In the media

Municipalities’ preparedness for a serious crisis must be strengthened now

Micaela Bodelius

By Micaela Bodelius

Altinget

13 March 2025

The government has intensified rearmament in Sweden’s total defence approach, but a crucial part of that defence risks being overlooked: the municipalities’ preparedness. This is the argument put forward by Micaela Bodelius, preparedness and security expert at PA Consulting.

Sweden is facing one of the most uncertain periods in modern times. The global security order has been shaken up, the transatlantic link has weakened and Europe’s geopolitical situation is more unstable than it has been for decades. The development of events is rapid and unpredictable, which places high demands on society’s basic resilience. The government has therefore intensified rearmament in Sweden’s total defence approach, but a crucial part of that defence risks being overlooked – the municipalities’ preparedness.

Municipalities lack resources

All players in total defence must be able to maintain their activities in the event of a crisis or war. The preparedness of government agencies has been in focus for a long time, and several evaluations, including the Corona Commission’s reports, show that many municipalities lack sufficient capacity to handle major crises. This is and remains worrying.

In September 2024, the inquiry, municipalities and regions’ basic preparedness for crisis and war, submitted its report to Sweden’s Minister for Civil Defence, Carl-Oskar Bohlin (M). It proposed an increase in the level of ambition and increased consistency, but many municipalities lack resources to do this. A lack of resources often leads to difficulties setting priorities when welfare actvities must be weighed against preparedness measures. Measures that are not always seen as part of the core business. The Inquiry proposes an increase in general government grants, but these should also take into account the needs of municipalities with a special strategic interest and which therefore need increased funding.

Lessons learned from Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine show that Ukrainian municipalities are playing a crucial role in the ongoing war. Their ability to maintain important societal functions, such as keeping schools open, has been vital to the well-being of the civilian population. By ensuring access to basic services, municipalities have also strengthened the general will to defend themselves, which has contributed to the resilience of the country as a whole.

The government can act now

If the municipalities lack sufficient resilience, society risks being unprepared when the next serious crisis occurs. While waiting for a new law on the municipalities’ basic preparedness responsibilities and a new structure for more general state grants, there are several areas where the Government can take action right now.

The following three measures can and should be considered in the near future in order to quickly strengthen the preparedness of municipalities:

Include municipalities in national preparedness planning

The municipalities must be given a clear and central role in total defence. Today, government agencies and county administrative boards dominate planning, but municipal tasks often cut across these sectors. A stronger link between national authorities and municipalities is needed.

Give municipalities more room for manoeuvre

War and crisis create chaos and require rapid adaptation. During the pandemic, the municipalities’ work was made more difficult by government controls. In order to effectively manage crises, municipalities must be given a clear mandate to determine priorities. In Ukraine, local self-government has been crucial in mobilising resources and collaborating with private players. Sweden should learn from this and, during a crisis, give the municipalities a greater mandate to act.

Ensure the conditions for robust municipal operations

Municipalities must be able to withstand the stresses of war through adapted infrastructure and community planning. The dialogue between municipalities and the armed forces needs to be intensified in order to clarify the requirements of NATO membership and total defence. The principle of financing should be interpreted to favour the municipalities and they must receive financial compensation for meeting the state’s total defence requirements.

This article was first published in Swedish in Altinget.

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