Staffing

Lars Wistedt (SD)

Mr. Speaker! Honored members! Audience! Today we are debating the Defense Committee's report number 8 on personnel issues. The Sweden Democrats consider the report to be well-formulated and that it well covers the individual motions raised by our members during the general motion period. We further consider that the Defense Preparation Committee, in its continued work, is well aware of the problems that exist and will take them into account during the work in the coming years. I would therefore like to begin by moving for approval of the proposals in the Defense Committee's report 8 in its entirety.

The report concerns some of the most central parts of the reconstruction of the total defense capability, namely personnel supply and personnel development. It is hardly a secret - and it is also visible in the rearview mirror of history - that one government after another, starting as early as FU 88 in the late 80s, regardless of whether it was a red or blue government, has lived in a bubble where they have not taken the long-term security threats into account. They have not taken them seriously.

The misjudgments made in 1925 regarding the large-scale disarmament were repeated. This led to a virtually 70-percent reduction of the military defense as a whole, and for the army, with over 90 percent. When it comes to the civil defense, it was an almost total disarmament.

Mr. Speaker! Sweden is now facing a rearmament of the likes of which we have essentially not seen since 1939 and the Second World War. It is therefore gratifying to see that the first major steps already taken during the previous government – here we must give them an accolade – with among other things significantly increased defense appropriations and the reintroduction of conscription, are now being continued by the current government base. More extensive reinforcements of Sweden's defense capability are now under consideration in the Defense Committee's work.

When it comes to reconstruction, it can take different amounts of time to, for example, order and purchase certain equipment. Ordering a tank takes time, but once it is delivered, it is essentially ready to drive. With personnel, it is not the same. It takes the majority of a professional life to be trained as a qualified combat unit commander or staff member. You cannot buy that at Lidl. This requires a broad base, and that is formed by conscription, where men and women participate on equal terms.

The demands of war entail that high physical as well as mental requirements are placed on the various positions, and it makes no distinction whether one is a man or a woman. The Armed Forces are already well aware of this today and are working purposefully, based on their delegated employer responsibility, to broaden the scope of recruitment. For this, we from Sverigedemokraterna want to give them a great commendation.

Mr. Speaker! It is one thing to recruit and another to retain and motivate staff to stay in a profession that has a clear instruction not to be salary-leading. One must instead work with other means of stimulation to retain critical personnel categories. These can be pilots and technical personnel but also officers who work out at the training locations.

The question has been raised several times in the Committee on Defence. Our view is that the Armed Forces are handling the issue, but that there are many administrative and regulatory obstacles to a quick solution. In that case, it is difficult to rectify acute problems and bottlenecks in personnel management quickly enough, but we do not believe they should be addressed through finger-pointing in this report. We have full confidence that the government and the Armed Forces together will find a solution to the problem.

Another urgent problem is the right to serve as, for example, reserve officers. It is a category that constitutes an incredibly important part of the war organization. Their competence and professionalism in exercising command in crisis and war is directly decisive for our defense capability. The Armed Forces have initiated a project to be reported at the end of 2023 regarding just this category. We have full confidence that the Armed Forces will complete the task and present concrete improvement proposals.

Mr. Speaker! All military leaders in various positions, whether it is in the frontline infantry platoon, on naval ships, in the air or in remote staffs at different levels, must have a high level of professionalism and understand how to, for example, manage combat with combined arms. This is covered in the report.

This may sound dry and academic, but the reality is different and far from books and academic theses with endless discussions about whether it should be called "bör" or "skall".

The war in Ukraine has once again shown how brutal, dirty, and demanding it is to simply survive on the modern battlefield. Even greater demands are placed on a commander who is to lead others and furthermore be a role model. This is where the great need for professional reserve officers comes in.

The Sweden Democrats note with satisfaction that the committee in its report specifically emphasizes that the officer training shall focus on delivering leaders at all levels with high competence to lead armed combat, that is, practical leadership.

In conclusion, we in the Sweden Democrats who sit in the Committee on Defence and the Defence Preparation Board look forward to, together with the other parties, purposefully continuing the work that began in 2015 to rebuild a new strong total defence for a free, democratic and independent Sweden.

In this speech, Sara-Lena Bjälkö (SD) agreed.

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

Hanna Gunnarsson (V)

Mr. Speaker! I thank the chamber staff for the small, nice watch I just received.

I would like to ask Lars Wistedt about the employment time limit that exists for our soldiers, the GSS/K. I noted that Lars Wistedt in his speech spoke about the fact that it takes time to train people, and that is indeed the case. It is very complex to work within the Armed Forces, regardless of which level one works at. Wistedt also said that it is important that the staff can stay, but that there are now administrative hurdles for this.

I wonder what the Sweden Democrats' position is on the employment time limit that exists today.

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

Lars Wistedt (SD)

Mr. Speaker! I assume the member means the twelve-year rule. Something we must work out when we work in the Defence Preparation Board during the coming years is how we solve the time problems. There is probably no solution here and now that is the miracle, for if so, it would probably have already been delivered. But we can state that there are a number of important personnel categories, for example qualified technicians and personnel on board submarines, who definitely need to have this form of employment.

We also think that there should be an opportunity to continue when the time limit is reached, if the Armed Forces judge that the possibility exists and if the person fits the pattern and the needs profile.

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

Hanna Gunnarsson (V)

Mr. Speaker! I think it is very interesting and good to hear Lars Wistedt say that one should be able to continue if it is judged to be possible. That we should wait for the Defence Preparation Board is perhaps in some way the right answer to such a question. But it is quite a long time to wait for the Defence Preparation Board 2024 to be finished with its report on total defense, so that we might eventually get a decision in December 2024. There will be quite a few people who reach the time limit before 2024 and actually will not be able to continue working, despite having competencies and experience and being popular employees.

Are the Sweden Democrats not ready to take the initiative in this issue before 2024?

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

Lars Wistedt (SD)

Mr. Speaker! We have absolutely nothing against raising the issue in dialogue with the Armed Forces and the government and hearing if there are any obstacles to resolving this knot. We can absolutely do that.

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

Lena Johansson (S)

Mr. Speaker! Today we are dealing with the Defense Committee's report Personnel Supply. I want to begin by saying that we Social Democrats stand behind all our reservations, but for the sake of time efficiency, we choose to move for approval only of reservation 6.

How then do we build a resilient and robust defense? Is it through the procurement of materiel and equipment, or is it by having relevant real estate, vehicles, aircraft, boats and submarines? Yes, those are important parts, but the most important part is the one we are discussing today, the personnel.

We need someone to fly the plane, someone to drive the boat or the submarine, someone to guard and monitor, and someone to plan, communicate, and direct in order to solve a task together. We need them all, from the soldier to the cook, the medic, and the pilot. Yes, everyone is needed, and there are many professional groups and occupational categories. Everyone is needed so that we can achieve the resilient defense we need.

We Social Democrats have, during the two previous parliamentary terms, significantly increased the appropriations for defense, as we saw a need to create a well-anchored people's defense.

In addition to the fact that we have almost doubled the appropriations for defense, the conscription has also been introduced, and a great deal of work has been done for the visibility, recognition, and support of veterans.

Everything can be improved, as it is usually said. Regarding personnel issues, it is a constantly ongoing process in which all employers need to be forward-looking. With this said, it is important that the Armed Forces have an ability to attract, retain, and develop competent personnel. If the Armed Forces are to have the ability to grow in accordance with the defense decision and the intentions that the Riksdag has, the Armed Forces must also provide the employees with good conditions and prerequisites.

As part of the planned growth, we see an interim goal of at least 10,000 conscripts and a war organization covered by at least 100,000 positions by 2030. Our assessment is that the officer training must be adapted so that the Armed Forces can meet its competence supply in the long term.

Furthermore, we see it as important that the proportion of women increases regarding both conscripts and employees. We believe that the Armed Forces should have as an ambition level that the proportion of women fulfilling the conscription shall be at least 40 percent by the year 2030. The Armed Forces must work actively with equality and inclusion but also with the possibility of combining career and family life for all personnel.

Another important part of the personnel strategic work is that the obstacles that exist for reserve officers' opportunities to train and serve must be removed, among other things by granting them the right to leave of absence. It is unreasonable that people should be prevented from serving our country because they are not granted leave of absence from their civilian work.

With that said, we need to continue the work that has characterized the last two parliamentary terms, regarding for example the veteran policy. Just like other personnel policy, the veteran policy also requires continuity and development. We Social Democrats have worked methodically to increase the support for Sweden's veterans and increase the awareness among the general public regarding the contributions of military and civilian veterans.

Sweden has a long tradition of sending soldiers and other personnel on international missions. There are overseas veterans represented in all of Sweden's counties. It is a great deal of knowledge, competence, and experience that benefits all of Sweden before, during, and after the mission.

We all feel a great sense of gratitude and pride towards our veterans and their relatives. Relatives are incredibly important before, during, and after a mission for the one who carries out their mission. We all have a responsibility in Sweden, and we in this chamber in particular, when it comes to recognizing, highlighting, and being proud and grateful for our veterans and their relatives. We can show this gratitude in different ways.

We Social Democrats have, together with the Armed Forces, taken several measures in this area, including the establishment of the Armed Forces Medal to the Wounded in Combat and the Armed Forces Merit Medal with Sword, the erection of veteran monuments, and the establishment of Veterans Day, which since 2018 has also been a general flag day.

The Social Democratic government gave the Armed Forces the task in 2017 to establish a veteran center that shall manage, develop, and implement the agency's veteran and next-of-kin work. From 2015 until 2022, the Social Democratic government allocated 227 million kronor in state grants to voluntary veteran and next-of-kin organizations for activities and support. For the Armed Forces' work with follow-up of personnel in international missions, 130 million kronor has been allocated since 2015.

Veterans deserve society's appreciation and support. Veteran policy aims to provide personnel serving in operations and their relatives with support that is in proportion to the risks and pressures they are exposed to and the sacrifices they must make.

It is important that the methodical work continues, and therefore we propose that a veteran strategy be developed containing goals and measures directed at the approximately 55,000 currently living Swedish women and men who have served in military operations abroad. The development of the strategy shall aim to consolidate, confirm, and continue the current veteran policy and take its starting point in already implemented and decided measures. The work on the strategy shall be completed in 2023.

Let me conclude where I began, with that the most important thing the Swedish Armed Forces has is precisely the personnel. That is also why it is important that the Armed Forces can attract, retain and develop the personnel in order to be an attractive employer.

(Applause)

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

Camilla Brunsberg (M)

Mr. Speaker! Today we are going to debate a motion report concerning personnel and competence supply, civil duty, equality, and voluntary defense organizations. It is a broad spectrum of topics that are all important for the construction of our total defense.

Sweden's future NATO membership in combination with a growing defense force means that new recruitment, training, and the work of retaining personnel must be intensified. For all of this, the employees within the Armed Forces are the starting point.

The Armed Forces' personnel policy must be flexible, future-oriented, and efficient, and function fully in all levels, with a large mandate to change and improve.

It is the government that decides the overall direction, and that is that the personnel policy must be strengthened. We allocate the financial resources. We in the Riksdag do not have the employer responsibility, but the issue is important and it is good that we highlight it here in the chamber.

The National Audit Office conducted a review of the personnel supply and pointed out tangible deficiencies and difficulties for the Armed Forces to retain employees. The report was relatively drastic and concerned the previous parliamentary term.

Regarding the recommendations that the National Audit Office has given, the government shares the National Audit Office's assessments. Within the framework of the delegated employer responsibility and the employer policy, the Armed Forces has taken and plans to take a number of measures required to solve the personnel supply.

We have full confidence in both the Armed Forces and the government that we will be able to grow and obtain a strong defense force.

When it comes to our combat pilots in the Air Force, it is a difficult situation. We expect that the situation will be managed. We understand that it is not easy to solve. But even if it is not easy – there might even be a lack of an obvious solution – one must take the least bad solution and then deliver. It is not acceptable that there is a shortage of pilots within the Air Force. This is a matter for the parties in the labor market that needs to be handled promptly and with the highest priority.

In Sweden, we do not only have state-of-the-art combat aircraft but also world-class submarines and corvettes. It must therefore also be ensured that we get at least double manning on submarines and corvettes as we now upgrade the defense. We Moderates look forward to this being able to happen now.

Mr. Speaker! I would like to take the opportunity to speak about all the good things that are underway within the framework of the delegated personnel policy. The Armed Forces show that they are working constructively to increase and develop the ability to recruit and retain employees over time. They are looking at various proposals for change, mobility supported by agreements, and agreements that affect the operations in order to be a modern and future-oriented employer. They are also initiating research studies to look at what is crucial for individuals to stay and develop within the organization.

Mr. Speaker! The Government has now, for the first time since 1997, decided on an increased daily allowance for cadets through an amendment to the Officers Ordinance. It is something that has been needed for a long time, so it is welcome. It has also been pointed out by the Officers' Association.

Regarding the situation for our reserve officers, it is both gratifying and necessary that the Armed Forces has initiated a work with a review of the reserve officer system which is to be completed at the end of 2023.

We in the Committee on Defence jointly emphasize that it is important to raise the status of the reserve officer profession so that this category is given an opportunity to serve regularly in their own position and further their education.

When it comes to civil service, it is underway, as the government gave a mandate to MSB at the beginning of the year, which was reported on March 1, to carry out the measures needed to prepare for a decision on an activation of civil service within municipal rescue services. It is therefore underway to activate civil service, and it is a welcome decision that is important for Sweden's total defense. We have a government that delivers.

Many units show good results when it comes to recruitment and achieve an equal result, but we in the Defence Committee share the Swedish Armed Forces' view that it is important to recruit more women so that the defence can grow at a rapid pace.

Mr. Speaker! Sweden is one of the world's most digitized countries, but cybersecurity needs to be strengthened.

Cyberattack is not just a threat but something that is happening here and now. FRA already stated in 2017 that 10,000 attacks occurred per month against targets in Sweden from state-sponsored foreign attackers alone. The figure is certainly significantly higher today.

I note, and we note, that the previous government was a bit too slow in this work. Sweden was last in the Nordic countries with a national cybersecurity center. We were also the last country within the EU with a national cybersecurity strategy. But now the work with these issues shall be intensified.

We Moderates were proactive in the establishment of the National Cybersecurity Centre. A build-up of the collective operations is currently underway, and yesterday the government declared that FRA will take over the ownership. Cooperation with the business sector shall be strengthened, and the operations shall be strengthened both nationally and through increased international cooperation within the framework of Nato and EU. It is an immensely important investment for Sweden's future security.

MSB has also taken measures to establish Sweden's national coordination center for cybersecurity research and innovations.

There is a conscript cyber soldier training that is now included in the regular training offer. The first cadets have begun their specialist officer training with cyber defense as a focus. It is very positive.

The establishment and development of a second IT unit has begun and continues. The capability to carry out all types of cyber operations and management of incidents in the cyber domain is being strengthened during 2023-2025. The Armed Forces are now working on developing a coherent personnel supply and career system for cyber defense. Additionally, the National Audit Office plans an audit of society's information and cyber security, which will become an important starting point in the continued work.

I thought I would conclude with the voluntary organizations and the veterans.

Our voluntary organizations contribute to reinforcement resources and will to defend. They are crucial for Sweden's crisis preparedness and civil defense.

Now the assessment is made that the voluntary organizations need to be strengthened in order to be able to recruit and train. It appears in the budget basis that the Armed Forces will, on 1 January 2024, introduce a new financing model based on strengthened funding of the activities linked to the needs of the total defense. This is very positive.

When it comes to our veterans, which is an immensely important issue for us Moderates, we note in the Committee on Defence that the work on and the development of the veteran policy is ongoing within the Government Offices. Development work has been initiated within four identified areas: support, recognition, research, and competence management within the framework of the veteran strategy.

With those words, I move for approval of the Committee on Defence's proposal for a decision and for the rejection of the opposition's reservations.

(Applause)

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

Hanna Gunnarsson (V)

Mr. Speaker, dear committee colleagues and all of you who are listening and watching at home!

Today, in the Committee on Defence, we are debating a large number of motions in the area of defence policy that concern personnel, recruitment, and how we ensure that the Swedish Armed Forces' personnel have the best possible conditions and opportunities.

I move for approval of the Left Party's reservation number 7, I would like to state this at the beginning.

We live in a very serious security situation. There is war in Europe after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The serious global situation puts our own total defense to the test and requires that we make investments to make our society more robust.

Those who are to do this are the personnel in both the military and the civil defense. The activities of the Armed Forces - just like those of the rescue services, the police, and other similar professions - involve great risks for the personnel, high demands, and often that the operations are ongoing around the clock.

In recent years, our society has undergone several major crises, above all the pandemic and now the consequences that the war in Ukraine also has for Sweden. One of the major lessons has been the importance of well-educated personnel, good working conditions, the right tools and equipment, and also the commitment of ordinary people to help when it is truly needed.

Individuals and committed people within the Armed Forces, the Home Guard, the voluntary defense organizations, the municipalities' voluntary resource groups, the Red Cross and many other large and small non-profit organizations have made enormous efforts.

Even in the rest of the total defense, where welfare is the large and important activity, it is required that the staff can work both in everyday life and in crisis and, in the worst case, war. We have today a welfare system that already in normal conditions many times goes to its knees. Resources and investments are needed so that one can scale up if needed.

During major crises and serious events, we need to be somewhat careful at the same time about what we expect from our personnel, and especially from the Swedish Armed Forces' personnel. The work tasks are seemingly endless and many times very difficult, and need to be performed at inconvenient times and in places far away, sometimes with far too few resources.

Working with the total defense's sharp tasks is not an easy job, and we are very grateful to everyone who chooses to work within these professions.

The most difficult tasks are probably those carried out abroad. I want to convey a particularly big thank you to everyone who went out on the two most recent large-scale emergency missions - the earthquake in Syria, Kurdistan and Turkey, as well as the evacuation of Swedes that was just carried out from Sudan. A big thank you for your efforts!

Mr. Speaker! An important prerequisite for the Swedish Armed Forces' personnel supply is conscription. All youths who turn 18 are drafted and tested for the possibility of performing military service. Vänsterpartiet thinks that it is very good.

We also see it as very pleasing that the civil duty may soon get underway. I believe that it is important for the security, safety and robustness of our society.

The military service and later the civil service guarantee a popular anchoring of the Armed Forces' activities by having as many different people as possible with different backgrounds and experiences participate in the defense of Sweden and gain important knowledge about how our country is made safer and more secure for everyone.

In order for the conscripts to receive the best possible education and for their lives in other respects to be as good as possible, it is important that we have a well-functioning duty council.

The Pliktråd is a co-determination body elected by those subject to conscription and has the task of promoting their interests, conducting dialogue on changes and improvements, making demands on us politicians, and reviewing matters concerning those subject to conscription. It is an important instance for public anchoring and a way to guarantee that the training, which we have decided shall be mandatory for those who are selected, is as good as it can possibly be.

I welcome the government's proposal to increase the financial compensation for cadets, i.e., officer students. This is very important, not only in times of inflation with higher prices and rents but also as a signal of how important it is that we train more officers. I expect the government to now move forward and improve the compensations for those performing national service. They should, according to the Defense Council's proposal, be indexed. The latest adjustment of the compensation for those performing national service was made in 2017.

I would like to take the opportunity to thank the outgoing Duty Council, which has just completed its assignment, for the fine work they have done and welcome the new Duty Council, which was elected a few weeks ago. Good luck with your important work!

Another group within the Armed Forces' personnel that we talk about a lot are the reserve officers. A few years ago, a unanimous Riksdag here issued a notice to the government regarding the right to leave of absence for reserve officers to serve within the Armed Forces. This was intended to make it easier for more people to participate in exercises while simultaneously holding a civilian job. I expect the government to return to this issue as soon as possible; it has been quite a long time now.

Mr. Speaker! Vänsterpartiet is a feminist party. In a feminist defense and security policy, the question of public anchoring is, of course, very important.

Since the conscription was reintroduced, it has been gender-neutral. Women's participation in defense and security work is crucial for the entire society to be able to withstand crises, acute events and, in the worst case, war. But the Armed Forces are still lagging behind when it comes to equality.

At the same time, I want to say that the Armed Forces are working hard to improve gender equality. Above all, we see in the outward-facing communication that women are highlighted, and progress is being made regarding equipment and gender equality issues overall. It is important that the Armed Forces continue to both make improvements and talk about the improvements being made, as well as highlight women as role models. Overall, making defense activities more visible and understandable for the public and showing how important they are increases the understanding of what a modern defense force is and thus the motivation to participate.

The Armed Forces must, however, resolve the issue of sensible underwear for women. It cannot be that difficult.

Mr. Speaker! In the last election campaign, personnel issues in the Armed Forces were a major issue within our area. We are in a phase of buildup, and the need to recruit, but above all to retain, personnel is very great.

How do you then retain staff? Important things for making employees want to stay are, of course, salary, working conditions and the work environment, as well as that the resources one as an employee has at one's disposal are sufficient to be able to do a good job.

Wages are a matter for the parties in the labor market, but it is important to continue to review the wages in the Armed Forces. We know that many occupational groups have a different labor market outside the state sphere, which can offer higher wages. We must ensure that the Armed Forces can catch up.

When it comes to having the right tools and equipment to be able to do a good job, we also have a great deal to do within the Armed Forces. Personal equipment is lacking, completely ordinary things that are needed for a workday to function and be good. Equipment cannot be ordered, it is worn out or too poor or is in the wrong place in the country and cannot be used.

For someone who stands a bit outside the operations and sees this, it feels like it cannot be impossible to solve. All employees in the Armed Forces must have the equipment they need. It is ultimately a question of having a secure operation and workplace.

In this context, I want to place some extra focus on the fact that we must review the so-called twelve-year limit for soldiers. A soldier who has not further educated themselves to become an officer has, according to law, a time-limited employment for a number of years. After that, one is no longer allowed to remain employed.

This does not align with how we usually view this on the Swedish labor market, where employment should be permanent unless there are special reasons. It is actually completely crazy, if I may put it that way, that in this current situation of rebuilding the Armed Forces, when we need to hire more and retain those we have already hired, we have a time limit that causes people to have to leave.

That soldiers who have training and experience in their profession are not allowed to remain in their jobs without reason is a problem that we must solve. If we cannot completely abolish the law, as we in Vänsterpartiet might want to, we need to review how we can conduct individual assessments so that we can retain staff.

When Officersförbundet conducted a survey before the last election, several parties said they were willing to review this issue. It is only Vänsterpartiet that stands by this in the report that we have on the table today.

In this report, Mr. Speaker, there is also the Left Party's recurring motion to remove the system where the Armed Forces provide the court with adjutants. Adjutants are highly educated officers with much experience and knowledge, who are lent out so that the King or the Crown Princess can receive help with all sorts of tasks during the day, for one month a year according to a rolling schedule. They should be able to be replaced with civilian personnel, we believe in the Left Party. Let the officers be officers and work with what they are trained for!

Mr. Speaker! The Defense Committee submitted its first report to the government yesterday. A second report will arrive in June. The third report, which we will work on this autumn, will be about the total defense. I promise that there we will further discuss how we can improve working conditions and the work environment for all personnel in the total defense.

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

Mikael Oscarsson (KD)

Mr. Speaker! This afternoon we are debating the Committee on Defence's report number 8, which concerns personnel supply.

Initially, however, I would like to say, for those of you who may be following this debate via TV or so, what I believe we all feel. This debate is being held in a serious situation. There is, as has been pointed out in the debate, a full-scale war of invasion in Europe. It is a terrible, bloody war, which costs very many human lives and where Russia unfortunately shows that one has no respect for rules. They target civilians. It is a terrible situation.

This also sheds light on ourselves and our own defense capability. We have a good defense and good personnel, but it is too small; it needs to grow.

We now have a defense preparation task force working and, as was pointed out here, they submitted a report yesterday. From the Kristdemokraterna side, we want to speed things up in various ways. We do not have all the time in the world. It is a bit like a defense preparation that worked in 1942 pointed out: We must hurry. We perhaps cannot always seek out the most fantastic things but must ensure that we work and get started, whether it concerns different types of equipment projects or personnel. We need to speed up and ensure that we are better equipped, both civilly and militarily.

When it comes to personnel matters, the fact is that the Armed Forces is its own personnel. The measurements that are made show that there is a good atmosphere in the Armed Forces. The personnel mostly think that it works well. But there are challenges that we need to highlight.

One issue that has been highlighted quite a bit is the problem with the pilots. We have very good aircraft, our Jas planes. But it is, as was noted this summer, far too many pilots who are seeking leave of absence. New information has emerged that unfortunately a similar situation exists right now.

As has been pointed out before, wage negotiations are not our task, but this is still a challenge that we have reason to follow up on. We have, from the side of the Swedish people and the Riksdag, invested a lot in the aircraft we have, perhaps 100 billion, and every pilot costs approximately 100 million in training. Then it is unreasonable that there is such a large difference in salary between, for example, the Coast Guard and the Swedish Maritime Administration. Here we hope that the Armed Forces can find a way to solve the problems. We need to have growth of pilots instead of losing them prematurely.

Then there are challenges regarding officers. We know that approximately 25 percent of the officers will retire by 2030, and we know that we need many officers for Brussels. We are to join Nato as soon as possible. Here, it is important that the Armed Forces find methods that allow us to retain some of our officers a bit longer than until retirement at 62 or 63 years of age. There must be incentives that allow us to retain key personnel longer. We would all benefit from that.

Reserve officers are important, but here the Armed Forces must use the resource that reserve officers constitute in a better way.

Mr. Speaker! I want to say something about cyber defense. We can now see how Russia uses cyberattacks against Ukraine. This also applies to our country. Just as was pointed out earlier, FRA went out quite a few years ago and spoke about that there are 10,000 cyberattacks per month by foreign powers. This has not been followed up with saying how many attacks it is about, but it is said that they are more numerous and more advanced.

There is a major challenge here. We have a good cyber defense, and there is now a cybersecurity center. But there is something here that needs to be improved. Currently, four agencies share the responsibility. We from the Kristdemokraterna side believe that FRA should be given the primary responsibility, and in the long run, it should be a question of a separate agency.

We can see in other countries, for example the United Kingdom, how important it is with a strongly functioning national cybersecurity center that also joins forces with the business sector for a safer environment. It is about joining forces with municipalities, regions and even the business sector in these issues.

It feels important for me, given that we are discussing personnel issues, to conclude my speech by thanking everyone who makes such great and important contributions, whether it is recently in Sudan, conscripts on Gotland, in the Air Force or in the Navy. Everyone who serves as a conscript, is employed personnel and is an officer makes an immensely important contribution. Moving forward, the number of conscripts must increase. Furthermore, investments must be made together with Norway and Finland to strengthen the Nordic region. More conscripts are needed here.

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

Hanna Gunnarsson (V)

Mr. Speaker! So unusual to have so many remarks in a debate with the Committee on Defence.

I ask the same question to Mikael Oscarsson that I asked the Sweden Democrats. In the survey that the Officers' Association sent out before the election, the Christian Democrats answered that you could imagine reviewing the twelve-year limit for GSS soldiers. Do the Christian Democrats stand by this?

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Mikael Oscarsson (KD)

Mr. Speaker! I thank Member Hanna Gunnarsson for the question. It is an important question.

The Christian Democrats' view is firm. Soldier is not a profession one can envision when one is 63. However, the limit is too rigid. There should be an assessment where each person and the task to be performed is considered. The Armed Forces should find a more flexible way so that we can utilize some of these soldiers for a longer period than twelve years.

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

Hanna Gunnarsson (V)

Mr. Speaker! It was a pleasing announcement from the Christian Democrats. I look forward to hearing the Christian Democrats try to push this through and perhaps even introduce some form of change from the government level.

However, I question that one cannot be a soldier when one is 63 years old. There are many occupations in society that are difficult or physically demanding where we expect people to work until closer to 70. For example, nursing assistant is a hard and strenuous occupation.

I definitely believe that one can be a soldier until the age of 63. One might not be able to or should be the one leading on foot in the terrain, but there are a multitude of other tasks that a soldier can perform until retirement.

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

Mikael Oscarsson (KD)

Mr. Speaker! What I just said, Member Hanna Gunnarsson, is that the legislation is such that it is twelve years, and then it is over.

I do not imagine that one can be a rifleman when one is 62 or 63, but there are definitely areas where one can make a contribution longer. We should not think that one automatically continues as a soldier, but one should be able to have a more flexible stance. I do not think that one lasts until 63, but it can last longer than twelve years.

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

Mikael Larsson (C)

Mr. Speaker! Today we are debating the staffing of the Armed Forces. It is perhaps the absolute most important resource that the defense has. For the Center Party, the personnel issue is a very important and central issue that we must work actively with for many years to come. Our starting points in this debate and in this area are therefore the following.

Personnel procurement within the Armed Forces is one of the biggest challenges ahead. Sweden is entering Nato at the same time as the military defense is to grow significantly in the coming years. The requirements for combat readiness are increasing sharply. Readiness must increase, and Nato membership also places higher demands. More combat units shall be introduced. Important regimental establishments are taking place right now around the country, and the number of conscripts shall increase during the coming years. This makes it obvious that measures are needed in both the short and long term to produce a sustainable personnel supply that lasts for several years ahead.

An important issue that several others in the debate have highlighted is leave of absence for reserve officers and developing an appropriate way to utilize the competence. That is good. We are waiting for the investigation that has been initiated to be presented, and the request to the government is to take important measures as soon as it arrives.

Salary is another important issue. Just as has been said in the debate, the salaries are negotiated by the parties, and so it shall of course be in the future as well. But it is important to convey that the Armed Forces must be able to offer good conditions and good incentives for the personnel who are interested in seeking employment at the authority, staying, and further developing themselves.

I still want to mention an important piece of work that has been initiated, namely the directive issued by the Supreme Commander during 2022, which is important for moving personnel supply several steps forward and becoming better. It is a very good initiative.

Some questions that should provide the conditions for a good personnel policy are already being addressed by the Swedish Armed Forces, but there may be other questions that the Swedish Armed Forces do not control but which are important for a good personnel policy.

When I am out on regimental visits, I can, for example, encounter tax-related issues regarding dual residences. These are issues that the Armed Forces do not control; they lie at a completely different level. And this also affects several other occupational categories. It is of the utmost importance that such issues are also looked at, so that a good overall picture is achieved for a good personnel policy moving forward.

Mr. Speaker! The Centre Party considers that more must be done so that we can achieve an equal defense force and a defense for everyone who lives in Sweden. An important measure that can contribute to this is that all units and garrisons establish an independent whistleblower function with independent investigative support that can be used when reports of unwelcome behavior are received.

Centerpartiet considers that mandatory and standardized training on equality, values and co-determination should be conducted repeatedly at the units for both personnel and conscripts and that the unit management should regularly follow up and evaluate the units in terms of their equality and equal treatment work. It is important that issues regarding equality are raised and worked on within the basic training for conscripts but also when it concerns all occupational groups that the Armed Forces have to work with.

A question that lies between personnel and material supply concerns the right to correct equipment for personnel and conscripts. Here, the government must ensure that the correct equipment reaches everyone, and it is not something that can wait.

Purposeful infrastructure and the right personal equipment perhaps do not actually belong in this debate. But if one is to place it in a larger context and a larger perspective, good personnel policy, good infrastructure and the right to good equipment need to be placed in the same area.

Madam Speaker! One of the finest words I know is people's movement. The voluntary defense organizations, which operate throughout the country, are precisely a fine people's movement. The voluntary defense organizations are very important from a public anchoring perspective. Recruitment needs to be facilitated so that more people engage voluntarily, for example, within mountain rescue, sea rescue, fire defense, or the car corps, which I met yesterday. These organizations are very important when it comes to strengthening the civil parts of the personnel supply.

It is extremely important that people living all over the country, not least in the countryside, can feel secure that help will come if it is needed. The activities of the voluntary defense organizations cover many different and important areas, and volunteerism will play an even greater role now as the civil defense is being built up, not least from a civil protection perspective.

In order for society to get as much as possible out of volunteerism, we from Centerpartiet believe it is important that responsible actors plan to utilize volunteers during crisis management. The volunteer organizations need to be included in planning, training, and exercises in a more systematic way, and it is then necessary to be able to enter into agreements with them.

Municipalities, regions, the defense forces - yes, actually the entire public sector - need to see the need for a strong civil society and specifically strong voluntary civil organizations that shall help in the event of crisis and war.

Another important issue for the Center Party is agriculture. Something that needs to be ensured and highlighted is the availability of necessary labor within agriculture during heightened alert. Therefore, the Center Party wants to ensure that Blå Stjärnan will be able to staff Swedish agriculture in the event of heightened alert. This is an extremely important issue for us to be able to keep our agriculture and our food production running during heightened alert.

As said: Personnel issues are of the utmost importance. And this is an issue that we will truly have to return to during the coming years, not least in the committee and of course also within the framework of the Defence Preparation Board, as colleagues have previously said.

With this, I would like to conclude, Madam Speaker, by moving for the approval of the Center Party's reservation number 5 and wishing all colleagues a pleasant Valborg.

(Applause)

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

Anna Starbrink (L)

Madam Speaker! We are experiencing a dramatically worsened security situation. It is a security situation that is very serious. Russia's terrible and unprovoked war of aggression against Ukraine is an attack on freedom in all of Europe.

I believe it is obvious to everyone that the defense must be strengthened both materially and with competent staffing. For many years, the Armed Forces have been underfunded and underdimensioned in relation to its important mission to defend our country.

Many have now had a rude awakening. During the past year, it became clear that even Sweden must leave behind a policy built on pious hopes without any grounding in reality. All eight parties in the Riksdag could agree to increase defense spending with the ambition to reach 2 percent of GDP as soon as possible. And in May 2022, a sufficient number of parties had additionally joined the Liberals' line that it was time to seek Nato membership. Thus, an application could also be submitted to Nato.

I am convinced that NATO membership will serve us well. But of course, it is not enough to become members and hope for support from our future allies. We must strengthen our own defense capability, and in that regard, personnel issues naturally become completely central.

The build-up that is needed is largely about ensuring staffing within both various parts of civil defense as well as within voluntary defense organizations and, of course, the Armed Forces.

Yesterday, the Defense Commission submitted its first partial report to the government. It is a checkpoint for the relevant total defense decision. It is a unanimous Defense Commission, which I see as a strength, which jointly points out the need to strengthen both the civil and the military defense. The Commission notes that precisely the lack of personnel is a limitation for the growth that was planned in the 2020 total defense decision, and emphasizes the importance of personnel supply to meet this. In addition, it is about meeting the needs that have arisen through various readiness measures, the important support to Ukraine, and of course, the upcoming Nato integration.

The Armed Forces and other relevant authorities within the total defense have a great responsibility - and also a large and broad mandate - to make their organizations attractive for people to work in and to ensure a good supply of competence. Politically, we must, of course, take responsibility for creating the conditions that enable the authorities to live up to their mission and their responsibility, but it also concerns us, I think, to avoid detailed regulation regarding their role as employers.

Many motions have been raised within the area of personnel policy here in the Riksdag. It shows a great commitment and an eagerness to develop the defense. It is a commitment that I believe we all share, even if the path there may look a bit different.

Several of these motions contain interesting proposals, and opportunities are pointed out. At the same time, we can observe that much of what is proposed is such as is already ongoing within the relevant authorities.

I want once again to make a point about the importance of restraint regarding the detailed regulation of activities concerning the area of skills supply and employer issues.

There are several major challenges that the authorities must take responsibility for handling in their operational work. The Armed Forces are planning for expansions in all branches of the defense forces and combat forces. Given the global situation, this is of course very important.

Madam Speaker! I would like to point out the obvious lack of equality. More women are needed in the defense. It is, of course, a question of women having equivalent opportunities as men do. But above all, it is a prerequisite for a long-term sustainable personnel supply and for growth in both the basic organization and the war organization.

The focus in the Armed Forces is on increasing the proportion of women in basic training with conscription, as it constitutes the main entry point to the military personnel categories. It is not a quick solution, but it is the long-term correct strategy needed to increase the recruitment base for employment in the Armed Forces. This is a work in progress, and there is reason to closely monitor the development.

Proactive action is needed against structures as well as against deficiencies in, for example, equipment, which several speakers have touched upon earlier in this debate, and deficiencies in leadership that make it difficult for women to operate at all levels in the male-dominated defense activities. This requires a daily commitment from leaders throughout the entire organization based on the values that should characterize the activities.

Madam Speaker! It is the competence that is important, not who it belongs to. Therefore, the Armed Forces must have an inclusive stance even towards hbtqi persons. I want to emphasize that the Armed Forces have done a lot in this area. But we must not forget that the prejudices and the limitations that people face in society at large also exist within the Armed Forces. There is every reason to remind of this, especially now in a time when, for example, hbtqi persons' rights are being questioned and, not least, trans persons are heavily stigmatized. I therefore want to urge the Armed Forces to continue its important work for inclusion and let competence come to its right regardless of who it belongs to.

It is not possible to ignore the challenges regarding personnel supply or skills supply. As in many other parts of society, there is a skills shortage, and it requires ambitious development work to succeed in meeting the needs. This needs to be followed up and analyzed to enable a forward-looking and learning process. I imagine that the newly formed Agency for Total Defence Analysis, in its important follow-up and evaluation work of the Swedish total defence, will contribute to increasing knowledge and identifying the gaps and deficiencies and where measures need to be taken based on the goals that the Riksdag has decided for the total defence, both for the military and for the civil defence.

Madam Speaker! In conclusion, I want to emphasize that the supply of competence and personnel policy are crucial parts of the whole that is required to strengthen the defense capability and make Sweden safer.

With this, I vote in favor of the proposal in the committee's report.

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

Emma Berginger (MP)

Madam Speaker! Sweden's defense, both military and civil, ultimately depends on the personnel – the women, men, and non-binary individuals who prepare, practice, and train to be able to protect Sweden and our democracy the day we face a crisis or, in the worst case, a war. Therefore, the personnel need good conditions to be able to fulfill the task.

I would particularly like to take the opportunity to thank everyone who, at risk to their own safety, has participated in the evacuation operation in Sudan, which is now being concluded. At the same time, I am also thinking of everyone who has not yet been able to be evacuated. It is important that UD continues to assist Swedes in Sudan who wish to return home with consular assistance. It is a very dangerous situation in Sudan, and we face a terrible and worsening humanitarian crisis for all people who are in Sudan right now. The consequences of war are always devastating, and those who are hit hardest are the civilian population.

Madam Speaker! The security situation has gradually deteriorated even in our immediate vicinity over the last decades. And Russia's illegal and unlawful invasion of Ukraine according to international law dramatically changes an already deteriorated security situation in Europe. It meant a dramatic shift with far-reaching consequences, also for us here in Sweden.

Miljöpartiet now supports a faster and more extensive reconstruction of both the military and the civil defense than we have previously seen a need for. Miljöpartiet simultaneously wants to see a better balance between the military and the civil defense. To respond to today's threat situation, we believe that a significantly higher degree of upcoming appropriation increases need to go to the civil defense.

Madam Speaker! It is a challenge for the defense to grow while simultaneously fulfilling the tasks that it already has to perform. The Armed Forces assess that they will meet the goal in the total defense decision, to reach at least 8,000 annually trained through conscription by 2025 at the latest. At the same time as the number of people undergoing conscription increases, the Armed Forces also need to recruit and retain personnel. Today, the competition is great, and in certain areas, it happens that people who have been trained by the Armed Forces are recruited into the private sector instead. It is important to ensure that both pay levels and working conditions are attractive for all military personnel. The Defence Preparedness Agency notes in the partial report that we released yesterday that the shortage of personnel is a limitation for growth in accordance with the total defense decision 2020 and that this applies not only to critical competencies but also to general officer competence to train, exercise, and man the war organization.

Madam Speaker! Equality is important so that competence within the entire population can be utilized in the defense. The conditions for carrying out the mission must be good, whether it concerns access to equipment such as clothes and body armor that fit or different conditions to be able to combine the mission with having a family. The Armed Forces are working to increase the proportion of women at all levels through long-term work with attraction-creating activities within recruitment and personnel development. Work is also being done on gender mainstreaming, systematic equality work, and non-discrimination. It is good, but the work must continue continuously to create an inclusive environment.

Madam Speaker! Right now, the military defense is being rebuilt at a rapid pace, and the resource allocation for this has been historically large. At the same time, a well-functioning military defense is entirely dependent on a well-functioning civil defense, and therefore, more funds and more personnel need to be allocated to the civil defense. The civil defense is not only an important support to the military defense, but it also fulfills an important function in protecting the population and ensuring the most important societal functions. A strong civil defense also provides good conditions to be able to handle peacetime crises. But the need is great. In MSB's underlying document from November 1, it appears that 27 billion kronor per year would be needed during the period 2026-2030 to build up the civil defense. That is an enormous amount of money.

To man the civil defense, the military conscription needs to be complemented with a civil duty. Miljöpartiet wants to see a civil duty in the form of a resilience service that includes basic training and refresher training. A civil duty with resilience service would contribute to broadening recruitment to activities also in the civil defense. Therefore, we welcome the government's announcement that an investigation into a broadened civil duty will now be conducted.

Participation in the defense, both the military and the civil, shall, as far as possible, be based on voluntariness. And there shall always be an option for non-military service. But at the same time, both conscription and civil service are important tools for manning the defense.

Madam Speaker! Society's preparedness is entirely dependent on the work carried out within the various voluntary defense organizations, also called FFOs. There is valuable competence here that is needed for the total defense as a whole to function. In order for competence and resources within the different organizations to be fully utilized, roles need to be clarified in the relationship between the different actors, and measures need to be taken to improve the conditions for being able to participate in education and training activities within the voluntary defense organizations. In the same way, the issue of the reserve officers' right to leave of absence needs to be resolved.

Staffing

Madam Speaker! Support for veterans and relatives of personnel is a fundamental pillar in overseas service. Miljöpartiet believes that it is important that Sweden, like other states, contributes to the UN's peacekeeping forces. And by participating in international peace-promoting missions, we can contribute to preventing, managing and resolving crises and conflicts, as well as contributing to peacebuilding.

Madam Speaker! In conclusion, I move for approval of Miljöpartiets reservations 3 and 11, and otherwise I move for approval of the committee's proposal in the report.

(Applause)

The deliberation was hereby concluded.

(A decision was to be taken on 3 May.)

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