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Full Screen Minister for Civil Defense Carl-Oskar Bohlin (M). File image. Photo: Claudio Bresciani/TT
The renovation of Sweden’s civil defense has been far too slow. This is stated by the OAG in a report that criticizes the government for both lack of governance and financing over the past decade.
It is unclear what should be achieved, who should do it and when it should be done in Sweden’s civil defense, says the OAG.
– Based on the fact that it was 2015 that you decided to address these issues again, I would say that this is sharp criticism, says audit director Marcus Pettersson.
Delay
The Office of the Auditor General focuses on the period 2015 to autumn 2024.
In 2015, the then government decided to resume planning for the total defense, including the civil defense. But the initial years did not happen much, says the OAG.
“The government’s ambiguity has delayed the construction of the civil defense,” says Auditor Alexander Rohdin.
Only with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022 did it grow up.
– The speed has increased recently. But we should have come further. The civil defense is extremely complex and nothing you can turn on one day to the other, says Marcus Pettersson.
– For each year that goes where you do not do enough, you shift the ability, says Alexander Rohdin.
Resource question
The food sector is highlighted in the report as an example where the civil defense work worked, which should be made broader, according to the OAG. “The government should have taken a comprehensive grip on all sectors,” it says. Another path has been possible, says the OAG.
However, various authorities have not been aware of what their role is in a civil defense context – or how to prioritize it in relation to existing activities.
– It is obviously a resource issue both personnel and cost, the operations cannot do everything. An activity that does not cope with everyday life will also not be clear preparedness, says Alexander Rohdin.
Obstacle
In the report, several authorities point to outdated IT systems as an obstacle. For example, a responsible principal is also requested for modern building and repair preparedness as well as greater clarity on the transport infrastructure.
– The civilian and military defense are interconnected, says Marcus Pettersson and continues:
– If the civil defense collapses, there is no defense will among the population.
In the report, the OAG submits three recommendations to the Government, summarizing, they read:
Rectify the ambiguities in the division of responsibilities. Conduct ambiguities about what is to be achieved, by whom and when. Ensure long -term financing.