Response to interpellation 2022/23:156 on the Nordic Council of Ministers regarding infrastructure
Translated from Swedish by AI; the translation may contain errors. The Swedish text is the original.
Summary AI, written in advance
KD highly values the current Nordic cooperation regarding transport and infrastructure. KD argues that a declaration from November strengthens the cooperation regarding innovation, research, fossil-free aviation, and charging infrastructure 1. KD emphasizes that the Nordic ministers are already working actively together and that the declaration is an important starting point to intensify the work 1 2. KD is open to discussing future forms for the cooperation 2. S argues that better coordination is crucial for Vision 2030 and that the Nordic Council wants to formalize the transport cooperation through a Nordic ministerial council 3 4. S believes that a ministerial council would secure the infrastructure for the green industrial transformation.
Written by AI in advance and may contain errors. The numbers lead to the speech a statement builds on; check against the text below.
Statsrådet Andreas Carlson (KD)
Madam Speaker! Åsa Karlsson has asked me if I intend to work towards establishing a Nordic ministerial council for infrastructure.
I highly value the current Nordic cooperation regarding transport and infrastructure and the cooperation for a green transition of the transport sector. The cooperation includes, among other things, conducting preliminary meetings before formal meetings at the EU level. I participated in such a preliminary meeting on Sunday, December 4, the day before the meeting in the Council for Transport, Telecommunications and Energy. The Nordic cooperation also includes a Nordic contact group that coordinates and prepares meetings and other activities.
On November 7-8, I participated in a Nordic transport ministers' meeting in Fredrikstad. At the meeting, we agreed on a declaration to strengthen our countries' cooperation on transport and infrastructure issues. In the declaration, we emphasized that we agree to strengthen cooperation regarding transport and infrastructure to follow up on Vision 2030 - The Nordic region as the world's most sustainable and integrated region.
Against that background, the ministers will strengthen Nordic cooperation in several important areas such as innovation, research, fossil-free aviation and charging infrastructure. I now look forward to continuing and strengthening the cooperation together with my ministerial colleagues in the Nordic countries.
Åsa Karlsson (S)
Madam Speaker! I thank the Minister for the answer to the question.
The Nordic Council has for many years been committed to the Nordic countries strengthening coordination regarding transport infrastructure and border obstacles within the Nordic countries. The Nordic Council is in complete agreement that better coordination is absolutely crucial for the Nordic region to reach the Prime Ministers' Vision 2030 – a green, competitive and socially sustainable Nordic region. The vision requires that we coordinate the policies between the Nordic countries to create sustainable transport solutions at sea, on land and in the air. In 2018, the Nordic Council agreed to highlight the importance of formalizing the transport cooperation.
With a new Swedish government, it is not yet quite clear what Sweden's position is on the issue. I received a small hint now that the cooperation that has been in place will continue and perhaps also be strengthened. But I did not hear that the minister intends to work towards establishing a Nordic ministerial council within infrastructure.
I therefore ask again if I have understood this correctly: Does the Minister intend to work towards establishing a Nordic ministerial council within infrastructure?
Statsrådet Andreas Carlson (KD)
Madam Speaker! As I pointed out in my response, there is a very good and close cooperation between the Nordic transport ministers. It is a cooperation that my predecessor Tomas Eneroth also participated in very actively. The declaration that we adopted at the meeting in Fredrikstad in Norway on November 7-8 concerns exactly what the interpellor is asking about: reinforced cooperation and better coordination.
I can repeat some of the points and elaborate further on what is included in the declaration we agreed upon. I will take it point by point, Madam Speaker:
strengthen Nordic cooperation to promote innovative solutions within technologies with zero or low emissions
strengthen Nordic research and development, including pilot projects aimed at implementing innovations and sharing best practice and knowledge
prepare the way for the establishment of Nordic fossil-free flight routes by 2030 at the latest - by promoting a fossil-free aviation sector as a whole and encouraging future cooperation between Nordic countries
improve charging infrastructure for road transport, with extra attention on cross-border connections
continue the cooperation regarding green corridors for shipping,
continue the work with the EU's solidarity corridors
consider more closely civil cooperation across borders in matters concerning preparedness and resilience
consider compiling a Nordic strategy for the long-term development of cross-border relations based on each country's strategic transport plans
consider closer cooperation regarding social conditions within the transport sector, including working conditions, the fight against work-related crime and social dumping, and the recruitment of transport workers, especially professional drivers.
We also agreed on continued cooperation regarding:
continue the high level of activity that was established during the Norwegian presidency of the Nordic Council in 2022, with frequent dialogue and with the ambition to meet at least once a year
maintain a Nordic contact group that coordinates and prepares meetings and activities
continue with Nordic preliminary meetings before formal meetings between the EU's transport ministers.
Madam Speaker! The government's ambition and assessment is that we have and shall have a close and good cooperation. The declaration that we have agreed upon sets the direction for that work. That work is already underway. I look forward to being a part of that work and also to having a good dialogue with the Swedish Riksdag so that we can jointly live up to our commitments and also return to the considerations that we need to make before our own plan revision when it comes to the national plan and the parts affected by it.
Åsa Karlsson (S)
Madam Speaker! Thank you, Minister, for the answer! It is interesting to listen to what the Minister describes regarding the declaration that the ministers adopted and which contains many good things.
The Nordic Council has for many years been strongly engaged in the issue of transport and border obstacles. Approximately 40 percent of all the matters handled in the Nordic Council's Committee on Growth and Development have a connection to transport and digitalization.
Since 2018, work has been ongoing in the Nordic Council to establish this ministerial council on transport and infrastructure issues. The idea is that such a council should gather the Nordic ministers responsible for these issues and discuss common Nordic challenges and conditions. There are many areas where we need to take joint action in the Nordic region.
The declaration contains a large part of what could be in a Nordic Council of Ministers. But in a Nordic Council of Ministers, the cooperation nevertheless becomes even more formalized.
The Nordic Council stands united behind the recommendation. All countries and autonomous territories that are members stand united behind it, and all party groups, all party groups, all countries and all autonomous territories agree that this need exists. The recommendation has now existed for four years.
Everyone understands that work takes time, but there is a strong desire from the Nordic countries to receive signals on how the work is progressing. In this regard, I would like to pose the following question to Minister Andreas Carlson: How does the Minister view the establishment of a Nordic ministerial council for transport and infrastructure issues? Would that not further strengthen Nordic cooperation, so that it becomes even stronger than with this declaration that you have now agreed upon?
Statsrådet Andreas Carlson (KD)
Madam Speaker! One of the reasons why a strong Nordic cooperation is needed is precisely so that we can carry out what we agree upon. It is something that our part of Europe benefits from and that we ourselves, as neighboring countries, have much to gain from. This has also been shown in the wake of the pandemic. With war in our immediate vicinity, security policy is also cast in a completely different light.
The purpose, according to the interpellator, was to bring together the Nordic ministers. The Nordic ministers are already gathered and have worked very actively for a number of years. The declaration that has been adopted is another step in strengthening Nordic cooperation. It is a signal that the work is not only progressing but also intensifying, as I also said when I read out the different parts of the declaration that we agree on.
This was in November. It was shortly after the new government took office, and it was an important starting point in strengthening the Nordic transport ministers' cooperation.
There is a transport minister council that is working. I am open to discussing the forms for the future, but we also need to see what the outcome of that will be. I know there are requests to strengthen the Nordic cooperation. This is also what we agreed on together already in November, just over a month after the new government took office. Now we are working by preparing and taking new steps to deepen and strengthen the Nordic cooperation.
I look forward to doing this. It is needed. It is very urgent, and I also welcome good dialogue with the Riksdag regarding it.
Åsa Karlsson (S)
Madam Speaker! A green industrial transformation is taking place right now in northern Europe – in Norway, Finland and Sweden. We have not previously in history seen the equal of such a large green industrial transformation as the one taking place right now. We have Northvolt with its battery production in Skellefteå. We have Hybrit in Norrbotten, which is developing a fossil-free value chain from mine to finished steel product. We have H2 Green Steel in Boden, also in Norrbotten, which processes Norrbotten's raw materials into green steel. We have the battery factory in Trondheim, where battery modules are to be assembled for the offshore market and the marine market. In Vasa in Finland, the eastern part of the battery belt is emerging. There, two battery factories are now being built.
For these industries, it is important that there is a sustainable infrastructure within the Nordic countries and that there is a consensus on what the infrastructure should look like and how it should be developed. These companies are also at the forefront when it comes to the green transition. It is these companies now that are driving the green transition in Sweden and are a role model for all of Europe.
For the green industries, it is important to be able to deliver their goods in an environmentally friendly manner. They must have an infrastructure for both freight and passenger traffic, so that people can move to and from their workplaces and between the locations concerned.
Now I have heard how the Minister describes the cooperation. But I think that for the battery belt and for the green industrial transformation, it would be to advantage to have a Nordic ministerial council on infrastructure to ensure that the needs that exist are also satisfied.
Statsrådet Andreas Carlson (KD)
Madam Speaker! Let me first just underline what Åsa Karlsson points out here: that a remarkable industrial development is taking place which is not only important for Sweden and the Nordic countries but also for the entire EU and for the entire EU's transition – so that we can meet the high goals when it comes to reducing our emissions and reducing our climate impact. This also creates jobs and is an important part of the competitiveness for Sweden, for our Nordic countries and for the EU also on a global market.
The companies are at the forefront, said Åsa Karlsson. I can only underline this and agree with it. That is precisely why a deepened Nordic cooperation is important. I don't actually think we are talking past each other here, but it is precisely this that is the basis for the cooperation that is already taking place and which we have deepened with this declaration. It is also why I am having conversations with my colleague in Finland and my colleague in Norway about exactly what the interpellator is raising. The government is working very actively with this.
When we had the opportunity to invite the commission to Kiruna and the northern parts of Sweden, we could point out that the green transition taking place is possible thanks to the development we have in our own country, in Norrland, and in our part of the union. But we could also point out the security policy aspects, which are in a completely different light today. Therefore, cooperation is more urgent than ever. It is also urgent that we can facilitate freight and passenger traffic and work commuting to manage the development that is actually already taking place.
This is what is on the agenda in the Nordic cooperation, together with the other parts that I read out in the declaration. As I have said, I also look forward to a dialogue with the Swedish Riksdag in that work. We will return within the framework of the revision of the national plan with various measures and what effect they will have on the work ahead.
I thank you for the debate here today.
Source: The Swedish Parliament. The speeches come from the open data of the Riksdag, translated into English by AI, which may contain errors.