the last week, the Minister for Defence was in my home county of Örebro län, more specifically in Karlskoga, where it was announced what the latest support package to Ukraine will contain. Among other things, Sweden is signing agreements regarding 18 artillery pieces of the Archer type.

My question to the Minister of Defence is: In what way will the support package strengthen Ukraine?

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Försvarsministern Pål Jonson (M)

Madam Speaker! Thank you, Oskar Svärd, for the commitment to Ukraine!

I also thank for the broad support of the entire Riksdag regarding the support for Ukraine. It is truly a strength for Sweden in international contexts that we have this broad support linked to Ukraine.

The announcement we gave last week was that we are now strengthening the Ukrainian capability in the artillery area, partly through newly produced Archer pieces. What is good about that is, above all, that we avoid taking them from the Armed Forces' war organization. Instead, we use the strong defense industry that we have in Sweden by sending newly produced artillery pieces.

The second dimension here is that we have an artillery localization system called Arthur. Sweden works with its support by having capabilities, and by integrating different capabilities, Ukraine will get a better ability to be able to influence events on the battlefield in Ukraine against the Russian aggression.

(Applause)

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Oskar Svärd (M)

Madam Speaker! Thank you, Minister for Defence, for the answer!

The defense industry is important for Örebro County and for Sweden as a whole. The government is currently prioritizing an expansion of the Swedish defense, and together with membership in Nato, this strengthens our military capacity and readiness.

My follow-up question to the Minister of Defence is what the long-term plan looks like for the build-up of the Swedish defence. How do we ensure a stronger and more effective defence capability?

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Försvarsministern Pål Jonson (M)

Madam Speaker! A strong defense industry constitutes a central part of a country's collective defense capability. Therefore, during the spring, we will present a defense industry strategy. It is actually the first time in over 20 years that Sweden receives a defense industry strategy. It is based on three pillars: increased cooperation, increased innovation, and increased production. In order for us to get the defense industry to scale up, there must be long-term orders. We must work more between different countries and place larger and longer-term orders so that they dare to invest in their production capacity.

(Applause)

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Yusuf Aydin (KD)

Madam Speaker! Christians are the world's most persecuted religious group. A total of 380 million Christians live today under some form of oppression. This has been particularly clear in the Middle East, where various militant Islamists have carried out mass murders and ethnic cleansings of Christians from their various areas of origin.

For this reason, it has been important for the Christian Democrats that the government strengthens its work to counter the persecution of Christians and other religious minorities. We have also achieved progress in this in the reform agenda and in the MENA strategy, where important passages establish that Sweden prioritizes combating religious persecution.

Halfway through the parliamentary term, the question is how this is going in practice. I would therefore like to ask Minister Dousa how the government ensures that the Swedish priority to protect freedom of religion is implemented.

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Statsrådet Benjamin Dousa (M)

Madam Speaker! I thank you for the question, which, not least in the last few days, has become very topical as we have seen terribly horrific scenes from, among other places, Syria.

Protecting the most vulnerable people on the entire globe is, of course, a cornerstone of Swedish aid policy. There, several religious minorities are involved, even if this is most relevant right now in the Middle East. This is included in the reform agenda, and it is prioritized from the government's side. In the upcoming strategies – both geographical and thematic – we will take special consideration of just minorities in order to deliver on the promise to support the most vulnerable people.

(Applause)

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Yusuf Aydin (KD)

Madam Speaker! I thank the Minister for the answer.

I was just about to mention what happened recently in western Syria, which the Minister also mentioned. Radical Islamists are believed to have killed over 1,300 people there – primarily Alawites but also Christians from various religious minorities.

Aid is important, but the question is also what the government is doing to exert pressure on the new regime in Syria to ensure protection for the minorities.

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Statsrådet Benjamin Dousa (M)

Madam Speaker! Just as has been said before, the protection of minorities' rights is, of course, a very high priority both in the strategies that the government has developed and in the updates that will come in the future.

I completely agree that political pressure needs to be exerted on HTS. Sweden does this through the EU. If long-term development aid is to become relevant, HTS must show that they take these issues very seriously.

(Applause)

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Karin Sundin (S)

Madam Speaker! My question is addressed to the Minister for Social Services, Camilla Waltersson Grönvall.

The Swedish Social Insurance Agency has evaluated the legislative changes for personal assistance that entered into force in 2023 and how these have affected the assistance allowance and Försäkringskassan's processing. Two new basic needs were introduced: ongoing support and prevention of harm. They also revised the construction for how deductions shall be made for what is normally called parental responsibility for children who need personal assistance.

According to the evaluation, the number of new recipients of assistance allowance has increased, but not at all to the expected extent. The inspection also does not assess that any such larger increase will occur in the future. In other words, it is clear that the changes to the law have not had the effect that was the purpose of the change.

My question is what the government intends to do based on the evaluation's conclusions.

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Statsrådet Camilla Waltersson Grönvall (M)

Madam Speaker! I thank the member for the question.

This is an important issue for us to be able to ensure that children receive the assistance they are entitled to and that parents can get relief in this work. The government has therefore, during 2025, presented proposals where we now make a halved change in this. We await and follow very closely what the results of these changes will be. We naturally intend to return to that issue once we have seen what the outcome of the change has been.

(Applause)

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Carita Boulwén (SD)

Madam Speaker! The Sweden Democrats have long emphasized the importance of requirements for strengthened parenting to prevent children and young people from being drawn into crime. Most take their responsibility, but social services are forced all too often to intervene when guardians fail or refuse interventions. Society has to bear the consequences.

The Government proposes that the social services should be able to impose measures on guardians with a fine. We welcome this. It is, however, crucial that the measures actually have an effect.

At the same time, threats and violence against social workers are increasing, and a lack of protection can hinder the implementation of the new measures.

My question to the Minister for Social Services is how the government will ensure that fines against guardians are applied consistently and effectively to get more parents to take responsibility and prevent young people from being drawn into crime, while simultaneously ensuring the safety of social workers.

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Statsrådet Camilla Waltersson Grönvall (M)

Madam Speaker! Thank you, Carita Boulwén, for the question!

The new Social Services Act that everyone is looking forward to means that one will be able to start working preventatively early on. An important part of this is being able to start building trust and confidence in a different way. A major concern and a growing problem is that approximately half of all guardians in Sweden today refuse these interventions from the social services. This has resulted in an investigation presented in the autumn containing proposals for, among other things, coercive fines. No decision has been made on it, but it is currently being prepared in the Government Offices. At the same time, we are preparing – and have proposed – several pieces of legislation concerning increased protection for social workers. This includes, among other things, the possibility of having guards inside under the social office's roof. Work is ongoing both to strengthen protection and to ensure that parents in Sweden take an increased parental responsibility.

(Applause)

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Hanna Gunnarsson (V)

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

In the total defense, there are very many different parts that we must hold together now. It is personnel priorities, economy, knowledge and exercises in all of society's different areas, all committee areas and all departments. To this, regions and municipalities must also be held together in this.

In order not to lead the Minister off track, I do not intend to give any concrete local examples, but I want to ask the Minister how we should work to get the whole of society on board with the total defense initiatives. We need to get healthcare, schools, and infrastructure on board. We are now seeing problems with civil authorities, municipalities, and regions not quite understanding their responsibilities. How do we get everyone on board?

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Statsrådet Carl-Oskar Bohlin (M)

Madam Speaker! I thank Hanna Gunnarsson for an important question. There are actually two answers to it.

The state takes its share of the responsibility by the government making historically large investments in civil defense. When this government took office, 2.7 billion was allocated to civil defense. Within just a few years, we will be up to 15 billion per year. This provides the conditions to build muscles on what was previously a skeleton.

It is also about sending the message to all regional and municipal politicians that these are issues that need to be prioritized politically. If one has the right to levy taxes, one also has a responsibility to prioritize this activity, naturally in competition with many other things. This is exactly what the government now chooses to do against the background of the serious security situation. This responsibility must, however, be taken at all levels.

(Applause)

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Christofer Bergenblock (C)

Madam Speaker! I have just come from a round-table discussion on assistive devices together with both professionals and representatives from the disability rights movement. Unfortunately, a picture was given of very unequal access to assistive devices today, with different assessments and different rights depending on where in the country one lives. This leads to people not daring to move from one region to another for fear of losing their assistive devices. They end up in a kind of municipal arrest.

The Government has, in every respect, tasked Socialstyrelsen with developing a strategy for habilitation and rehabilitation where the issue of assistive devices will be addressed. This is good but insufficient. In order to resolve this issue, a new unified legislation is needed, and it needs to be investigated alongside the current Health and Medical Services Act.

My question to the Minister for Social Services is: What initiatives does the Minister intend to take so that persons with disabilities shall receive more equal access to assistive devices?

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Statsrådet Camilla Waltersson Grönvall (M)

Madam Speaker! I thank Christofer Bergenblock very much for the question.

Just as the member described, the government has given Socialstyrelsen a mandate. I have noted that this has been met with great joy and satisfaction by occupational therapists and others who work with these important issues.

The UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities has also expressed views on the unequal access to this in Sweden. Therefore, the government has tasked MFD, the Agency for Participation, with working on all of these recommendations. This is being done in close cooperation with the disability organizations.

This work is ongoing at this moment. There is an ongoing dialogue with our functional organizations to come up with proposals to improve the situation.

(Applause)

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Katarina Tolgfors (M)

Madam Speaker! My question is addressed to Minister for Development Cooperation and Trade Benjamin Dousa.

Last week I met the head of Save the Children in Ukraine, who told me about a sharp increase in mental health issues among children in Ukraine now that we are over three years into the war.

Sweden's support for Ukraine is great. It would be valuable if the Minister could say a few words about the humanitarian aid going to Ukraine and a bit more specifically about the support for children and young people in Ukraine as well as how this is channeled.

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Statsrådet Benjamin Dousa (M)

Madam Speaker! I thank the member for the question.

The humanitarian situation in Ukraine is acute, especially near the front. The funding situation is also acute. I have met several of the organizations that have activities for children and young people. The degree varies, but they may have funding for 20–30 percent of the year. The funding situation is therefore very vulnerable.

From the Swedish side, the total aid to Ukraine is, of course, a high priority. We are helping on the school side and on the children's hospital side. We are helping broadly to support children and young people in this situation, both in the short term – for example with schooling – and in the long term. An extremely large number of children have experienced unimaginably horrific traumas and need psychosocial support. The Swedish support is truly broad when it comes to children and young people.

(Applause)

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Christian Carlsson (KD)

Madam Speaker! Some time ago, I met a young woman who, for the past ten years, has been in flight here in Sweden – from her own country. She has been in flight from those who should have ensured her safety, namely her own family.

This woman calls herself M. She is one of hundreds of women in Sweden who live with a protected identity. Unfortunately, she has witnessed a lack of proper treatment from the social services in connection with the protective placement of her and her child. She has also told me about the many difficulties it entails to live under protection in Sweden today.

My question to Minister for Social Services Camilla Waltersson Grönvall is: What can the government do so that the social services can take their responsibility, and what else can we do to improve the situation for women exposed to violence?

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Statsrådet Camilla Waltersson Grönvall (M)

Madam Speaker! That society has failed to protect women who are exposed to violence is completely unacceptable. From the government's side, we are fighting against men's violence against women with the same force that we use to fight gang crime. We have a program with over 130 points to do just this.

There are a couple of points that I particularly want to highlight, namely that we have worked with an expanded restraining order and that work is being done to strengthen protected housing in Sweden. Until about a year ago, anyone could start a protected housing, but today there are quality requirements and a licensing requirement. There is safety regarding the children, which also affects the women. We have also ensured that violent guardians cannot have contact with their children.

The new Social Services Act is something else I want to mention here. That one can work preventatively at an early stage will strengthen these women's situation.

(Applause)

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Johan Andersson (S)

Madam Speaker! My question is addressed to Minister Carl-Oskar Bohlin.

Food prices are skyrocketing in Sweden. Many people are finding it very difficult when it comes to purchasing goods. Some investigations regarding supply readiness and civil preparedness have been submitted, but there has still been no delivery from the government's side regarding various parts connected to this.

When can we expect to receive information on how Sweden will manage civil preparedness? Many people in our municipalities and in our home regions are wondering what will happen.

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Statsrådet Carl-Oskar Bohlin (M)

Madam Speaker! The answer to the question is that very much is happening. MSB stated in its capability assessment for the entire civil defense that in 2024, twice as many capability-enhancing measures were taken as in 2023. The capability in the civil defense is growing right now.

I do not agree with the conclusion that nothing has happened in the area of supply readiness. The government has, in fact, proceeded with a number of fast-tracks that are faster than the regular preparation process for the report that Johan Andersson referred to. This includes, among other things, a national function for managing the prerequisites for production conversion. This is a mandate that has been given to MSB.

Furthermore, MSB and Socialstyrelsen have been tasked with developing pilots for supply support analyses that shall define what supply needs exist within each respective sector. Work has begun in two pilot sectors.

In addition to this, the government has allocated funds for supply preparedness within, among other things, healthcare and the food sector. It is underway.

(Applause)

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

Aron Emilsson (SD)

Madam Speaker! Minister Dousa recently wrote in a debate article that Europe must become more Nordic to increase competitiveness. That sounds perfectly reasonable to a Nordicist like me – in the Nordic countries, we are most like-minded.

Specifically, we must work to ensure that the EU removes administrative and bureaucratic hurdles that hinder our innovation and industrial development and simply become narrower and sharper. We also need concrete measures to promote a more dynamic and competitive economy within the EU, especially regarding the defense industry, AI, and other vital interests.

Given the worrying development that Europe's economy is in with lower growth than the USA over the last 20 years and lost shares of the world economy while Asia has grown and the USA has held its position, what does Minister Dousa believe Sweden can do to contribute to reversing this trend, especially in this critical global situation?

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

Statsrådet Benjamin Dousa (M)

Madam Speaker! There is much we can do at both the European and Swedish levels. At the European level, it is about the regulations that have been mentioned before and which in different ways hinder the capacity for innovation that exists in Swedish and European companies. Many of these regulations came during the previous EU Commission, which has resulted in very high costs for Swedish and European companies. The positive thing now is that there is a kind of sense of urgency among many of the member states so that we can move forward with reforms that roll back much of this.

Furthermore, the government is acting so that new free trade agreements are signed, not least because things are turbulent on the other side of the Atlantic. Here, several are now on the table, among others Mercosur, India and Mexico.

The government also needs to do its homework in a Swedish context, and here I believe we have a consensus regarding nuclear power and much more.

(Applause)

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

Helena Vilhelmsson (C)

Madam Speaker! On January 24, the Trump administration reintroduced the global gag rule, a very controversial and harmful policy that, among other things, restricts or outright slaughters USA's foreign aid to organizations that provide, advise on, or advocate for legal abortion services – and this in a world where many states and societies already today have great difficulty providing safe and secure healthcare. Furthermore, the Trump administration claims that the right to abortion is not an international right and therefore is not included in the UN Declaration of Human Rights. This is the ultimate proof of the backlash we are experiencing in so many areas within equality and human rights.

It is even more important, then, that Sweden takes a stand and leads the way in these issues. Since aid in Sweden is also being fundamentally restructured and, in my opinion, significantly cut, how does the government ensure that the support for sexual and reproductive rights for girls and women does not decrease within the aid but increases?

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

Statsrådet Benjamin Dousa (M)

Madam Speaker! I thank the member for the important question.

I agree completely. It can literally be the case that many young girls and women risk dying as a direct result of what is happening right now. We know that unsafe abortions are one of the most common causes of death among girls and women in the poor parts of the world.

This is a priority issue for Sweden, but it is completely impossible for us to cover the entire gap that arises as a result of the USA withdrawing. The USA accounts for approximately 40 percent of the total humanitarian aid and approximately 30 percent of the aid in general. There are, however, some areas where the government is reviewing and prioritizing aid in order to be able to cover parts of this. It concerns Ukraine, humanitarian work, and of course, girls' and women's rights. If Sweden does not prioritize this, other countries will be forced to do so, which could result in thousands of girls and women actually dying.

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

Lars Püss (M)

Madam Speaker! The government has prioritized cybersecurity issues since the beginning. One of the measures was to let FRA take over the entire responsibility for the National Cybersecurity Centre. Today, the government has presented a new national cybersecurity strategy because it is extremely important that our ability to meet cyber threats is further strengthened.

Can Minister Bohlin tell us about this strategy and how it will strengthen our cybersecurity?

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

Statsrådet Carl-Oskar Bohlin (M)

Madam Speaker! I thank Lars Püss for the question.

The most important thing about this strategy compared to many previous strategies is that it has measurable goals. With this strategy, it will be clear where we should be in 2030 in a long series of respects regarding strengthening proactive cybersecurity work, strengthening competence and knowledge development, and being able to handle cybersecurity incidents. The strategy applies until 2029 and will be accompanied by an action plan every year. In the action plan for 2025, there are 72 listed action points that must be completed before the year is over. In 2026, a new action plan will arrive and so on to ensure that we maintain a high pace in building better cybersecurity throughout Sweden.

(Applause)

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

Johan Büser (S)

Madam Speaker! A year ago, the Israeli military demolished Abu's newly built car workshop outside Bethlehem, a business in which he had invested 3 million kronor. The demolition order had already been issued, just as for thousands of other Palestinian homes and businesses in the West Bank. If this, we can read on the companion program's Instagram page.

The Companion Program is run by the Swedish Christian Council. Palestinian children are followed to school so that they do not have to be afraid of being attacked by militant settlers. The program also documents the settlers' violence and thus plays a role in ensuring safety in an environment of occupation and oppression.

It is 400 Swedes who have participated in the activity, but now Sweden is withdrawing support for this program. If one asks Sida, the agency refers to the government and the government's policy.

As a Swedish Member of Parliament in the Committee on Foreign Affairs, I believe this political direction is completely wrong. Therefore, I ask Minister Dousa if he is prepared to reconsider the government's policy and take initiatives to restart the accompaniment program.

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

Statsrådet Benjamin Dousa (M)

Madam Speaker! I have personally seen from close proximity the horrific violence of the Israeli extreme settlers against civilians in the West Bank. Children are subjected to abuse by having stones thrown at them, and houses are burned down by extremists. The Israeli state authorities also do not take their responsibility and prosecute the people who commit these heinous crimes. This also puts obstacles in the way of a free Palestinian land conducting schooling and other important activities.

The problem for the government and the Swedish Riksdag is that resources are limited. The government has decided to reformulate the Palestinian aid. It is about building institutions and fighting corruption in order to, in the long term and at an institutional level, be able to help the civilian population in Palestine to be able to live in a country in freedom, with democracy and without corruption.

(Applause)

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

Göran Hargestam (SD)

Madam Speaker! My question is addressed to Minister Carl-Oskar Bohlin.

The Sweden Democrats have for many years raised the issue of supply preparedness and crisis stockpiles. The dismantling of civil defense and our supply preparedness during the austerity era of the 2000s is something we are paying dearly for today. In the event of a crisis and war, it can take time before we receive the help we need from the outside, and the corona pandemic showed how important it is to have functioning stockpiles and logistics chains.

The design of a new model for supply readiness is not completely finalized, and the discussions have so far centered on legislation or agreements between the state and the business sector as the only alternatives.

The Sweden Democrats have reflected on a third alternative and a possible middle ground based on voluntariness and some state compensation.

Can the Minister explain how he views a possible model that is both economically sustainable and provides a good effect in the event of a crisis or war?

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

Statsrådet Carl-Oskar Bohlin (M)

Madam Speaker! I thank Göran Hargestam for the question. That I received a similar question earlier during today's question period shows that it is an important one.

We are currently in a process of establishing a new system for supply readiness. At the same time as this is happening, funds are also being allocated for actual supply readiness, i.e., in some specific cases, stockpiling. We have progressed furthest in the health and medical care sector, where we have, among other things, created conditions for national security stocks for trauma care equipment in order to be able to handle mass casualty incidents on Swedish territory. This is already in place as a consequence of the funds that have been allocated.

The Business Council for Total Defence will shortly carry out a trip to Finland to look at Finland's model and how they have solved this there.

We continue to work on the issue.

(Applause)

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

Niels Paarup-Petersen (C)

Madam Speaker! Minister Carl-Oskar Bohlin has today presented a new cybersecurity strategy with the message that we need to take the work with cybersecurity significantly more seriously. I can only agree with that.

At the same time, the government wants to introduce backdoors in secure communication services in our country. According to the defense itself, FRA and many other countries' security services, this could not be done without risking that they are used by third parties, such as China, Iran, Russia and other countries.

One has seen that when similar rules have been introduced in the USA, they have been exploited for major breaches. The government's proposal actively risks contributing to the deterioration of Sweden's security and specifically cyber security.

I would like to ask Minister Bohlin if he shares the defense's view that Swedish authorities, the defense itself, the business sector, citizens etc. should have the right to secure communication and that end-to-end encrypted services without backdoors must be guaranteed for the sake of Sweden's security.

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

Statsrådet Carl-Oskar Bohlin (M)

Madam Speaker! One must still say that it is somewhat original that the same party asks the same question, albeit to two cabinet ministers. The Minister for Defence has already answered this question in the current question period.

The answer is that there are a long series of aspects of the issue that naturally must be considered before we submit a proposal. This issue is being prepared in the Government Offices.

(Applause)

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

Camilla Brunsberg (M)

Madam Speaker! My question is addressed to Minister of Defence Pål Jonsson.

In my constituency in Blekinge, the defense industry is extremely important, and it is also so for the whole of Sweden. The security policy situation in our immediate vicinity has deteriorated powerfully, and the Swedish defense needs to be strengthened quickly. A decisive part of this is that we strengthen the defense industry and increase production.

The government has already taken important initiatives. But we know that the industry still faces challenges, including those linked to long-term orders, skills supply, and access to critical components.

Therefore, my question to the Minister of Defence is: What additional measures does the government consider necessary to ensure that the Swedish defense industry can scale up production at the rate that is needed?

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

Försvarsministern Pål Jonson (M)

Madam Speaker! Thank you, Camilla Brunsberg, for an important question!

We stand in a situation where many countries in Europe are now to grow their national defenses simultaneously. We will also continue to support Ukraine in the long term.

When one looks at the Swedish defense industry, one sees that it is now at maximum levels in terms of the number of employees and in terms of turnover.

Now we are in a situation where we will need to expand production. The best prerequisite for doing so is that we do exactly as Camilla Brunsberg touched upon.

The first thing concerns long-term orders, and preferably that several countries join forces so that we can achieve a larger volume on the orders.

The second thing is competence supply. We know that the defense industry is actively working on this. We are also doing so at the Government Offices. We have presented a strategy for what is called STEM to produce more people who want to engage in natural science professions and engineering professions, which are also very important.

A number of things are touched upon in the question. We will return to the government's defense industry strategy later this year.

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

Angelika Bengtsson (SD)

Madam Speaker! The Tidö parties are now implementing the largest reform agenda in the field of aid in modern times. It is good, and we are seeing the effects of it already now.

We must prioritize among our tax funds. We have war in our immediate vicinity, where Sweden has generously donated many billions to Ukraine. It is right, and it is correct, because it also concerns our security. But we continue to provide aid to Gaza, the Middle East, and Africa because conflicts and wars are also ongoing there.

When we now have to upgrade our own security, I wonder if the government will prioritize even more within the aid policy so that we can provide more money to Ukraine in the first place moving forward.

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

Statsrådet Benjamin Dousa (M)

Madam Speaker! I thank you for the question.

Ukraine is the government's single most important foreign policy priority. When I go to work every day, I reflect on how we can ensure that we secure additional funds for Ukraine.

It was for reasons among others that the government, together with the Sweden Democrats, just over a week ago presented the single largest civilian support package in Sweden's history to a single country. That package went specifically to Ukraine.

We support Ukraine on a broad front. This includes everything from basic infrastructure, so that the railways can both export goods and products that finance the state treasury and can get troops to the front, to energy infrastructure and mine clearance, so that children can go to school and go to a hospital.

We support on a broad front. We do so, of course, for reasons of solidarity. But just as has also been said before, we do it for Swedish reasons. A Ukraine that is free, democratic and strong is also good for Sweden in the short and in the long term.

(Applause)

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

Carl Nordblom (M)

Madam Speaker! My question is addressed to the Minister for Development Cooperation and Trade, Benjamin Dousa.

We all in here probably look forward to the day when the war in Ukraine is over – the day when Russia has lost and withdrawn from occupied territory. But when that day comes, Ukraine will be left with great challenges, not least economic ones.

I and, hopefully, my bourgeois colleagues in here know that in those situations, capitalism, market economy, entrepreneurship and trade with others were needed to lift countries out of poverty and create jobs, growth and hope for the future. This will also apply to Ukraine.

That is why I wonder how the government is already planning to support Ukraine with economic cooperation and trade after the end of the war.

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

Statsrådet Benjamin Dousa (M)

Madam Speaker! I thank you for the question.

I completely agree that what will build Ukraine's prosperity in the long term is precisely a market economy, functioning institutions and, of course, EU membership.

The day after the war and a just peace, Sweden and many other EU countries will, of course, be ready to support that process both in expertise and in actual money.

It is pleasing that the government made a decision to improve the processing times and the conditions for the export credit guarantees that apply to Swedish companies doing business in Ukraine.

It is important to get Swedish companies there. We have approximately 60 companies in Ukraine right now. This is partly for purely commercial reasons but also so that Swedish companies can be involved in helping to build up the Ukrainian business sector and create prosperity and conditions in the labor market even in Ukraine.

Sweden will, of course, help to rebuild the Ukrainian economy.

(Applause)

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

Anna af Sillén (M)

Madam Speaker! My question also goes to Minister for Foreign Trade Benjamin Dousa.

Small and medium-sized enterprises are an important part of our Swedish business life. We know that jobs are created here, development is driven, and funding is delivered to our welfare.

Small businesses' operations are also increasingly extending across national borders. But when I meet small business owners in Sweden and in my home province of Sörmland, many testify to restrictive regulations and costs both here and abroad.

The government's simplification journey is, in other words, long-awaited. The simplification council that has been appointed to reduce the regulatory burden and the implementation council that is to stop gold-plating of EU directives are two important measures.

Very welcome is also the export strategy that the government has drafted, which is the first of its kind to highlight the small business perspective.

My question to the Minister is how the government is working forward to strengthen small business owners' trade and business opportunities internationally.

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

Statsrådet Benjamin Dousa (M)

Madam Speaker! Thank you, Anna af Sillén, for the question!

If I am to simplify it, one can divide my portfolio into three parts.

It is, first of all, partly about rolling back many of the regulations that create difficulties for both large and small companies. Where it is a cost for large companies, for small companies it may make it completely impossible to conduct business.

It is also partly about simplifying trade in the internal market in the EU. We often say that we have free movement of services, capital, and goods within the European internal market. That is not always true in practice. This applies in particular to the services sector, where we have many regulated professions. In Sweden, we have approximately 150 regulated professions. In the EU, there are approximately 5,700 regulated professions. It is a very large problem.

The third part is, of course, about signing new free trade agreements. It lowers tariff rates. But free trade agreements also often contain components of other trade barriers that create bureaucracy. This applies especially to small and medium-sized enterprises, where it is very cost-driving. One might have to hire consultants and experts just to understand how to conduct trade outside the EU.

(Applause)

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

Ludvig Ceimertz (M)

Madam Speaker! About a year ago, the government launched the social preventive strategy Barriers to Crime, which aims to identify risk factors for crime early and strengthen society's protective structures. A central part of the strategy is that different agencies, municipalities, and civil society shall cooperate better to prevent crime and break destructive patterns in a timely manner.

I want to turn to Minister for Social Affairs Camilla Waltersson Grönvall. The government has taken important steps to strengthen social preventive work through this very strategy to catch young people in risk zones at an early stage.

What effects is the Minister for Social Services beginning to see after a year with the strategy Barriers against Crime? And what does the Minister for Social Services intend to do moving forward to further strengthen the work of breaking destructive patterns in time and preventing young people from being drawn into crime?

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

Statsrådet Camilla Waltersson Grönvall (M)

Madam Speaker! Thank you, Ludvig Ceimertz, for a very good question about a very important strategy!

Just as has been mentioned, the social preventive strategy Barriers to Crime shows the broad preventive work that this government is undertaking. As the member surely understands, it is difficult to already draw far-reaching conclusions so early in the process. But it is clear that the government's investments in preventive work are in high demand in the country, and if we are to succeed in breaking the trend with recruitment, we must work with interventions across the entire line.

We are now conducting extensive preventive work concerning the fact that schools, healthcare, and support functions must function. We must have a social service that intervenes early, before the development has gone in the wrong direction.

Finally: It is also about crime fighting that handles those who, despite all these preventive measures, choose a criminal path. Only by working in this way will we break down crime.

(Applause)

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

Helena Bouveng (M)

Madam Speaker! In this serious security situation, it is important that we continue to strengthen the total defense. In the media, we read every day how Sweden and our European friends recognize the serious situation for our and Europe's security and that we all must rearm.

Most often, however, we only hear about the military defense. But without a robust civil defense, there won't be much of a military defense. Without water, food, electricity, roads, healthcare, and so on, our defense capability is not worth the name, I would like to say.

Therefore, Madam Speaker, I would like to ask Minister Carl-Oskar Bohlin if he can account for how the development of the so important civil defense is proceeding.

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

Statsrådet Carl-Oskar Bohlin (M)

Madam Speaker! Thank you, Helena Bouveng, for the question!

With only 50 seconds at my disposal, I can state that the capability development in civil defense has for a long time proceeded far too slowly. This is something that the National Audit Office also notes in its review of civil defense.

From 2015 until 2022, very little happened in the development of civil defense. Now, the capability development has been significantly strengthened. MSB came, as I mentioned earlier, with a capability assessment stating that the capability increases in all ten readiness sectors. It would need to go even faster. In 2024, there were twice as many capability-enhancing measures as in 2023, but we need to gear up even more given the serious security situation.

Now, substantial amounts of money are also being added to civil defense, which creates the conditions for greater capability. But it requires that everyone continues to work very hard to ensure that we also reach there.

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

Mats Sander (M)

Madam Speaker! My question is addressed to Minister Carl-Oskar Bohlin.

We continue on the established track of rebuilding civil parts of the defense. It requires cooperation between different actors. In border regions such as the Öresund, there is a long tradition of cooperation both in everyday life and during times of crisis. Local actors, for example Helsingborg and Helsingör, often have established contacts. But civil defense cooperation also requires national support.

My question is therefore how the Minister views the possibilities to develop and strengthen cooperation in border regions from a civil defense perspective. And what role does he see for the national actors in this?

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

Statsrådet Carl-Oskar Bohlin (M)

Madam Speaker! Thank you, Mats Sander, for the question!

I completely share the approach in the question, namely that we need to cooperate more between the Nordic countries. We need to do it better in border regions.

I would say that we also must expand the already existing cooperation that is today called the Haga cooperation to also include the Baltic countries and also Poland. The government is also working bilaterally to strengthen those relations.

I believe it is absolutely crucial that countries that share geography but also share security policy conclusions about the global situation work more closely together. It is quite obvious that our family exists in the Nordic countries and the Baltics in this regard. We are doing what we can to now focus the existing Haga cooperation between the countries so that it also more clearly concerns civil defense and not just, as before, peacetime crisis preparedness.

(Applause)

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

Alexandra Anstrell (M)

Madam Speaker! We will shortly proceed to a decision here in the chamber on sending a Swedish armed force with eight combat aircraft and personnel to NATO's air defense operation in Poland.

My question goes to the Minister for Defence. Does he see any risk with this, given our own defence of Sweden?

Furthermore, I would like to thank you for the fact that there are very many fine new body guards for girls out and about in Sweden.

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Försvarsministern Pål Jonson (M)

Madam Speaker! Thanks to Alexandra Anstrell for the question!

Connecting to our effort in Poland, what is called Air Policing, it is the Armed Forces' own assessment that this will strengthen the capability in the Air Force as we will achieve a higher degree of interoperability or a better capability for cooperation. We strengthen Nato, and Nato membership strengthens us.

I think we should see this in the light of the fact that we have now been allies for a year. Sweden joined Nato not only to obtain security but also to be able to provide security. We are doing that soon in Poland, we are doing it in Latvia through our mechanized battalion, and we are doing it in Finland, where we have the primary responsibility for Nato's activities for deterrence and defense. It is a fan of Nato activities that Sweden is now conducting in the surrounding area that I think there is reason to feel a certain pride over.

(Applause)

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

Johan Hultberg (M)

Madam Speaker! In order to break organized crime, it is important that the law enforcement authorities now receive both increased resources and new tools. But equally important is that we carry out an offensive regarding the preventive work. This is currently being done through family support programs and school social teams.

On July 1, a new Social Services Act will finally arrive. It is a reform that will mean a lot for lowering the thresholds to social services and for strengthening preventive work with more early interventions. It will mean that more, both children and parents, will receive help before small problems have had time to become large.

However, there are parents who do not accept help, despite great needs. We must change that – or to quote the Prime Minister: ”Sweden will never be able to break the new recruitment of children as long as parents are allowed to ignore their responsibility.”

I want to ask the Minister for Social Services what the government is doing concretely to strengthen parental responsibility and to close the gap between voluntariness in the Social Services Act and care according to LVU.

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Statsrådet Camilla Waltersson Grönvall (M)

Madam Speaker! Thank you, Johan Hultberg, for the question!

It is no secret that the social services have suffered from low trust for many years, which has not been improved by the LVU campaign of recent years.

This has caused far too many people who are in need of the social services' interventions to decline these. I previously described that approximately half of all guardians in Sweden today decline these interventions. This means that children and young people do not receive the support and the help that they need.

The new Social Services Act is intended to work more preventatively and proactively. This will naturally build trust. We know that people who have had contact with social services also feel greater trust in it.

Just as the member says, we cannot accept that parents choose not to support and help their children. Therefore, we are now working with the investigation on so-called intermediate measures that arrived a few months ago. It is about us getting in interventions that ensure we do not need to resort to the most coercive measures, LVU. I am convinced that it will have an effect in the long run.

(Applause)

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Marie-Louise Hänel Sandström (M)

Madam Speaker! My question also goes to Minister for Social Services Camilla Waltersson Grönvall.

The government has today announced major and clear investments for a safer school, which unfortunately is absolutely necessary. We will never forget the incident in Örebro. Almost every day we see how the insecurity in schools is increasing. The reports to the Work Environment Authority regarding threats and violence in schools have increased by 150 percent over the last ten years.

But there is still light in the darkness. These changes come into force on April 1. For example, permit requirements for having camera surveillance in schools are abolished. There will also be legislative changes regarding safety in schools. But the most important work is still the preventive work, which we talked a little bit about here earlier. That includes, among other things, investments in improved student health, emergency schools, and also school social teams. The school social teams work on getting students to attend school, of course, but also to be able to reach the goals.

My question to the Minister for Social Services is how we can strengthen the school social teams, improve the cooperation with the social services and perhaps also increase it.

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Statsrådet Camilla Waltersson Grönvall (M)

Madam Speaker! Thank you very much for the question, Member!

It is no secret that the school social teams are a reform that is very close to my heart, not least as a former teacher. It naturally provides a completely different power to be able to work with children who are homebodies or who risk being drawn into, in various ways, including crime. That the social services and the teachers in the school can work together side by side can, if handled correctly, lead to something much greater. One plus one becomes much more than two.

I am very pleased that we now see more and more municipalities applying for these funds and building school social teams. I want to issue a call, now that I have the opportunity, to those municipalities that have not yet done this to do so. This is an initiative that will truly make a difference for children in school.

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Malin Höglund (M)

Madam Speaker! My question also goes to Minister for Social Services Camilla Waltersson Grönvall.

Before I entered the Riksdag, I was chairman of the social services committee and IFO in Mora. To submit a report of concern is to care about a child, a youth, or an elderly person. During my years as chairman of the social services committee, we handled quite a few reports of concern. The number increased during the terms of office. Reports of concern came from schools, the police, neighbors, friends, and so on. These were sorted into so-called chronological folders by date and year, nothing else.

When social workers, after a report of concern has been received, must check if there is a previous report of concern, they have to flip through these folders by hand, which is unreasonable. It is not legally secure and takes far too much time.

What is Social Services Minister Camilla Waltersson Grönvall and the government doing concretely to solve this challenge?

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Statsrådet Camilla Waltersson Grönvall (M)

Madam Speaker! I thank you very much for the question.

It is completely incomprehensible that we still have a system in Sweden where reports of concern are not digitally searchable but are stored in folders. It is not difficult to understand that the shelves with these folders, which the member describes, are long and numerous in large cities and municipalities. The risk that children fall through the cracks is obvious.

Therefore, it is very important that in the new Social Services Act, it will be such that all reports of concern, even those that do not lead to an immediate investigation, become digitally searchable. In this way, we ensure that children and young people who are at risk do not fall through the cracks.

(Applause)

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Fredrik Saweståhl (M)

Madam Speaker! My question is addressed to Minister Benjamin Dousa.

Some time ago, Lebanon was finally able to appoint a new president and prime minister, as the Iran-backed militia Hezbollah no longer has the same ability to block and sabotage Lebanese politics. That is good. In my conversations with representatives of our sister parties, that is to say the Moderates' and Christian Democrats' sister parties in Lebanon, it is clear that there is a burgeoning hope in the country of being able to re-establish a functioning state, a functioning democracy, and a functioning rule of law.

In that work, support is needed from Sweden and from the EU. That is something we ourselves have been clear about and which EU's High Representative Kallas has also been clear about.

My question to the Minister is: Can the Minister describe a bit more what Sweden and the EU are doing to support Lebanon in this vulnerable situation when there is a chance to build democracy in the Middle East?

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Statsrådet Benjamin Dousa (M)

Madam Speaker! I thank you for the question.

I completely agree with what was said: It is very welcome that Lebanon has finally had a functioning government put in place. It opens up for more long-term Swedish support that can help to build up institutions and ensure that the country can function fundamentally in a much better way than before.

There are several different strategies, both global and regional and in the form of country windows, that open up specifically for long-term development aid, even though the focus lately has primarily been on the humanitarian work along the border. That there is now a functioning government in place opens up for completely different, long-term development aid tools.

(Applause)

Question time was hereby concluded.

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