It is unclear what is to be achieved, who is to do it, and when it is to be done in Sweden's civil defense, according to the National Audit Office.
Given that it was 2015 when the decision was made to take on these issues again, I would say that this is sharp criticism, says audit director Marcus Pettersson.
Delay
The National Audit Office's review focuses on the period from 2015 to autumn 2024.
In 2015, the then government decided to resume planning for total defense, including civil defense. But little happened in the early years.
The government's lack of clarity has delayed the build-up of civil defense, says auditor Alexander Rohdin.
It wasn't until Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022 that things picked up.
But we should have come further. Civil defense is extremely complex and not something you can turn on from one day to the next, says Marcus Pettersson.
Minister for Civil Defense Carl-Oskar Bohlin (M) comments on the review at a press conference:
The National Audit Office is right that it has historically gone very slowly, he says, and means that the current government has done a lot recently that is not visible in the review.
But much remains to be done.
Resource issue
The food sector is highlighted as an example where civil defense work has functioned, something that should have been done more broadly, according to the National Audit Office.
Another way has been possible, according to the National Audit Office. However, different authorities have not gotten a grip on what their role is in civil defense or how to prioritize it.
It is clearly a resource issue, both in terms of personnel and costs. The activities cannot do everything. An activity that cannot handle everyday life will not be able to handle heightened preparedness, says Alexander Rohdin.
Obstacles
Several authorities point to outdated IT systems as an obstacle in the report. There is also a demand for, for example, a responsible principal for modern building and repair preparedness and greater clarity regarding transport infrastructure.
Civil and military defense are connected, says Marcus Pettersson, and continues:
If civil defense collapses, there is no defense will among the population.
In the report, the National Audit Office submits three recommendations to the government, summarized as follows:
Address unclear responsibilities. Address unclear expectations of what is to be achieved, by whom, and when. Ensure long-term financing.
