Transcript Bild 1 - COSLA

Multilevel Governance
– History or Future?
The Swedish Way!
10 March 2011
Carola Gunnarsson
First 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
Mission
SALAR 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.
The political organisation of the Association after
the 2007 Congress
Swedish Association of Local Authorities and Regions
Congress
Board
Executive Comittee
Delegations
• Delegation for Negotiations
• Delegation on Healthcare
Temporary Programme
Committees
• Committee on Freedom of
choice
• Committee on Welfare funding
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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
An independent organisation
-
All 290 municipalities and
16 county councils and 4
regions are members
-
100 % financed by members
– no state subsidies
-
Complete independence
from central government
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
[email protected]