Response to interpellation 2024/25:75 on changes in the Act on the Financing of the Finnish Defence Forces
Translated from Swedish by AI; the translation may contain errors. The Swedish text is the original.
Summary AI, written in advance
The debate concerns changes in the Finsam legislation and the coordination associations' opportunities to apply for external funds. M argues that the government has tasked Försäkringskassan with analyzing the need for changes to achieve efficient resource use and support for individuals who need coordinated rehabilitation interventions. M emphasizes that it is important to clarify whether coordination associations can act as project owners for ESF projects to avoid uncertainties for the individual 1. S argues that authorities have become too strict, which has forced coordination associations to shut down successful operations because they are denied the right to apply for ESF funds 2. S believes that unnecessary bureaucracy hinders people with complex issues 3.
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 Anna Tenje (M)
Madam Speaker! Åsa Eriksson has asked me in what way I intend to change the Finsam legislation.
The fundraising legislation has remained largely unchanged since it entered into force in 2004. The Swedish Pensions Agency, in its evaluation of the coordination funds' activities, has pointed out that there is a need to review the Fundraising Act (2003:1210). This concerns, for example, the coordination funds' mandate in relation to the respective mandates of the cooperating parties, the financing of the coordination funds' activities, as well as the coordination funds' mandate to follow up and evaluate the interventions that the coordination funds finance.
Regarding the position on any changes to the Finsam legislation, the Government considers that further knowledge of current conditions and a current analysis regarding the need for changes to the legislation is required. The Government has therefore tasked Försäkringskassan with analyzing the need for changes in the Finsam laws (S2024/00722). Försäkringskassan shall analyze the need for changes in the Act on Financial Coordination of Rehabilitation Interventions and, if necessary, submit legislative proposals if it is deemed justified to achieve purposeful resource utilization and effective support for persons who need coordinated rehabilitation interventions to enter employment.
The assignment shall be carried out in consultation with Arbetsförmedlingen, Socialstyrelsen and SKR, and other relevant actors shall be involved in the work. The assignment shall be carried out in dialogue with the coordination associations and the National Network for Coordination Associations, NNS. The assignment shall be reported by December 2, 2024, at the latest.
That people's capacity to work is utilized to the greatest extent possible is important from both a human and a societal perspective. The coordination associations are significant by supporting people to achieve work capacity and self-sufficiency through coordinated rehabilitation efforts.
I look forward to reviewing the material that Försäkringskassan will present later in December.
Åsa Eriksson (S)
Madam Speaker! The Minister and I have debated Finsam here in the chamber several times over the recent years. We usually agree that it is an important construction to enable cooperation between different actors so that people with complex problems shall receive the support and the help they need to regain their capacity to work and eventually be able to support themselves.
But now I wonder if the Minister has changed his opinion or if it is others in the government who are steering the Finsam policy. How else are we to interpret the fact that the state agencies Försäkringskassan and Arbetsförmedlingen, which are two of the four constituent parties in Finsam, have become increasingly strict in their interpretations of laws and regulations so that more and more coordination associations feel forced to shut down successful operations?
Madam Speaker! Let me take some examples. Already in 2005, the National Council, which consists of among others Arbetsförmedlingen and Försäkringskassan nationally, recommended that the coordination unions should scale up their resources by seeking ESF funds, since the goals and purpose are the same.
A number of associations have applied for and been granted just over 1 billion kronor. Thanks to those funds, 35,000 people have received support and help. Far more than usual have entered employment, and staff at the participating authorities have had the opportunity to attend training. Beautiful!
In the spring of 2022, the knowledge support for the coordination associations was updated to state that it is not permitted to apply for external funds. The National Network for Coordination Associations pleaded with the Minister that the issue should be investigated and clarified, but nothing happened.
In the spring of 2023, they became happy again. At that time, the minister stood on stage at NNS's annual meeting and said that everyone should seek more opportunities than obstacles, which is very good, and that it must of course be possible to combine ESF funds with Finsam. That is very good. The Minister has also said this in the chamber.
Now Försäkringskassan is still saying a flat no to the coordination associations being allowed to apply for ESF funds for their activities. Those who are affected are the individuals whom the Minister says he is concerned about in his answer here, Madam Speaker.
It appears that ESF is deeply concerned that one coordination association after another is now backing down and not seeking funds. They are shutting down their successful operations. It is deplorable. There are funds here, there are methods here, and there are organizations here that are skilled at securing projects for the most vulnerable. But now they are suddenly going to stop.
Madam Speaker! I therefore wonder if the Minister has changed his mind regarding innovative methods for coordination agreements and regarding external funding for Finsam. Is it the background to the review of the Finsam legislation that it is to become even more restrictive?
Statsrådet Anna Tenje (M)
Madam Speaker! Yes, I and the interpellor Åsa Eriksson have discussed this issue many times before in this chamber. We agree with each other on much regarding the view on coordination associations and the importance of more people returning to work or getting the opportunity to enter the labor market with the help of, among other things, coordination associations.
I am pleased that there is a great commitment not only from the interpellor but also from others in the chamber, precisely because it is important that more of us work to get more people into work and so that more can enter employment and utilize their full work capacity.
I have not changed my opinion. Nor has anyone else in the government, for heaven's sake, done so. Just as I mentioned in the initial response to the interpellation, Försäkringskassan has been tasked with conducting an analysis and submitting proposals for necessary changes. I am keen that those changes shall be based on a solid knowledge base. For that very reason, I cannot stand here in the chamber today and speculate on exactly what changes are involved. I am simply awaiting Försäkringskassans report. After that, we can return to the issue.
Åsa Eriksson (S)
Madam Speaker! It is good to hear that the Minister has not changed their opinion. I hope that it will be reflected in the management of Försäkringskassan going forward. That management signal has, in fact, really not reached the agency.
I know—I believe the Minister knows it just as well as I do—that bureaucratic red tape and unnecessary bureaucracy do not help people with complex issues toward increased work capacity and self-sufficiency, which we both strive for. What does, however, are wise, experienced professionals who can base their actions on the individual's needs, pool resources and knowledge between different organizations, and help each other to support the individual until they are strong and upright enough to find their own way forward and support themselves. We know that. It is documented. It works.
No one is helped by money being frozen in ESF's account. And no one is helped by the coordination associations being forced to shut down successful activities because Försäkringskassan or Arbetsförmedlingen has come up with a new, more restrictive interpretation of the regulations.
Madam Speaker! I have previously told here in the chamber about research talks on precisely cooperation and how it works that were held here in the Riksdag half a year ago. They show that cooperation between authorities for people who are unemployed and/or on sick leave comes in far too late. Many individuals have already given up by the time they are given the opportunity for collaborative interventions. It costs the individual, and it costs society.
The research conversations also showed that the participating parties often cease or deprioritize cooperation when resources are scarce. It is tragic, but it is understandable. Perhaps that is why Försäkringskassan and Arbetsförmedlingen are now making a narrower interpretation of legislation and regulations, even though the Minister stands here and says that she has not changed her opinion. They are getting less money.
While waiting for the review of the Finsam legislation, I wonder what the government's governance of Försäkringskassan and Arbetsförmedlingen looks like regarding cooperation and coordination between agencies and, above all, Finsam. While waiting for the review of the legislation, people must be able to get help. We do not want professional staff in coordination unions to be laid off because one does not dare to apply for ESF funds, because Försäkringskassan says no to that, and because one does not dare to continue with innovative activities, because Försäkringskassan says no to that. Those who pay the price are the unemployed and the sick.
What does the government's governance of Försäkringskassan and Arbetsförmedlingen look like regarding cooperation with other agencies and particularly coordination unions?
Statsrådet Anna Tenje (M)
Madam Speaker! For me and for the government as a whole, it is extremely important that we provide people with the right conditions for good rehabilitation and for returning to work. It is unequivocal that the coordination associations constitute an important part. This is shown by ESF's evaluations. They show clear positive effects and that the coordination associations' interventions can be a very good support. Naturally, we shall then safeguard that.
However, there is a need to clarify whether it is possible for coordination associations to act as project owners for ESF projects. For that reason, this issue is being raised, and the government has given Försäkringskassan a mandate. We have spoken about this before, and that mandate still remains.
That this issue is investigated is important. One can wave it away and think that it is fine to just clear away all obstacles and do this together. But it is important to sort this out, given that it can create uncertainties for the individual as to who is the principal for the rehabilitation measures that she or he participates in. It is not satisfactory that it can be unclear for the individual which principal is responsible for her or his participation in the rehabilitation measure. Therefore, it is important to look at this.
I speak with many of the coordination associations and am in contact with a majority of them, also with those who participate in the activities. It is important to remember that it is the parties that are members of a coordination association, that is to say municipalities, regions, Arbetsförmedlingen and Försäkringskassan, and that they, alone or together with others, can apply for the ESF funds. In this way, the funds do not freeze up but can continue to be of use, even though it is not the coordination association as such that is the principal for the activities or the interventions.
This occurs across the entire country. We have many different coordination federations, and many solve this. I therefore think it is very regrettable if it is true that activities have been abandoned or discontinued because of this.
On December 2, as mentioned, Försäkringskassan will provide its response to me and the government regarding the assignment that has been given. I sincerely hope that I receive clarifying answers to many of the questions and also solutions for the obstacles that we all want to overcome.
Åsa Eriksson (S)
Madam Speaker! I thank the Minister for the answer.
We have major problems in society with a lack of skills. We have high unemployment and ill health. There are solutions to this if we politicians have the energy and the will to plow new ground. We can do this by enabling seamless cooperation between different actors, which has been proven to lead to more efficient operations and good results.
The individuals who receive part of the coordination associations' activities testify that there are people there who will hold their hands for real and all the way until they have reached a platform where they can stand on their own, with self-confidence, and manage their own livelihood and a job. I believe that both the Minister and I want to make that possible.
Instead of a question here in my final speech, I want to make two points. First and foremost, I urge the Minister to book a meeting as soon as possible with the National Network for Coordination Associations, NNS, to hear about the coordination associations that have backed out and no longer dare to apply for ESF funds and carry out such projects. It is better that they testify themselves than for it to go through me. However, it concerns an increasing number.
The second motion is that I ask the Minister to clarify in the regulatory letters to Försäkringskassan and that she asks the other ministries to do the same for Arbetsförmedlingen so that they enable seamless cooperation for more individuals to be able to support themselves through work capacity. That is what I ask the Minister.
I thank you for tonight and wish the Minister a continued pleasant birthday.
Statsrådet Anna Tenje (M)
Madam Speaker! I thank the interpellor for a very pleasant evening together. We do not always choose exactly how we are to spend our birthday, but this was actually self-chosen, even if it was not intended to result in answers to six interpellations.
I note that the interest is great and genuine for the coordination associations. I and the government share the interpellant's view on the importance of effective and individually tailored help to people in need of support and that it is important to give as many as possible a chance to return to or enter the labor market.
I now look forward to the reports that I will soon receive from, among others, Försäkringskassan and will certainly have every reason to return to the chamber on the matter.
Source: The Swedish Parliament. The speeches come from the open data of the Riksdag, translated into English by AI, which may contain errors.