Question Time

FÖRSTE VICE TALMANNEN

I would like to welcome the ministers. Questions today are answered by Minister for Civil Defence Carl-Oskar Bohlin, Minister for Rural Affairs Peter Kullgren, Minister for Culture Parisa Liljestrand, and Minister for Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade 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 Civil Defence Carl-Oskar Bohlin answers both general political questions and questions within his own area of responsibility.

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Björn Wiechel (S)

Mr. Speaker! From January 1, 2026, SVT will have to bear the entire cost of the broadcasts via the terrestrial network alone, which is crucial for reaching the entire population in the country. SVT therefore needs 1.5 billion SEK for the period 2026–2033 to cover the costs. MSB supports this, as it is an important preparedness issue. If public service is not compensated, the operations will need to be cut back significantly – in addition to the cuts that already result from the government's low funding for the license period.

It is an acute situation. Until now, the minister has answered that the decision will not come until September next year, but that is far too late. What is the Minister for Culture's decision regarding providing compensation for the costs from the turn of the year so that public service will not have to make drastic further cuts?

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Kulturministern Parisa Liljestrand (M)

Mr. Speaker! I thank you for an important and good question.

Both public service and the landline network are important issues in themselves. The landline network is a part of our preparedness, and it is therefore important that we ensure that it functions.

Now we know that a number of parties will leave the market network. This puts the market network in a different position. We are now looking at solving this, partly through an ongoing investigation into the market network's conditions, and partly by adopting a new proposition for public service from the turn of the year, which will receive a new broadcasting license. Included in that broadcasting license is that public service will receive a 3 percent increase in its first year. This will mean that the public service companies will collectively receive over 10 billion next year.

(Applause)

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Björn Wiechel (S)

Mr. Speaker! I thank you for the answer, but it did not resolve the question regarding the budget for next year.

There is an enormous commitment in Sweden's population for public service. Over 17,000 people have signed a petition where they express their concern for a shutdown of public service.

Now, further cuts are threatening due to market costs. It is an acute situation now, but it is also a long-term issue. How does the Minister for Culture ensure the public service budget not only for next year but also long-term in connection with market costs?

(Applause)

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Kulturministern Parisa Liljestrand (M)

Mr. Speaker! I can state that the structure we have for public service is about safeguarding its independence. With today's structure, we provide a budget outcome that is intended to hold over time so that public service knows its long-term conditions. Now we are giving public service conditions for eight years ahead. We have also appointed an inquiry that shall handle the issue of the market network both in the short term and the long term. I will therefore return to the issue, which I have also informed the committee about.

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Martin Kinnunen (SD)

Mr. Speaker! I had intended to ask the Minister for Rural Affairs about the county administrative boards' unacceptable conditions for the wolf hunt, with digital surveillance of hunters. But I can now state that this has been withdrawn by the county administrative boards, which is very pleasing. Therefore, I am changing the subject. My question will instead concern grain cultivation.

It is going very well in terms of the size of the harvests. On the other hand, profitability in the sector is challenged as a result of low world market prices and high prices on input goods. In contacts with individual farmers, we are told that many expect to incur a loss when they cultivate. It is even to the point that the loss can be lower if one leaves the land fallow. The best profitability is if one grows flowers with the help of subsidies.

My question to the Minister for Rural Affairs is quite simply: How does the government view the situation, and what is the assessment of what can be done to strengthen the resilience in the sector?

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Landsbygdsministern Peter Kullgren (KD)

Mr. Speaker! The development is worrying within the entire agricultural sector, and it has been so for a long time. For some production branches, it has looked brighter for a while. On the grain side, there has been a serious situation in previous years, primarily due to poor harvests. Now we have a harvest result significantly above the five-year average. But unfortunately, we have a world market price that complicates things. It would have been good for the country's grain farmers if they had received a substantial supplement in the cash now.

The answer to the question is that everything the government does on the agricultural side aims to increase profitability. This applies to both the regulatory simplifications and the budget investments we have made. But fundamentally, it is about the markets having to function. On the grain side, Sweden is self-sufficient. Therefore, it is extremely important to increase the export of our Swedish grain products in order to be able to maintain production and profitability.

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Martin Kinnunen (SD)

Mr. Speaker! I thank the Minister for Rural Affairs for the answer. The cost burden is heavy for agriculture. Next year, CBAM, the EU's so-called carbon tariffs, will be introduced, which will make the fertilizer more expensive. When we impose a tariff on the import of fertilizer but no extra tariff on food from other continents, European competitiveness is weakened.

My question to the government is: Does the government intend to take any initiatives at the EU level to exempt agriculture's input goods from the CBAM framework?

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Landsbygdsministern Peter Kullgren (KD)

Mr. Speaker! CBAM will begin to be applied on January 1, and trade fertilizer is included in the mechanism. At the last council meeting, earlier this week, Sweden raised this issue with some concern regarding how the development will look for this product, which is indeed completely crucial for much of our cultivation. We received support from an additional five member states. We have thus raised the issue and will, of course, follow it closely.

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Andrea Andersson Tay (V)

Mr. Speaker! A few weeks ago, the EU member states decided on next year's fishing quotas for the Baltic Sea. In the Riksdag, we have agreed that the quotas should be set much lower. That is good, even though we from Vänsterpartiet wanted Sweden to push for a ban on industrial fishing in the Baltic Sea.

Unfortunately, other countries continue to turn a blind eye to the problems, and the quotas therefore became far too high. Now it is important that the government does what it can at home to protect the Baltic Sea's fish stocks.

It is the Swedish Agency for Marine and Water Management that is responsible for the distribution of the Swedish quota. Given that the government says it wants to promote small-scale fishing for human consumption, one should reasonably prioritize it when the quotas are distributed and limit the allocation to large-scale fishing.

My question to the Minister for Rural Affairs is: Does the government intend to work towards ensuring that the regional quota and the coastal quota are prioritized while the ITQ quota is limited?

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Landsbygdsministern Peter Kullgren (KD)

Mr. Speaker! It is already being done. We prioritize small-scale fishing first. It always gets its quotas first and as much as it wants. The problem for the small-scale coastal fishers has been that it has not mattered how large quotas they have been given, because there has been no fish.

It is because of long-term overfishing, all too lax management of seals and cormorants that have come all too close to the archipelago, and also continuing major environmental problems in the Baltic Sea. All those parts the government focuses on through the work in the EU and through the work with our marine environment bill.

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Andrea Andersson Tay (V)

Mr. Speaker! I met a coastal fisherman earlier this week. He argued in any case that it is not possible today for new fishers to establish themselves in coastal fishing because the quota is limited. I still believe that there are certain problems regarding this.

I have previously asked the Minister for Rural Affairs whether the government intends to do anything about the system of transferable fishing rights, the ITQ system, which has received sharp criticism for favoring large-scale fishing at the expense of small-scale fishing. At that time, I did not receive a clear answer. Therefore, I wonder if the government has now decided to act on the issue.

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Landsbygdsministern Peter Kullgren (KD)

Mr. Speaker! The system is determined in ten-year cycles. I believe I was touching on that, Mr. Speaker, the last time we discussed this question. The system was last established in 2019. They are essentially ten-year business agreements that we will have the opportunity to change first in 2029.

Now the member cannot answer. But the counter-question is: Why was this not done in 2019 when Vänsterpartiet was part of the government base? We will do our part before 2029 and review the system.

(Applause)

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Fredrik Lindstål (C)

Mr. Speaker! I wish to pose my question to the Minister for Culture.

Many people want to live in vibrant cities with a strong cultural life. But the cultural death continues to spread, and still nothing is happening regarding the noise issue other than more clubs and live venues closing.

Of course, it moves a little for the big culture giants. There we are talking about a changed rental model, which is welcome. But for the smaller actors who are at the forefront of culture, the development is going in the wrong direction.

Cities are being hollowed out and losing their attractiveness, and Stockholm is falling the hardest. When Sweden's capital falls in the eyes of the world, everything else falls too: the jobs, the companies, and the people.

Young people will be forced to rule out Sweden's cities. Why? Because the life they want to live and the opportunities they seek are somewhere else.

Mr. Speaker! Let us focus on the cities' future and the young people who constitute the future. How do we create vibrant cities that put culture at the center?

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Kulturministern Parisa Liljestrand (M)

Mr. Speaker! Thank you, member, for a fine but very broad question. We could speak about it for a long time, significantly longer than the question period allows. Let us return to it in some other context.

That culture is an important part of a vibrant city life is quite obvious. One can look at cities that are undergoing great development today around Sweden and ask the municipalities and the cities: What is it that you see people demanding? The answer is cultural experiences. People do not just want to live and reside. They also want to be able to experience things.

It is very nice to see that there are many good examples of municipalities around Sweden that are doing something about exactly this. They prioritize venues and ensure that there is a vibrant cultural life in the form of having functioning premises. They also provide an offering to the citizens with a broad culture.

This is something that we also need to keep our eyes on from the government's side.

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Fredrik Lindstål (C)

Mr. Speaker! I would like to thank you for the positive response to the question. I share the view that cultural life must be allowed to live in all of Sweden.

Let me broaden the question and speak a little about the tourism industry, which is completely dependent on a strong cultural life. What I hear most right now is how the skyrocketing costs that we have seen generally in society over the last few years for various reasons mean that costs are also skyrocketing within culture, where the support does not keep up.

How do we get cultural support to keep up when the world changes?

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Kulturministern Parisa Liljestrand (M)

Mr. Speaker! Let us talk about the support, but above all, let us talk about the industries. Let us talk about the strategy that the government has developed for KKB, the cultural and creative industries.

It is industries that give a lot to Sweden in the form of a strengthened image of Sweden, export opportunities, and domestic experiences. It is a vital industry that we need to do everything to also promote. We shall not only focus on talking about support.

(Applause)

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Emma Nohrén (MP)

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

It has been almost a month since the agreement on quotas, primarily for the Baltic Sea, was finalized in the Council of Ministers. The decision was a disappointment, despite the Swedish "no". We fish too much and exceed the scientific advice.

One of the fundamental problems is the scientific advice from the marine research council Ices that is relied upon when setting the fishing quotas. It does not take a holistic approach to the fish's role in the ecosystem and other parameters. In that regard, Sweden has pushed forward and is trying to change it. We need to change the rules of the game for next year's fishing negotiations.

In the Council's decision a month ago, there was also a clear wording that a recovery plan should be requested. Now that Sweden, through the Minister, is chair of Baltfish, the body where the Baltic Sea countries cooperate on fisheries, it is a unique opportunity to push forward.

My question is: What concrete initiatives has the minister taken and does the minister intend to take to achieve the changes in the counseling?

(Applause)

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Landsbygdsministern Peter Kullgren (KD)

Mr. Speaker! We saw to it, for example, that it is stated in the decision that we shall develop a recovery plan. It was a Swedish initiative that we pushed forward.

We wanted lower quotas. That is why we voted no. But for the other negotiation rounds in a row, we have, based on the applicable regulations, landed on historical levels based on ICE's headline advice.

Last year, we landed at the lowest point of the Marine Research Council's advice for both the herring and sprat stocks. This year, the quotas landed below the recommendation for central herring and on the recommendation for Baltic herring. From a negotiation perspective, these are still successes compared to how the previous government had succeeded with the negotiations, when the quotas were significantly higher.

Had the previous government succeeded as well as we have and landed on the lowest levels, perhaps we would not have had such a serious situation as we have now.

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Emma Nohrén (MP)

Mr. Speaker! Thank you, Minister, for the answer!

Now, the question was not exactly about the quotas. We know that ICE's headline advice was almost followed, and that is positive. The entire Riksdag stands behind it and is grateful for it.

The problem is that we have seen that the advice does not follow the entire ecosystem and that there are difficulties there, and now one should take the initiative to change that. As the minister said, it was the minister who got it into the writings.

I wonder again: What initiatives are there to ensure that there is a change so that the next consultation does not end up there?

(Applause)

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Landsbygdsministern Peter Kullgren (KD)

Mr. Speaker! There is much to say about the ICES advice. I am the first to sign on to the fact that we need to update this so that it becomes clearer and so that we can avoid going back and forth discussing what actually applies. Most of all, I would like to have headline advice from ICES that actually takes the whole into account. It is also something that we are driving – all so that weak stocks can recover.

We will, of course, continue to put high pressure on the commission so that what we received in this decision also becomes a reality.

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Fredrik Ahlstedt (M)

Mr. Speaker! Sweden has, through the EU, negotiated a new free trade agreement with South America, which is expected to become a large and important trading partner to the EU – the so-called Mercosur agreement. The EU has also reached an agreement with Indonesia on a new free trade agreement.

I would like to ask a question to Minister for Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Benjamin Dousa: What concrete new market opportunities does the government see for Swedish companies as a result of the free trade agreements with the Mercosur countries and the agreement with Indonesia in the future?

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Bistånds- och utrikeshandelsministern Benjamin Dousa (M)

Mr. Speaker! Thank you, Member, for the question!

The Mercosur agreement, that is the agreement with Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay, is the largest free trade agreement in modern times that the EU is now about to sign. 95 percent of all tariffs would be abolished in both directions.

To the direct question of how this could affect us, the answer is that the EU Commission expects it could create up to 440,000 jobs on our own continent. But it will hopefully also be noticeable on Swedish store shelves, as we can buy products from this type of countries at a lower price. Everything from orange juice to roasted coffee, rice, and other products that we ourselves in Sweden have difficulty producing can become cheaper as a direct result of Mercosur. Mercosur would create the largest free trade zone in the entire world.

Indonesia is admittedly also a large and growing market, but I believe the potential lies primarily in Mercosur. When the USA and other countries join, we in Europe should do the opposite and respond by opening up new trade routes for Swedish and European companies.

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Fredrik Ahlstedt (M)

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

It looks like there could be great opportunities for Swedish companies. My follow-up question is: How does the government intend to support the companies in Sweden so that they can quickly take advantage of the new opportunities that are opening up?

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Bistånds- och utrikeshandelsministern Benjamin Dousa (M)

Mr. Speaker! It is partly about our embassies on the ground and partly, of course, about Business Sweden, which has a special responsibility to lower the thresholds for small and medium-sized enterprises so that they can quickly benefit from this type of large agreement.

We know that it is primarily the small and medium-sized enterprises that benefit from free trade agreements. Free trade agreements are about both tariffs and removing other bureaucracy and administration that in various ways make it difficult for smaller companies to do business.

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Yusuf Aydin (KD)

Mr. Speaker! In the government's reform agenda for aid, the importance of a more unified and synergy-based way of working within the framework of Team Sweden is emphasized.

In this work, not only do the state actors but also Swedish aid organizations have a central role, as they often have long-standing partnerships and possess local knowledge and experience of some of the world's most complex environments. They thus have expertise that complements the state's efforts.

In order to achieve the goals that the government has set, it is required that the entire breadth of Swedish actors be utilized in a structured and strategic manner and that this perspective is included in Sida's application, where Swedish aid organizations are also seen as a strategic resource.

Against this background, I would like to ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs: How does the Minister intend to ensure that the Team Sweden perspective, including a role for Swedish aid organizations, is integrated into Sida's application?

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Bistånds- och utrikeshandelsministern Benjamin Dousa (M)

Mr. Speaker! Thank you, member, for the question!

Sweden has a completely fantastic resource base in the form of civil society organizations which, as was said in the debate, have often been in complicated environments for many decades. It is an incredibly important priority for the government to take advantage of the capacity and knowledge that exists in the field and to stimulate this engagement.

In the strategies that we have made decisions on and in those that we will make decisions on in the future, we particularly value the Swedish resource base. We naturally want our own state agencies and organizations to work in an integrated way. This applies to everything from Sida and the Folke Bernadotte Academy to our embassies. It is also about getting the Swedish companies involved, which often exist in a part of these markets.

It is incredibly important for the government to take advantage of all the competence that exists.

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Yusuf Aydin (KD)

Mr. Speaker! Thank you, Minister, for the answer!

At the same time, we recently read that no Swedish aid organizations have moved forward with strategic partnerships within humanitarian aid. This is something that raises questions about how Sida works with the perspective in practice. This is also a departure from the reform agenda's intentions and risks weakening Sweden's long-term capacity.

Does the Minister judge that additional or clearer guidance is needed to ensure that Sida applies this and considers the Team Sweden perspective in the application?

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Bistånds- och utrikeshandelsministern Benjamin Dousa (M)

Mr. Speaker! It is Sida that ultimately makes the decisions on which organizations shall receive support and which shall not receive support. There are two major ongoing processes, partly the humanitarian actors that are being selected, and partly the actors within the framework of the CSO strategy, which are being selected now during the autumn.

We will probably have reason to return to the question of whether the government needs to govern the agency further. Just the humanitarian work is a bit more difficult, because there it needs to be organizations that have capacity and logistics also in very complicated environments.

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Elin Nilsson (L)

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

It concerns the decision that was made last week regarding GPS monitoring during licensed wolf hunting. The decision was made by all county administrative boards where wolf hunting is to be conducted next year. But now we have just been informed that all county administrative boards have withdrawn the decision.

The reason the decision was made was that one wanted to be able to prosecute hunting offenses, and that is obviously very important. But the question is whether there is legal basis for this, and the fact that the decision has now been withdrawn can be a sign that it does not. The danger is still not over, and we can see such decisions in the coming years.

I am aware that the government cannot step in and direct which decisions the authorities make, but this is still something that we do not want to see implemented.

The question is therefore: What does the Minister intend to do in the future?

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Landsbygdsministern Peter Kullgren (KD)

Mr. Speaker! I have followed the discussion that has been held both regarding the allocation of the number of wolves that may be culled during the upcoming hunt and regarding the GPS tracking of the hunters.

I invited the relevant county administrative boards to a meeting, primarily to discuss the issue and for me to gain more knowledge. Now, all the county administrative boards have notified me that they will not proceed with this because the issue needs further investigation. Their own words are that they are considering the professionalism of the decision.

I intend to wait and see what is concluded in further investigation and simply see where it lands.

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Elin Nilsson (L)

Mr. Speaker! Thank you, Peter Kullgren, for the answer!

The fact that the decision was made in the first place perhaps says something about the view on hunters and the wildlife debate. The debate linked to the wolf issue is particularly polarized, something that I, not least as someone living in Mullhyttan, in the middle of one of Sweden's wolf-densest areas, can see.

What does the Prime Minister think we can do to improve the political discussion in this highly polarized issue?

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Landsbygdsministern Peter Kullgren (KD)

Mr. Speaker! Elin Nilsson does not need to apologize for accidentally saying "the Prime Minister" – for who knows what will happen in the future?

I also live in a wolf area, in Värmland, and I am aware of both the polarization and the stigma that often arises regarding wolves. I have nothing to say about poaching, but one must follow the law to the letter. But it is clear that decisions must be proportionate, and it is precisely that which the county administrative boards are now to review. I therefore choose to wait until they have done their work.

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Sofia Skönnbrink (S)

Mr. Speaker! The government has long been aware of the growing shortage of veterinarians, which has had significant consequences, not least in rural areas. Despite this, sufficient action has not been taken to ensure that animal owners have access to veterinary care when it is needed.

Furthermore, the inquiry on veterinary preparedness proposes that the state shall no longer be responsible for emergency care for companion animals during on-call hours, an announcement that not least Swedish hunters are very concerned about – with good reason.

In a situation where the shortage of veterinarians is acute, the plan therefore seems to be that the state should withdraw and hand over the responsibility to private actors in a market that is not functioning. This means that animal owners in rural areas risk being left without veterinary care during evenings, nights, and weekends.

Therefore, I ask: Does the Minister for Rural Affairs share the investigation's assessment that the state's responsibility for veterinary care should be reduced?

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Landsbygdsministern Peter Kullgren (KD)

Mr. Speaker! First and foremost, I thank you that we in the government are being attributed opinions that we do not have. We have received an investigation, and just as the member knows, it is now being prepared in the Government Offices. Before it is finished, we can neither say yes nor no to the proposals that the investigation has.

The purpose of the investigation is for us to achieve better veterinary coverage. We shall enable private actors to receive a share of any on-call compensation so that they can take on greater responsibility. This is something many private veterinarians want to do.

However, to say that the state should take full responsibility would involve an enormous commitment. I have also not seen any concrete proposals or budget funds from the Social Democrats regarding this.

Let us go through the investigation properly. The purpose of the investigation is crystal clear: It shall become better, not worse.

(Applause)

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Angelica Lundberg (SD)

Mr. Speaker! The Government has entered into an agreement with Somalia to facilitate returns and enable the execution of deportations, which is absolutely crucial both for the credibility of the rule of law and for Sweden's migration policy to be able to function in practice.

For continued assistance, Sweden has set conditions that Somalia must follow international law and accept its citizens deported by Sweden. The opposition, including the Socialdemokraterna, has directed criticism at that arrangement, and now, unfortunately, the deportations have been stopped. This means that at the current moment, it is not fully possible to deport those who do not have the right to stay in Sweden.

What does the minister do for the assessment of how political moves from the opposition affect Sweden's opportunities to carry out deportations to Somalia or other countries that have historically been reluctant to accept their own citizens?

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Bistånds- och utrikeshandelsministern Benjamin Dousa (M)

Mr. Speaker! I agree completely: It is over with the Swedish people being treated as some kind of ATM where countries year in and year out can only expect Swedish support without following international law and delivering on Swedish interests, that is to say, accepting their own citizens, including those who have committed very serious crimes in Sweden.

With this agreement with Somalia, we have actually succeeded in getting back people who have no business in Sweden. Some of them have also been grossly criminal.

We work day and night to be able to carry out more deportations. The deportations to Somalia have also increased significantly during this parliamentary term, and we will, of course, ensure that they continue to do so.

It is clear that the Social Democrats' and other parties' maneuvers and outright lies in the debate have affected the issue in a negative way. I find that regrettable. It is arguably more important to actually be able to send back persons, who in some cases may even be dangerous in Sweden, than to pick up short-term political points.

(Applause)

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Jacob Risberg (MP)

Mr. Speaker! Since taking office, the Government has repeated the mantra that Swedish aid should become more effective and more transparent. But for aid to be effective, it requires both long-term perspective and efficient authorities.

As for long-term perspective, it is more or less thrown out the window because land strategy after land strategy is scrapped and more and more UN bodies have their appropriations removed or drastically cut.

What about the efficiency of the aid agency Sida? Agencies are supposed to make independent decisions, but of course within the framework and guidelines that the government normally issues in the form of regulatory letters once a year. When it comes to Sida, the government has written seven new regulatory letters during this year. Almost every month, the government intervenes and changes or adjusts Sida's governance and mandate.

My question to Minister for Development Cooperation Dousa is: How effective and long-term does an agency actually become if it receives new directives almost every month?

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Bistånds- och utrikeshandelsministern Benjamin Dousa (M)

Mr. Speaker! I thank the member for the question.

Efficiency in aid is one of the most important components in the major reorganization of the aid policy that this government is currently pushing through. A lot has happened in the aid policy since the 70s, and this government enters with a very strong will to reform; we will, of course, manage our agencies in a very clear way.

Furthermore, the world around us has changed very much during this year. Several of these government decisions aim, for example, at reprioritizations of the existing aid budget.

We have entered with several new packages – for example in the SRHR area and for humanitarian and life-saving interventions, but also to Ukraine as a direct result of the USA forcefully withdrawing. The USA previously accounted for 40 percent of all humanitarian aid and 30 percent of all development aid in the world, so it is clear that this affects large donors such as Sweden. Therefore, we must ensure that Sida also delivers on the government's policy.

(Applause)

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Alexandra Anstrell (M)

Mr. Speaker! My question is addressed to Minister for Civil Defence Carl-Oskar Bohlin.

We have 290 municipalities all over Sweden, and they have a key role in our civil defense. However, it looks a bit different if one travels around among Sweden's municipalities. Some have come a long way; some have not come far at all. There isn't really any minimum standard.

How does the government ensure, in concrete terms, that municipalities have sufficient resources and also the mandate they need to be able to build a robust civil defense?

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Minister för civilt försvar CARL-OSKAR BOHLIN (M)

Mr. Speaker! I thank Member Anstrell for a very good question.

We will need to increase the requirements on the municipalities given how the global situation looks. It is something that the government is currently working on in the form of new legislation, which, when it is finally in place, will both clarify the municipal responsibility and clarify roles. It is scheduled to be presented to the Riksdag during the first part of next year.

With this comes also more funds. We will increase the funding from the national level. In the budget bill this autumn, we presented a three-year path spanning a total of 4.6 billion, which will be allocated to the municipalities so that they can better work with resilience-enhancing measures at the local level. It is absolutely necessary given the serious global situation.

(Applause)

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Magnus Berntsson (KD)

Mr. Speaker! Public service has a special role in our democratic society, a role that is built on high requirements for objectivity, transparency, and accuracy. When editing or translation fails, trust is risked, not just for the individual editorial office but for the entire public service mandate.

Recently, the BBC has been involved in an extensive scandal where a speech by Donald Trump on January 6, 2021, was edited in a way that has received harsh criticism. SVT has also been questioned, though not at all to the same extent.

Here in Sweden, however, we have seen other serious examples. Sveriges Radio's language versions mistranslated a statement from my party leader where "Islamists" were rendered as "Muslims" in a misleading representation that is completely unacceptable.

My question to the Minister for Culture is therefore: What measures does the government intend to take to strengthen the credibility and objectivity of public services so that public trust can be protected?

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Kulturministern Parisa Liljestrand (M)

Mr. Speaker! The public service companies are independent media companies and are owned by a foundation. That is how we have chosen to organize this in order to ensure the independence of public services.

Independence also concerns the need to build trust with the public who are to receive what public service offers, in this case news.

Of course, independence is crucial for the public's trust in the operations, but it is neither my nor the government's business to interfere in how the operations are conducted or what journalistic decisions are actually made. Such attempts would be an infringement against the constitutionally protected editorial independence, which stands against the principle of the governance of public service as it has actually been decided by the Riksdag.

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Markus Selin (S)

Mr. Speaker! This government has put Sweden into a healthcare crisis. For the third year in a row, we see deficits in the regions, and we see thousands of layoffs all over healthcare Sweden. A third of our 21 regions have already reduced their staff numbers, while at the same time, healthcare queues are at historically high levels and SKR warns of further cuts.

Despite this, the government continues to push away the responsibility. They call a press conference, but we see and hear nothing about new resources, no more arms and legs, in healthcare. Instead, a new investigation is to be appointed.

How does the Minister for Civil Defence believe that preparedness should be increased when the government and their coalition partner Sverigedemokraterna are structurally underfunding Swedish healthcare?

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Minister för civilt försvar CARL-OSKAR BOHLIN (M)

Mr. Speaker! I thank Markus Selin for the question.

I do not fundamentally share the assessment. We are in a situation with historically large supplements via state grants to the country's regions. That being said, the mission to prepare healthcare for crisis and war is largely about securing different planning conditions, that is, securing national reinforcement resources in a way that unfortunately was lacking, for example, when the Social Democrats governed the country during the last major healthcare crisis – the pandemic.

We are now building up national reinforcement resources at the National Board of Health and Welfare with field hospitals and intensive care units. These are capabilities that have been lacking until now but which are now increasingly in place.

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Markus Wiechel (SD)

Mr. Speaker! The Government and the Sweden Democrats have, as is known, carried out a major reform of the aid policy, where the focus is now on quality, results, and countering waste. This is, of course, both necessary and a welcome direction.

It is therefore deeply concerning that Swedish aid funds are still going to North Korea, which is one of the world's most brutal dictatorships. In North Korea, starvation is used as a weapon. Hundreds of thousands are held in slave camps, public execution is routine, and there is no transparency or independent actor who can ensure that the aid that arrives there actually reaches those who need it.

Furthermore, North Korea has been an active part of Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine since 2022, and since 2025, North Korea is also an active part by sending soldiers who fight on Russia's side in this horrific war.

Against that background, it is directly irresponsible to send money to this regime. The Minister for Foreign Affairs is welcome to answer whether he intends to stop this aid.

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Bistånds- och utrikeshandelsministern Benjamin Dousa (M)

Mr. Speaker! Just as Member Markus Wiechel said, one of the government's most important priorities is to turn the water sprayer in aid policy into clearer water jets, to clear up the corruption that has existed and to ensure that we water where it grows and achieve maximum efficiency.

Regarding aid to individual countries, it is primarily Sida that makes those types of assessments, but it is clear that we follow that process very closely. We also have a direct agency dialogue with Sida regarding individual supports that are raised in the debate.

We are following the issue very closely in the case of North Korea, and we will, of course, take action if it turns out that Swedish tax funds have ended up in the wrong place, for example, with the regime in North Korea.

(Applause)

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Rebecka Le Moine (MP)

Mr. Speaker! My question is addressed to the Minister for Rural Affairs and concerns the wolf.

The wolf is a strongly threatened species in Sweden, and the government has changed the policy and chosen a reference level that has no scientific basis but instead is based on the government's opinion and desire to reduce the population to 170 wolves. This occurs despite the fact that we have a strongly inbred wolf stock and population in Sweden, but extensive illegal hunting is also occurring in Sweden. In Värmland, the wolves have gone from 130 individuals to 45 in just two years without there being an explanation.

The reduction of the population to 170 has been initiated by deciding on license hunting of 48 wolves. What does the commission think about Sweden choosing this path and setting a low reference value that has no scientific basis?

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Landsbygdsministern Peter Kullgren (KD)

Mr. Speaker! It is true that the government wants to implement what this House has decided countless times, that is to say that we are to have a wolf population of between 170 and 270 wolves. It is also true that we have reported 170 wolves as a reference value.

We just recently received a letter from the commission, which wants explanations. The matter is being prepared right now, and of course, we will respond to the letter. What the answer lands in exactly remains to be seen.

We have also clearly been told by our expert agencies what needs to happen for us to be able to take the steps to produce a smaller wolf population in Sweden. The Government has also been clear that in a first step during the upcoming winter wolf hunt, we should reach 270 wolves. How we are then to get below that figure, we have been told very clearly by the expert agencies, that is, which measures and steps need to be taken to go below the level and approach 170.

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Emma Ahlström Köster (M)

Mr. Speaker! Sweden is in a state of deep alarm. It is no longer a warning signal, but it is a fact that the alarm is striking against our children's future.

As many as one-fifth of Swedish fourth-graders cannot understand a medium-difficulty text. The proportion of students performing at a low level in reading has increased dramatically. We clearly see how a lack of reading ability undermines the students' self-confidence and ability to keep up with all instruction. It therefore does not only affect Swedish lessons.

Literacy is the foundation for all knowledge development. When it fails, it has consequences not only for school and learning but also for the rest of life. Therefore, it is welcome that the government has given a mandate to Skolverket and Kulturrådet to produce reading lists. These were presented about a year ago.

How is the implementation of these lists in the schools going? Have the schools managed to live up to the breadth of works that the lists contain? My question goes to Minister for Culture Parisa Liljestrand.

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Kulturministern Parisa Liljestrand (M)

Mr. Speaker! The Government is doing many things to help in the current reading crisis and to ensure that Sweden becomes a reading country again. One of the things we did recently was to decide on an amendment to the ordinance on state grants to literary and cultural journals as well as reading promotion initiatives.

The amendment means that state subsidies can now be granted for the publication of books that are included on the Swedish Arts Council's and the National Agency for Education's reading lists. This means that books that are not currently in print and perhaps would not have been printed can be reprinted and be available for children and young people to access.

We believe that the decision will lead, on one hand, to the reading lists being able to function as they are intended, and on the other hand, to more children and young people being able to take part in the fauna of literature that has nevertheless been selected and thereby be able to find their way into fiction and hopefully become reading beings.

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Tomas Kronståhl (S)

Mr. Speaker! My question also goes to Minister of Rural Affairs Kullgren. It is not easy to be among the later questioners. I had, in fact, intended to discuss the somewhat shocking proposal regarding electronic surveillance of the hunting corps, that is, not of the wolf, but we have already gone through that. I therefore change my question slightly.

I think the minister has been very clear about the ambition to significantly reduce the Swedish wolf population to around 170 individuals or just above that. At the same time, I have seen that, for example, the allocation of the license hunt for wolves, which together with protection hunting is the only available way to regulate or reduce the Swedish wolf population, has constantly decreased in recent years. In this year's license hunt, the allocation was only 30 individuals, and this on a wolf population that probably lies closer to 400 individuals.

How does the Minister intend to achieve the goal of significantly reducing the Swedish wolf population?

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Landsbygdsministern Peter Kullgren (KD)

Mr. Speaker! This is because we first had the opportunity this year to report a new reference value and could address this. This happens in five- or six-year cycles, and now there was the opportunity to make a real difference. This fact that we have succeeded in changing the Bern Convention and the Birds and Habitats Directive means that we can now move forward with an offensive proposal that at the next license hunt, together with protection hunting, we shall come down to 270, which is the upper part of the interval that the Riksdag has specified in its announcement to the government.

From the government's standpoint, we point out that it is nevertheless central for us that we can also ensure a protection hunt so that we can remove those individuals who have a taste for sheep, cattle, or whatever it may be. That is the reason why it has turned out as it has.

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Johnny Svedin (SD)

Mr. Speaker! My question is directed to Minister Benjamin Dousa. Sweden has significantly scaled up the tools to support Ukraine's reconstruction and strengthen Swedish competitiveness. The Government is raising the ceiling in the export financing system to 175 billion from 2026 and EKN's guarantee framework to 650 billion. At the same time, the Minister and Team Sweden are actively participating in Rebuild Ukraine in Warsaw to match Swedish solutions with concrete projects, which is an important step from words to business.

Can the Minister account for which deals, investments, and jobs in Sweden have so far been made possible by this enhanced export financing and Team Sweden's efforts?

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Bistånds- och utrikeshandelsministern Benjamin Dousa (M)

Mr. Speaker! It is true that we have a very extensive cooperation with Ukraine both in terms of aid and trade. An important part of building up Ukraine's resilience in the long term is to contribute to more reforms but also more business in Ukraine. It can be about more Swedish store shelves being filled with Ukrainian goods, but it can also be about other things.

When I met my counterpart in Ukraine, he clearly stated that they need spare parts for practically everything. He had a list of 150 companies, all Swedish, that he wanted to sell to Ukraine. This is a cooperation that, therefore, works in both directions.

If we are to be honest, unfortunately, only about 60 Swedish companies are active in Ukraine. It is roughly the same companies that were active in Ukraine before the war. Those who are there remain. We are trying to achieve an increase, but it is difficult given that Ukraine is in a burning war.

Unfortunately, this is how it looks in large parts of Europe. I met representatives from Poland a few days ago. They said that they also did not succeed in getting Polish companies there to any great extent. This is rather an investment for the day after the war.

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Marie-Louise Hänel Sandström (M)

Mr. Speaker! My question is addressed to Minister for Culture Parisa Liljestrand. Swedish musicians have long been very successful all around the world. We are very proud of that. We must also safeguard that we still have internationally known and talented Swedes in the competition that exists. We want the most talented music students to be able to develop as early as primary school and achieve both individual and international success. That also makes Sweden both richer and safer.

That is why I now see with pleasure that the government is appointing an inquiry into specialized education in music already at the primary school level. I wonder if the Minister can tell us more about why this inquiry was needed, what the Minister envisions, and what difficulties the government hopes that this will be able to solve.

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Kulturministern Parisa Liljestrand (M)

Mr. Speaker! It is absolutely true that Swedish cultural life needs both breadth and excellence. The purpose of the investigation is to give young Swedish musical talents the opportunity to develop from an early age.

We know that Swedish musicians have been successful for a long time, not only here in Sweden but all around the world. We also know that it must start at an early age if one wants to become truly good when one grows up. Swedish primary school must be able to measure up to the competition and the talent that exists abroad if we are to be able to safeguard our position also in the future.

Sharpness and breadth are communicating vessels when it comes to development within culture. We must be able to have breadth in order to be able to offer sharpness. But we must actually also have sharpness to foster breadth. Therefore, it is very good that the investigation is finally being completed.

(Applause)

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Markus Kauppinen (S)

Mr. Speaker! Given Sweden's stated priority of children's rights, there is great concern over the developments in Swedish aid. Sweden is unilaterally phasing out strategies in seven countries. A further eight bilateral strategies plus two regional thematic strategies expire at the turn of the year without notice of renewal. At the same time, strategies in countries such as Sudan, Tanzania, and Somalia receive repeated short-term extensions. This uncertainty creates an administrative and operational vacuum.

How does the government assess the long-term consequences of this uncertainty for interventions aimed at children's health, education, and protection in these countries? And how does the government view the acute security policy risk that actors such as Russia and China will fill the vacuum and thereby strengthen their influence when Sweden withdraws?

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Bistånds- och utrikeshandelsministern Benjamin Dousa (M)

Mr. Speaker! The Government prioritizes areas such as health and matters concerning children and children's education. But this year, from an aid policy perspective, it has of course been very stressful with a USA that is withdrawing very quickly and a war that continues to rage in Ukraine. This was what we were discussing earlier during the question period.

Furthermore, it should be known that we are reducing the aid budget by 3 billion and have abolished the one percent target, which we can have other debates about.

The money has to come from somewhere. We think it is important to safeguard humanitarian, life-saving efforts, and if we are also to increase from almost 10 percent of our aid to Ukraine to almost 20 percent next year, the money must be taken from somewhere. This was one of the first things the government did.

Let me be honest and say that closer to the turn of the year there will be more phase-outs and more decisions. After that, there will be announcements that we will need to make cuts to safeguard SRHR, humanitarian efforts, and above all, Ukraine.

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Martin Westmont (SD)

Mr. Speaker! My question is addressed to the Minister for Civil Defence, Carl-Oskar Bohlin. The plan is to expand the civil service to 3,000 people, which the Sweden Democrats view positively. We have a war in our immediate vicinity today, and we see that the warfare is not only directed against Ukraine's defense lines but also against important infrastructure, such as the citizens' water and sewage systems.

My question is whether it could become relevant for civil service in Sweden to be expanded to be more concentrated on other important areas of society, for example, fuel and water supply.

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Minister för civilt försvar CARL-OSKAR BOHLIN (M)

Mr. Speaker! Thank you, Member Westmont, for the question!

The government's ambition regarding civil service is actually even higher. We are talking about 3,000 people within the municipal rescue services sector alone over the next three years. After that, we intend to proceed with further staffing in that sector. In addition, we have already started training for civil servants within the electricity supply area, where we will train approximately 1,000 people in just over two years. Furthermore, there is a mandate for Socialstyrelsen to investigate the need for civil servants in the health and medical care sector.

In response to the question, it can also be mentioned that the government as recently as last week made a decision to investigate the need within the transport sector – or to task the Swedish Transport Administration to look in detail at where civil defense resources can be used within the transport sector.

The answer is therefore: Yes, we are looking at more sectors, and we will proceed with additional sectors ahead.

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Magdalena Thuresson (M)

Mr. Speaker! I have a question for Minister Benjamin Dousa. On November 14, Saab and Colombia signed an agreement for the sale of 17 JAS Gripen. The sale is one of Sweden's largest export deals ever. I wonder if the Minister can elaborate on what an export deal of this kind will mean for the Swedish economy and Swedish security.

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Bistånds- och utrikeshandelsministern Benjamin Dousa (M)

Mr. Speaker! Thank you, member, for the question!

This is, as has been said, one of Sweden's largest export deals ever. The lion's share of these aircraft will be produced in Linköping for export to Colombia.

We also know that this weapons system – there are other ministers who can explain this even more in detail – is completely adapted to Swedish conditions and very costly to develop. We see this on the combat aircraft side, on the submarine side, and also when it concerns other weapons systems. If we are to be able to develop this for Sweden and in Sweden, it is required that we have this type of extensive export deals in order to be able to finance that type of development assignment. It is therefore important for Saab and, in turn, for Sweden's defense, but it is also important for the Swedish economy.

It also sends a clear signal to other stakeholders around the world that more and more countries currently want to join the Gripen family. We welcome them, because it is good for the defense of Sweden but also for our economy.

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Niklas Sigvardsson (S)

Mr. Speaker! Without folk education, Sweden falls silent, and without rehearsal rooms, the Swedish musical miracle falls silent. The Minister spoke earlier about excellence and breadth in musical education and how important this is for music. The government is happy to speak warmly about the importance of Swedish music exports for both the economy and Swedish cultural life. But when the government simultaneously steps forward and slaughters Swedish folk education and thereby the possibility for thousands and thousands more Swedish youths, the musical journey becomes impossible, and therefore the government's prioritization is incomprehensible.

The Minister for Culture is welcome to answer the question of how the Minister for Culture's and the government's cultural policy will create future artists and musicians across our country, given that rehearsal spaces are being closed.

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Kulturministern Parisa Liljestrand (M)

Mr. Speaker! I wonder if the member lives in the same reality as I do. The government allocates over 4 billion kronor to public education, and the member calls it a slaughter. I think that the citizens in Sweden consider 4 billion kronor to be quite a lot of their tax money. I do not think it is right to express it as a slaughter.

But to the question. I can state that folkbildningen and the support for, among other things, study associations, which is a part of it, is primarily handled under the Ministry of Education. It is Lotta Edholm who is the responsible minister for those matters.

But I can also state that it is the student unions themselves who choose to prioritize other activities than specifically rehearsal rooms. It is a matter for them, not a matter for the government.

(Applause)

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Joanna Lewerentz (M)

Mr. Speaker! My question also concerns CBAM and the work to provide our farmers with better conditions at a time when our food production must increase.

CBAM, which will come into full effect after the turn of the year, risks hitting Swedish crop farmers hard. For many farms, the import of fertilizer is unavoidable, and when the introduction of CBAM raises the cost, the pressure will increase on an agriculture that is already struggling with high interest rates, expensive fuels, and squeezed margins. Many Swedish farmers are already on their knees while competing in a global market where many other producers do not face corresponding regulatory burdens.

My question to the Minister for Rural Affairs is therefore: How does the government intend to work to ensure that Swedish plant growers are not wiped out when CBAM significantly raises the costs for imported fertilizer?

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Landsbygdsministern Peter Kullgren (KD)

Mr. Speaker! The answer will be similar to the one given earlier. What we have done initially is that we, from the Swedish side, have raised the issue at a council meeting. There are more European countries that share this concern.

When it comes to the issue of commercial fertilizer or artificial fertilizer in general, it is clear that there is an exceptional situation, where we in Europe and large parts of the world have previously imported our commercial fertilizer from countries that we perhaps would prefer not to import commercial fertilizer from now – Belarus and Russia.

If I may be a little visionary, I would most of all like to see that we here in Sweden produced more of these input materials that we need. We have very good conditions for that. It is also a matter of us getting the opportunity to produce the raw materials that we need to do so.

We are following the issue closely and are working on many different tracks to strengthen the profitability and minimize the costs for Swedish agriculture.

Question time was hereby concluded.

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