Response to interpellations 2023/24:576 and 625 regarding the Swedish Transport Administration's fees for non-profit organizations
Translated from Swedish by AI; the translation may contain errors. The Swedish text is the original.
Summary AI, written in advance
KD emphasizes the importance of a strong association life and that state roads should be usable by non-profit associations 1. KD argues that a long-term solution is required where civil society is more involved 2 3. KD considers it a budget issue that requires an agreement between four parties 4 and that the government has fought hard for association life by presenting a solution for 2024 with 8 million kronor in the budget 4 5 6. S argues that Trafikverket's high fees threaten associations' arrangements and that the government's announcement for 2024 is very late 7 8. S considers that the issue is about prioritization and governance rather than budget 9. S argues that associations need an announcement for 2025 now in order to be able to plan 10 11 12.
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! Lars Isacsson has asked me, partly what message I and the government have to the non-profit associations that cannot plan their activities on state roads, and partly when the associations can receive a decision on whether they will be forced to pay fees to Trafikverket for their arrangements, as well as whether it is the government's intention to cut back on Sweden's public health work in order to finance and compensate Trafikverket.
Inga-Lill Sjöblom has asked me if I intend to take any general measures so that associations can be informed about what will apply regarding fees for associations' signage costs on state roads.
I choose to answer the interpellations in a context.
I want to begin by underlining the importance of a strong and vibrant association life. Sports clubs and other non-profit associations contribute many central values to our society, from strengthening public health and creating joy to building community between people. Enabling, where appropriate, the use of state roads by non-profit associations as part of an arrangement or a competition or fitness race is therefore an important issue.
In the same way, it is important for this government to ensure a long-term sustainable transport supply for both the citizens and the business community throughout the country. It is therefore a priority for the government to improve the existing infrastructure, repair where needed, and manage the common resources in the best possible way.
I want to emphasize that I and the government are aware that there is a great interest in how the costs of non-profit associations and organizations in connection with signage and other measures at events on roads in the future shall be handled.
The Government, as both interpellants describe, during 2023 gave Trafikverket the right to refrain from collecting fees in accordance with provisions in the Road Act. This was a temporary solution that the Government saw as necessary to support the important arrangements run by non-profit associations and organizations while the basis for a more long-term management was being worked out.
The Government has also given Trafikverket two assignments during 2023 in order to create solutions that provide long-term conditions for both the association life and Trafikverket.
The Government decided yesterday, April 4, that Trafikverket shall be able to waive requesting compensation from voluntary associations and organizations for costs for arrangements on state roads even during 2024. This provides good conditions for Trafikverket to support arrangements planned on state roads.
Lars Isacsson (S)
Madam Speaker! I would like to begin by thanking Minister for Infrastructure Andreas Carlson for the answer and the opportunity to once again debate this issue.
Trafikverket's high fees threaten the arrangements of Swedish associations on state roads. This may sound both dry and abstract. What is it actually about? If you have participated in the raising of a midsummer pole, enjoyed cruising with stylish cars on a lukewarm summer evening, watched a rally, run a fun fitness race, or participated in a ski or mountain bike competition, you have guaranteed to have encountered one of Sweden's many hard-working associations.
For a long time, the associations have managed signage and the use of roads during various public events. It was a smooth, local, and efficient solution. Since a couple of years ago, Trafikverket, following the National Audit Office's review, has made a completely new bureaucratic interpretation. Now, state authorities are to solve everything that the associations have done themselves previously. The invoice is to be sent from Trafikverket to the association that has acted as the organizer of, for example, a cross-country skiing race or a Midsummer celebration.
This type of bureaucratic invention makes Sweden both more boring and poorer. It risks impoverishing many associations that organize competitions, cruising, and Midsummer celebrations - arrangements that they organize because it is fun and because it provides a small sum of money to the association.
This issue has been raised and discussed many times here in the Riksdag as well. The government solved the issue temporarily during 2023, and yesterday, well into 2024, the government announced that there will be a temporary solution for 2024 as well. That is good, but in our previous debates, the minister has said that it is a priority issue and that it should be handled expeditiously so that a long-term solution can be found.
Madam Speaker! I want to ask the Minister: What is it that is so difficult for the government to decide on? Trafikverket has indeed presented clear, concrete and long-term proposals and alternatives.
Inga-Lill Sjöblom (S)
Madam Speaker! I would like to thank Andreas Carlson for the answer.
The question of associations' fees for signage costs on state roads is important for Swedish association life and public health, on a broad level. We agree on both of these. Even small associations should be able to offer activities for children and adults. A training session or competition in a small association can, for example, lead to someone later registering for a larger competition, but when will one have the time and chance to manage this if one is not also allowed to practice on large roads?
One should also be able to stay at the level that suits oneself and be on home ground in one's own association. It does not matter what income one has, because if it becomes too costly for the associations to pay, the fees will be raised.
It is welcome that the Minister is now providing a decision for 2024, but it is a very late decision. Many, if not most, of all the associations affected have already made their plans for 2024, and many may not have dared to hope that the government would give this decision. This year, 55 races have been cancelled, and last year there were 72 races.
The government has had Trafikverket's proposal on the table since October last year. It is remarkable that the decision has been delayed for this long. Trafikverket has done its part and submitted the proposal.
Thus says Anna Iwarsson, chairperson of the Swedish Sports Confederation: We are now in the middle of April 2024, and the planning for all this year's fitness and competition races is well advanced. It is however positive that the government writes that it shall apply for the whole of 2024, which must mean that it applies retroactively for already completed events.
The question from me is: Is that how we are to interpret the answer, that it is retroactive?
The amendment means that Trafikverket can waive, or has the right to waive, charging compensation from non-profit associations up to 150,000 SEK per arrangement and that Trafikverket shall receive increased funds, 8 million SEK, in the autumn budget to be able to handle a portion of non-profit associations' costs in connection with arrangements on the state road network.
Even in May 2023, the government decided to give Trafikverket the possibility to not request compensation from voluntary associations. Then, after a month, Trafikverket announced that a cap of 150,000 kronor would be introduced. All costs exceeding the cap had to be paid by the organizer themselves. It felt like a great betrayal for the associations. For cycling sports, it was a real puncture. The solution only applied during 2023. The government's decision is a continuation of the cap, but neither this solution is permanent, as it only applies during 2024.
Anna Iwarsson also says: That the government's decision only applies during 2024 is unfortunate. A temporary solution was produced during 2023, and now it will thus be another temporary solution during 2024. We risk soon finding ourselves in the same strained situation ahead of 2025 if the government does not urgently handle the issue.
Mathias Bengtsson (KD)
Madam Speaker! Thank you, Minister, for the good answers and good commitment to an important issue! I also thank Lars Isacsson for the commitment, which I perceive to be very genuine, for Dalarna and Dalarna's development, and also for the constructive tone that we can have in this issue.
The first time I heard about the issue of Trafikverket's fees for civil society was in connection with some kind of cycling race, when Svenska Cykelförbundet spoke out and highlighted the problem. It was bad then, but the first time I really, so to speak, choked on my coffee was when I heard how midsummer celebrations that usually take place on state roads were affected.
If you are from Dalarna, it becomes somewhat personal when Trafikverket takes aim at the most sacred of all - the tradition of traditions: Midsummer. It is a tradition that has existed in Dalarna since the 1300s, long before there were state roads. It was over 500 years before there was anything that would come to be called Trafikverket.
First came man, and then came the state. That one should have to pay a penalty fee for doing as one has always done according to tradition is, of course, provoking. Therefore, I am very pleased with the government's commitment and that the Council of State has resolved the whole thing for both 2023 and 2024. It is a joyful announcement for the cohesion, tradition, and cultural heritage that we have in Dalarna. It is a joyful announcement to all associations and village communities that can now start the planning of the Midsummer celebrations.
But a long-term solution is also needed. Even though it is of course pleasant to stand here every spring and have an interpellation debate with Member of Parliament Lars Isacsson and the Minister, it is not long-term sustainable for the association life in Dalarna. Long-term thinking and a permanent decision are needed. I am pleased that the government has also indicated that they take that task seriously, even if it does not seem to be entirely simple.
One must remember that Trafikverket announced this bureaucratic invention in February 2022. It was concocted when it was the Socialdemokraterna who ruled Trafikverket. After a long delay, some kind of investigation was appointed. It was actually during 13 months that the Social Democratic government handled the issue, and now the current government has handled the issue for 13 months. That perhaps says something about the complexity of the issue when two different governments of different colors have not succeeded in achieving a permanent solution.
In my world, I personally cannot really understand what problem Trafikverket is trying to solve when they impose this penalty fee. I cannot really understand why one needs to have a solution that costs money at all.
I personally do not quite think either that the solutions on the table, which Member Lars Isacsson and the other Social Democratic member refer to, are completely satisfactory, because they would require a permanent increase in appropriations. One should be able to find a solution where civil society is more involved, where one does as one has done at all times, so that civil society does not need to incur any cost and that a permanent increase in appropriations is also not needed. The key to that, I believe, is to involve civil society even more. It is important for Dalarna and for the Midsummer celebrations, but also for the association life in general.
Statsrådet Andreas Carlson (KD)
Madam Speaker! I would first like to thank the members for their questions and for their commitment. I am, just like them, eager to have a long-term solution in place.
I would like to thank Lars Isacsson and Inga-Lill Sjöblom for raising the interpellations and also my party colleague Mattias Bengtsson, who has many times raised this significant issue and pressured the government to come forward with a solution. I am also pleased to be able to announce that the government yesterday made a decision on exemptions for 2024 so that all associations and organizations can safely plan their race or Midsummer celebration.
Just as Mathias Bengtsson can state, the former Social Democratic government was aware of Trafikverket's changed way of working as early as February 2022. I further note that representatives of the former government, the interpellants' own party, chose not to do anything until September 2022. Only then was Trafikverket commissioned to investigate the issue for six months. However, the agency's report was not satisfactory for reaching a long-term solution. Therefore, the government gave Trafikverket a new assignment which the agency reported in October at the end of last year. By then, the budget bill had already been presented to the Riksdag. We now announce that this will be included in the autumn budget, which is the next opportunity to provide the 8 million kronor deemed necessary to be able to give civil society the opportunity to organize arrangements on the road at no cost.
I think the commitment is good and also the insight that this is something that we collectively need to take responsibility for, which the tone in the debate conveys, Madam Speaker. I appreciate that.
To facilitate the arrangements of voluntary associations and organizations on state roads, the government therefore proposes in the year-end budget that 8 million kronor be added to Trafikverket's appropriation. The exception will apply for the entirety of 2024. I therefore answer yes to Inga-Lill Sjöblom's question, that is to say that the exception will apply to flea markets conducted earlier in the year before the exception decision, i.e., retroactively for the year.
Regarding the continued work for a long-term solution, the government, as has been raised in the debate, has tasked Trafikverket with developing such a solution. We have now made a decision on exemptions for 2024 so that all associations and organizations can safely plan their arrangements.
The Government will return to how the long-term management of the issue will look. That work also includes the other parts that Trafikverket reported, for example facilitating for associations and civil society to be able to direct traffic themselves through, for example, flag watches. Just as Mathias Bengtsson is touching upon, the association life itself should be part of the solution and be able to solve this in a simple and good way. This is included in the work that is now being prepared in the Government Offices.
I look forward to returning to what the long-term management of the issue will look like. But I am also pleased to be able to give the positive news that is requested in the interpellations, and which is included in the supplementary budget, that there are now funds so that the situation for this year is resolved. I and the government will then return regarding a long-term management.
Lars Isacsson (S)
Madam Speaker! I thank the Minister and the co-interpellator Inga-Lill Sjöblom, and also my colleague in the committee and on the Dalabänk, Mathias Bengtsson, with whom I have as our tradition to discuss Midsummer here with Minister Carlson.
Very good points have been made. We have also received good answers from the Minister. I will return to the long-term aspect, which is also what we all here agree that we want to reach.
On February 11 this year, there was an article in Falu-Kuriren. It described that the reason the issue had ended up in limbo and on the back burner was that Ministers Andreas Carlson and Jakob Forssmed could not agree on who should be responsible for the issue and that it was a budget issue. After that, I ordered an investigation from the Riksdag's investigation service on how much money Trafikverket had invoiced Swedish associations for arrangements on their roads. The answer is: For 2023, Trafikverket invoiced the organizers for a total of 4,157,465 kronor. Based on the temporary opportunity not to take payment, Trafikverket further took 3,573,432 kronor of the cost. The total cost for arrangements on roads during 2023 was therefore, according to our follow-up, 7,730,897 kronor.
This also matches the figure of 8 million that Andreas Carlson presented.
The cost for Trafikverket for not charging fees from voluntary hard-working associations and organizers is therefore 3,573,000 kronor for all of Sweden during 2023. To put it into perspective, Trafikverket's budget for 2023 was 90.5 billion. The fictitious so-called cost - fictitious as it is a new fee and Trafikverket has never had that money - is therefore 0.0039 percent.
I come from Avesta with 23,000 inhabitants. The snow budget for this year is approximately 15 million. As it stands now, it could be a bit more if it continues like this. 0.0039 percent of 15 million is, for Avesta's part, 585 kronor.
I cannot see that this is a budget issue. I am fully aware that economy is central regarding governance. But a missing revenue of 0.0039 percent is, like, not an issue or an amount that should get stuck between two departments. In my opinion, it is about prioritization and governance.
The Minister has already touched upon it, but he may get a chance to speak when the announcement from the government arrives regarding how the situation for 2025 and onwards will look for Föreningssverige.
Inga-Lill Sjöblom (S)
Madam Speaker! I did not have time to finish reading the quote from Anna Iwarsson, so I will continue. "That the government's decision only applies during 2024 is unfortunate. A temporary solution was devised during 2023 and now it will thus be another temporary solution during 2024. We risk soon finding ourselves in the same strained situation ahead of 2025 if the government does not urgently handle the issue. At the latest directly after the summer, the associations need to be given good conditions to plan for 2025. It is not sustainable to patch and repair with public health-promoting activities as an intervention; the country's organizers are not given a sporting chance to carry out their arrangements in a good way."
The question from us is therefore still when we receive the notification. I also wonder where it got stuck. Was it between Jakob Forssmed and Andreas Carlson or between two different departments? For me, this is about the road. I sit in the Committee on Transport, so for me it is about Andreas Carlson, but it is not I who decide who shall handle what.
I return to my question regarding whether Trafikverket can or has the right to waive charging compensation from non-profit associations up to 150,000 SEK. But when should or can they charge a fee? When will a bill, in any case, arrive for the small associations that have a cost of under 150,000 SEK?
Mathias Bengtsson (KD)
Madam Speaker! I would like to remind the Social Democratic members that the Social Democratic government handled this issue for 13 months before it was handed over to the current government. Some measure of self-criticism or humility might be desirable before demanding quick answers.
The government's announcement is that 8 million kronor are added to the autumn amendment budget so that Trafikverket will not have to charge these fees. That it is a budget issue means, as the Social Democratic members know very well, that four parties must reach an agreement. The government has a stable base in the Riksdag that ensures we get the budget through in the chamber.
When four parties must reach an agreement, it is naturally negotiations. I am very pleased and have been assured throughout the entire winter season that the Christian Democratic ministers and negotiators have fought very hard for this issue. They have fought very hard for the association life and for Midsummer in Dalarna.
The Social Democratic member Lars Isacsson must decide how he wants to handle this. On one hand, he refers to the proposals on the table, where it is about Trafikverket's view that someone must bear the cost and the question is who. On the other hand, Lars Isacsson argues that this is not a budget issue, i.e., that it has nothing to do with money. Either it does or it doesn't!
My personal point is that one should first exhaust all possibilities for civil society to be involved in solving this without it costing anything for anyone – at least not such sums. Civil society should be allowed to help and direct the traffic. That is how we build a stronger Sweden and a Dalarna where cohesion, tradition, and cultural heritage are preserved.
I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the Minister and the members for a good debate.
Statsrådet Andreas Carlson (KD)
Madam Speaker! When one looks out through the windows of the Riksdag building today, midsummer feels distant, but it is coming quickly. Therefore, I am very pleased to announce the funds that the government decided on yesterday, namely 8 million kronor which are judged to cover the costs and which were also mentioned in Lars Isacsson's post, which ensures that one avoids the fees that otherwise would have needed to be charged.
My answer to Inga-Lill Sjöblom's questions is that the design will resemble the one that applied in 2023, when Trafikverket waived charging fees from non-profit associations and organizations up to 150,000 kronor per arrangement. As I said earlier, this applies for the entirety of 2024, thus also retroactively for fairs that were held before the exemption decision was made.
I have great understanding for why people ask when news regarding the long-term management of the issue will be provided. I do not have any such news to give today. The news that has been requested and that I have given therefore applies to 2024, and it is a positive and long-awaited piece of news. It has also been received by the Swedish Sports Confederation. I have full understanding that there is an expectation for a long-term management.
In the work being carried out in the Government Offices, there lies the possibility for more than the Police Authority to direct traffic. It was one of the Swedish Transport Administration's proposals, and it could be a simple solution – perhaps one of several. It does not rule out that one might still need cost coverage with budget funds. One does not exclude the other, but in order to be able to return with a decision on the long-term management, it is the proposals in the Swedish Transport Administration's underlying documents that are being prepared.
My ambition, of course, is that civil society shall have long-term conditions. We all know how important association life is. The sports movement is an enormous force in society, and just as Inga-Lill Sjöblom pointed out, it is often about smaller competitions and associations that do not have large economic muscles. These types of costs can determine whether one can arrange [an event] or not. Therefore, it is important to reach a solution, and therefore I am pleased to be able to present the decision that the government made this week and which will be included in the year-end budget. I look forward to returning to the Riksdag with an announcement regarding the long-term management.
Lars Isacsson (S)
Madam Speaker! Thank you again, Minister Andreas Carlson, for the answer! To both the Minister and Member Mathias Bengtsson, I want to say that even if it had been a Social Democratic government, I would have been critical of this. I do not think it will come as a novelty to anyone that we from Dalarna have a rather long, proud tradition of being able to have a deviating opinion compared to Stockholm and those who rule, regardless of who they are.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank the village association in Tibble by in Leksand, who first drew attention to this unfortunate situation and who came to symbolize the absurdity of how hard-working association members who work voluntarily to uphold one of Sweden's most beloved traditions, namely the Midsummer celebration with the raising of the maypole, instead of receiving a thank you from the state, risked receiving such a high bill that the celebration would have to be cancelled.
Despite the government knowing about the need for a long-term solution, they delivered a solution for eight months at the last minute and without dialogue with the associations. When it has expired, the associations will know nothing again. The question of all of Sweden's cruising, sports competitions, and Midsummer celebrations is by no means solved. We must continue the work to make the government realize that a long-term solution for the best of the associations must be established. I have great hope for that after the debate here today. No non-profit association can, in the long run, conduct good activities under these conditions.
I would like to conclude by thanking the Minister for the debate. I will return in June with questions regarding 2025, as Trafikverket wants to receive applications six months before an arrangement. The associations that organize winter arrangements want to know if they can do so without risking the association's finances.
Inga-Lill Sjöblom (S)
Madam Speaker! I would like to thank Andreas Carlson, Mathias Bengtsson and Lars Isacsson for the debate today.
Within Cykelförbundet, they are very happy that this has happened, but they are worried about 2025. Now they know what applies for 2024, but what applies for 2025?
I say, as Lars Isacsson does, that we will return in June, because it takes six months to process an application. If there are to be any sports events or other arrangements from the associations this autumn, they must be submitted soon. They want to know if they can manage this. As said, it is not about Vätternrundan, Vansbrosimmet or Vasaloppet which have large sponsors, but about the small associations that perhaps have a construction company at home as their only sponsor and who cannot manage these expenses.
It was good that I got to know that Trafikverket does not need to collect the fees, but it was still only formulated as that they can refrain or have the right not to collect any money.
This has taken time. We are not going to stand here and blame each other now for which government has done what, but we must move forward. We must find a solution, for the sake of the associations. We cannot stand here and discuss this for as many years as ever. That it began during the Social Democrats' time is another matter.
Competitions and other arrangements to be held next year are being planned now. The associations therefore need a decision now. I hope that we will soon receive a decision from Andreas Carlson on how it will look in 2025. See you again!
Statsrådet Andreas Carlson (KD)
Madam Speaker! I thank Lars Isacsson, Inga-Lill Sjöblom and my Christian Democratic party comrade Mathias Bengtsson for the commitment. What the members highlight is that this is not a party-political dividing issue. We have worked on the issue regardless of government, and I am pleased to be able to present a long-awaited solution for 2024. I note the members' promises to return. I have myself said in the chamber, Madam Speaker, that I look forward to returning to the issue.
I want to emphasize that it concerns the foundation of association life, which we have touched upon in this debate. It is often a matter of smaller associations and smaller competitions. I have myself worked as a sports journalist for a smaller local newspaper and followed a smaller cycling competition and other events where access to the state road network is an important part of the competition activities. I myself have great experience of involvement in association life, and I have great respect and great understanding that this is a pressing and important issue. This is something I share with the rest of the government, and the government, of course, makes decisions collectively.
I look forward to returning, as I have said a few times in this debate. But I am also pleased that the government has been able to make decisions this week regarding the change in the regulatory letter and announce that there are now funds in the budget amendment, which will be presented to the Riksdag in the near future. With that, I would like to thank you for the commitment and for the debate.
Source: The Swedish Parliament. The speeches come from the open data of the Riksdag, translated into English by AI, which may contain errors.