Defense Committee proposes restructuring and strengthening of civil defense
This afternoon, the Defense Committee will present its report on the design of the civil defense to the Minister of Defence. According to information to Ekot, one of the proposals in the report is that the Swedish Agency for Community Protection and Preparedness, MSB, be restructured and strengthened in order to be able to lead the civil defense more clearly.
Lars Wistedt, representing the Sweden Democrats in the defense committee, commented on the proposal. “The starting point has been that MSB has had very scattered tasks and not a very clear mandate either. The proposal that we now stand behind is about MSB getting more refined tasks and responsibilities. They need to be clarified and focused on certain central defense functions,” said Wistedt.
The Defense Committee wants to recast MSB, perhaps into a new authority, with clear responsibility for civil defense, much like the Swedish Armed Forces has responsibility for military defense. It is also proposed that MSB be stripped of tasks, such as work with cyber security and things connected to rescue services and the protection of the civilian population. The comprehensive report also proposes targets for emergency storage of fuel, food production, healthcare capacity and other things. It analyzes the threat from Russia and Ukraine’s civil defense, according to the Left Party’s Hanna Gunnarsson.
“We need to analyze and learn and visit Ukraine many times now. Both while the war is going on and later when there is peace. We have a lot to learn there in how they have been able to keep civil society going,” said Gunnarsson.
Members from all parliamentary parties have participated in the work on the report and agree on the main features. However, the Green Party’s Emma Berginger had wanted to see writings about organic farming and crisis preparedness.
“The Green Party had wished that the defense committee had advocated a more organic agricultural production because it usually has a high degree of self-sufficiency, and is not dependent on various inputs such as fertilizers and chemical pesticides,” said Berginger.
It is evident that the restructuring and strengthening of civilian defense in Sweden is an important discussion, with several different proposals on the table. The final decisions on these proposals will have significant implications for the future of civil defense in the country.
By Henrik Damberg
henrik.dammberg@sverigesradio.se