Response to interpellation 2025/26:520 on faster and more predictable permit processes
Translated from Swedish by AI; the translation may contain errors. The Swedish text is the original.
Summary AI, written in advance
L (1) argues that the government is working purposefully to reform the environmental permitting process to strengthen competitiveness and meet the climate goals 1. L (5) claims that modification permits have now become the main rule and that the government has simplified time-limited permits as well as facilitated for nuclear and wind power 2. L (7) considers that the government has implemented important measures to streamline the permitting processes, given authorities increased resources, and is taking a holistic approach through the Environmental Permit Investigation 3. S (2, 4, 6) argues that the government has not presented sufficient structural reforms and that the substantive reforms remain in the filing cabinet 4 5 6. S (6) considers that the government's legislative change does not mean that modification permits will become the main rule in practice 6.
Written by AI in advance and may contain errors. The numbers lead to the speech a statement builds on; check against the text below.
Arbetsmarknadsminister och vikarierande klimat- och miljöministern Johan Britz (L)
Madam Speaker! Aida Birinxhiku has asked me what concrete measures I intend to take to make the permit processes faster and more predictable.
Aida Birinxhiku is completely right that the permit processes need to become faster and more predictable. I thank you very much for the question; this is a high-priority issue for the government, not least when it comes to the environmental processes.
The government has since taking office worked purposefully to reform the environmental permitting process. It is a prerequisite for supporting the business sector's transition, strengthening Sweden's competitiveness, and meeting the climate goals. It is also absolutely necessary to strengthen crisis preparedness and enable the defense transition in a Europe where the security situation is the most serious since the Second World War.
One of the most important initiatives that the government has taken is the appointment of the Environmental Permit Inquiry, which has taken a holistic approach to environmental assessment. The inquiry has so far presented three reports and also has ongoing sub-assignments that are to be reported later. It is primarily these that now form the basis for the government's extensive reform work.
In a first step, the government proceeded with the investigation's proposal to establish a new environmental review authority. In March this year, the government commissioned an organizational investigation for the establishment of the new authority. The formation of the new authority is the basis for faster and simpler permit processes. The new authority is to be operational in the summer of 2027 and initially take over the permit review of the environmental review delegations. During 2029, tasks from the Land and Environment Courts shall also be moved to the new authority. This is a fundamental change of the review organization that constitutes an important piece of the puzzle in the reform work of the environmental processes.
The government has also implemented many concrete regulatory changes that have already entered into force. Among others, the government has pushed through simplifications that allow so-called change permits to be used to a greater extent than before. Furthermore, the government has made a decision on a temporary ordinance to simplify and speed up the environmental processes for certain defense activities.
Furthermore, the government has decided on three propositions with proposals that shall make it easier to establish new nuclear power in Sweden. An additional proposition has been submitted to enable more wind power establishments.
These are some of the concrete measures that the government has taken during the mandate period. The work to continue streamlining the process with full intensity.
Aida Birinxhiku (S)
Madam Speaker! Thank you, Minister, for the answer!
I would initially like to say that what I asked the Minister was which measures the government intends to take moving forward to speed up the permit processes and contribute to increased predictability.
Instead, I primarily received an account of measures already taken, which in itself is not uninteresting. It would, however, have been significantly more interesting to know what the plan is moving forward when the minister now says that the work continues with full intensity.
Madam Speaker! Only in recent years have we seen how the geopolitical playing field has changed. We see the global competition intensifying with every passing day. At the same time, Sweden has found itself in a situation with record-high unemployment and a growth far below our potential.
Therefore, I can only regret that the government has not presented the structural reforms required to get the Swedish economy moving. Now, in election times, people are starting to talk about a so-called growth pact, which I must say reminds me somewhat of the proposal for an industrial pact that we Social Democrats have championed for a long time, that is to say, a long-term agreement between politics, the business sector, academia, and the parties for more jobs and investments.
I note that the Tidö parties have followed this with great interest, but it is only welcome, Madam Speaker – I welcome all initiatives that can take us out of this mandate period's weak growth. The important thing, of course, is not what one chooses to call this, but the important thing is the content. Therefore, I would like to ask the Minister which concrete reforms to specifically speed up the permit processes and contribute to shortening the lead times are included in the so-called growth pact.
Madam Speaker! A new environmental assessment authority can, just as the Minister mentioned, be an important piece of the puzzle. But it requires that the government provides the right conditions. It must also not become an excuse for not doing what needs to be done here and now.
We can start with the change permits that the Minister mentioned. There are several completed reforms that the government could have proceeded with. We Social Democrats want change permits to be the main rule in environmental assessment, in accordance with the environmental assessment investigation that the previous, Social Democrat-led government commissioned. I believed we were in agreement on this here in the chamber. There is, therefore, a completed and well-substantiated proposal, but the government has not chosen to implement it fully.
Another concrete example concerns the wind power installations that the Minister mentioned. Here, the government's own investigation has concluded that Sweden, like many of our neighboring countries, should transition to an auction system where the state identifies suitable areas for new electricity production at an early stage. This could contribute to a significantly more predictable and clear process for the expansion of offshore wind power. It was also something that I thought we were broadly in agreement on, except possibly the Sverigedemokraterna. Despite that, the government has not presented any bill.
The last example that I would like to highlight is a pre-arranged municipal position on wind power, also something that could lead to increased predictability for all parties involved. But despite the fact that we Social Democrats have submitted such a proposal for a decision in the chamber, the government parties and the Sweden Democrats have chosen to vote no.
If the government is serious about faster and more predictable permit processes, why not proceed with these reforms instead of letting them sit in the filing cabinet?
Arbetsmarknadsminister och vikarierande klimat- och miljöministern Johan Britz (L)
Madam Speaker! The environmental impact assessment's extensive reports have been subject to a broad consultation. The responses received from authorities, municipalities, the business community, and the public have been carefully analyzed. Intensive ongoing work is being carried out in the Government Offices to prepare the remaining proposals. I will return in particular order when we are ready for this.
We must nevertheless understand that the reorganization being carried out with the introduction of a new environmental assessment authority is a process over several years. That is also what will happen moving forward. But I want to say that I truly share the member's view that it must not become an excuse for not doing more or, for that matter, for not making adjustments in both the process and in the regulatory frameworks that the new authority has to manage. It is work that the government will continue with. I believe we are in complete agreement that environmental permit processes need to become simpler and more predictable for businesses and other economic operators.
Aida Birinxhiku (S)
Madam Speaker! Thank you to the Minister for the answer! But the question here is actually how one contributes to giving the authority the right conditions.
We Social Democrats see, as said, that a new agency, if correctly designed, can contribute to faster and more predictable permit processes. But a new agency structure cannot in itself solve the fundamental challenges with the permit processes. I would like to specify what I said about the agency needing to be correctly designed and given the right conditions, so that the Minister can elaborate on his answer in those parts.
A concrete point that we Social Democrats are highlighting is how to ensure an orderly transition when the tasks are moved from the county administrative boards' environmental review delegations to the new authority. We do not want to slow down the pace of the transition and the necessary investments that need to be put in place.
Another completely crucial issue is the supply of competence. How do we ensure that the right competence follows to the new authority, given that there is already an alarm being raised today that competence is leaving the county administrative boards as a result of this reform?
Another question I would like to raise is the local and regional anchoring. The government has announced that the agency's seat shall be in Stockholm, but no information has been given on how operations in multiple locations shall be ensured, which we Social Democrats consider to be very important. Those questions are completely crucial for a new environmental assessment authority to actually contribute to shortening lead times and to increased predictability.
Madam Speaker! With this said, I really want to emphasize that the government must not be satisfied with an organizational change. It is also necessary to implement the substantive reforms that are required. In my previous speech, I mentioned several concrete examples that the government could have proceeded with here and now, in parallel with the organizational change being implemented.
If we agree that the amendment permit shall be the main rule in environmental assessment, why is the proposal from the Environmental Assessment Inquiry not implemented in full? If we agree that we need to speed up the expansion of offshore wind power, why is it then not implemented, the proposals in the own inquiry's report *Wind Power in the Sea* regarding a system where suitable areas for new electricity production are identified based on collective societal interests? This also applies to a previous municipal position that could have contributed to increased predictability.
I believe that we need to do several things at the same time, Madam Speaker, and if the government is serious about the fact that the new environmental assessment authority should not become an excuse for not doing what is required here and now, why can one then not implement the concrete material reforms that actually just remain in the desk drawer and which could have contributed to shortening the lead times?
Arbetsmarknadsminister och vikarierande klimat- och miljöministern Johan Britz (L)
Madam Speaker! Let us talk a little bit about the modification permit as a general rule. Previously, it applied that upon modification of an activity, the permit could be restricted to only concern the modification. Through the bill "Steps on the way towards a more efficient environmental review," the government has pushed through that the permit shall be restricted to only concern the modification provided that the modification does not concern the entire activity or if such a restriction is inappropriate. I perceive that it is the latter part here where there is potentially a disagreement or where we make different analyses. The member may be welcome to confirm that it is the difference in our view on the change of the modification permit that has occurred.
Amendment permits have thus become the general rule as a result of the government's proposal. It is an important change for, for example, companies that need to make rapid and important technological transitions. But the government, of course, closely monitors the effects of the legislative changes that have been implemented. We also take into account views that come from various stakeholders, and we are prepared to take further initiatives if necessary to contribute to the transition and the competitiveness of the business sector.
Some other things have also occurred during the term of office. We have pushed through proposals that allow the validity period for time-limited permits to be extended by three years. The idea is that it should be possible to, for example, extract a remaining amount of material from a quarry or operate wind turbines for a few more years before an entirely new permit must be applied for.
The Government has also, as I mentioned earlier, made a decision on a temporary ordinance to speed up the defense's environmental processes regarding, for example, shooting ranges, air flotillas, and ports. We have submitted three propositions to make it easier to establish new nuclear power in Sweden. We have also submitted a proposition to facilitate wind power establishments in the country.
It is not only the form of the environmental assessment authority that is important, but also the content. I believe we are in complete agreement on that. The Government will continue to work to simplify and clarify the processes for obtaining environmental permits in Sweden.
Aida Birinxhiku (S)
Madam Speaker! It is true that we Social Democrats consider that the government's latest legislative change does not mean that permits will become the rule in practice. That is why we also still believe that the proposals from the Environmental Assessment Inquiry should be implemented in full. We appointed that inquiry as Social Democrats in a government position.
I would like the Minister to elaborate on his answer because we received a somewhat more detailed answer regarding permits concerning the parts related to wind power. It is the government's own investigation that has come up with the proposal – which has also been referred – on how one can establish a clear and reasonable order for offshore wind power. Why has a proposal not been placed before the Riksdag, if one now wants to speed up those types of permit processes? This also concerns a previous municipal position on wind power, which we have placed before the Riksdag, but which the Minister's party and the other Tidö parties have voted against.
Madam Speaker! Since this is my final speech, I would like to emphasize that I have not only criticized the government. I have also tried to be constructive. I have highlighted several concrete issues that should be resolved here and now and that the government can proceed with directly. But despite that, there seems to be a reluctance and an inability.
I do not know if it is wishful thinking – that one tries to build a policy on a desirable development and plans for and hopes for the best. So we cannot have that, Madam Speaker. We also need crisis awareness. We need to see that this involves great opportunities for Sweden to lead the green and digital transition, even as the geopolitical playing field changes. Then we need to speed up the permit processes and do much more to strengthen both our competitiveness and our resilience.
Arbetsmarknadsminister och vikarierande klimat- och miljöministern Johan Britz (L)
Madam Speaker! The Government's view is that permission for change has become the general rule with this proposal. Let us return to whether we value this in different ways, but the wording that permission for change shall not be granted if it is inappropriate is a limitation compared to what I understand the member proposed and what the investigation proposed. Let us continue to analyze whether this has the effects that the member fears.
The government has during the mandate period implemented several important measures to streamline the permit processes. At the beginning of last year, about ten different changes entered into force which in different ways aim to modernize and streamline the environmental assessment. We have also moved forward with several other proposals which, among other things, shall facilitate the expansion of the defense and the energy system, as I mentioned.
Authorities working with environmental assessment have also received increased resources. The Government continues to work on a broad front and has taken a holistic approach to the issue of environmental assessment. This is demonstrated, not least, through the appointment of the Environmental Permit Inquiry.
I think this is an important discussion where there are probably no fundamental differences of opinion on where we should go. Furthermore – just as the member expresses – it is important not only to focus on the Environmental Assessment Inquiry itself and the form of this, but also on the content, which the government has done during this mandate period. It is a task that the government intends to continue with during the next mandate period.
Source: The Swedish Parliament. The speeches come from the open data of the Riksdag, translated into English by AI, which may contain errors.