Multilevel Governance – History or Future? The Swedish Way!

10 March 2011

Carola GunnarssonFirst vice president of the Swedish Association of Local Authorities and

Regions

Sweden – a country full of contrasts

Sweden is a unitary state with a history of strong local goverment

The local and regional authorities; - 20% of the GDP in Sweden - 70% of the public consumption- 25% of all employees

Sweden is a unitary state with a history of strong local goverment

The local and regional authorities; - have the right to levy taxes- taxes and fees account for 80% of the municipal

revenues- the state grants account for 20%, the biggest part is not

earmarked

Sweden is a unitary state with a history of strong local goverment

Local self-government has the content, scope and freedom of action which is necessary to secure and develop a well functioning local society

Historical perspective- Alliances between the king and the peasants in the 16th

century in order to limit the power of the church and the nobility

- 1862 the first municipal statues were adopted- A dramatic development when the municipalities

acquired new responsibilities- Between 1952 and 1974; from 2 500 municipalities to

less than 300- From municipalities with few employees and a lot of

laymen to a period of professionalization and a lot of employees

The levels of democracy

Local Government Act (1992) Municipalities are responsible for matters relating to the inhabitants of the municipality and their immediate environment. The main task of the county councils and regions is the provision of healthcare.

Responsibilities of the municipalities

- Child care- Primary, secondary and adult education- Social services: Social assistance, care of the disabled,

elderly care- Spatial planning and construction- Environment (water, waste management, sewage)- Culture- Emergency and rescue services- Energy- Housing

Responsibilities of the county councils and regions

- Healthcare- Public transport/infrastructure- Regional development

Responsibilities of the national level

- Foreign policy- Police- Higher education- Research- Labour market- Social insurance schemes

The Swedish Association of Local Authorities and Regions (SALAR)

- SALAR represents Sweden’s 290 municipalities and 20 county councils/regions

MissionSALAR is an employer’s and lobby organisation for municipalities and county councils/regions. We look after the interests of our members and offer them support and services.

We raise issues, act decisively and enlighten public opinion.

Our mission is to provide municipalities and county councils with better conditions for local and regional self-government.

Our vision is to develop the welfare system and its services.

It’s a matter of democracy.

Swedish Association of Local Authorities and RegionsCongress

BoardExecutive Comittee

Permanent Committees• Committee on Democracy• International Committee• Committee on Culture and Leisure • Committee on Primary Healthcare and Elderly Care• Committee on Planning and Community Development• Committee on Social Policy• Committee on Growth and Regional Development• Committee on Education• Committee on eHealth

Delegations• Delegation for Negotiations• Delegation on Healthcare

Temporary ProgrammeCommittees• Committee on Freedom of choice• Committee on Welfare funding

The political organisation of the Association after the 2007 Congress

- All 290 municipalities and 16 county councils and 4 regions are members

- 100 % financed by members – no state subsidies

- Complete independence from central government

An independent organisation

Autonomy becomes real when….- the municipalities have legitimacy- the municipalities have power and energy- the municipalities have freedom of action

Thank You for Your attention!

Carola Gunnarsson carola.gunnarsson@sala.se