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Document 52024PC0557
Proposal for a COUNCIL IMPLEMENTING DECISION amending Implementing Decision (EU) (ST 7772/22 INIT; ST 7772/22 ADD 1) of 4 May 2022 on the approval of the assessment of the recovery and resilience plan for Sweden
Proposal for a COUNCIL IMPLEMENTING DECISION amending Implementing Decision (EU) (ST 7772/22 INIT; ST 7772/22 ADD 1) of 4 May 2022 on the approval of the assessment of the recovery and resilience plan for Sweden
Proposal for a COUNCIL IMPLEMENTING DECISION amending Implementing Decision (EU) (ST 7772/22 INIT; ST 7772/22 ADD 1) of 4 May 2022 on the approval of the assessment of the recovery and resilience plan for Sweden
COM/2024/557 final
EUROPEAN COMMISSION
Brussels, 20.11.2024
COM(2024) 557 final
2024/0309(NLE)
Proposal for a
COUNCIL IMPLEMENTING DECISION
amending Implementing Decision (EU) (ST 7772/22 INIT; ST 7772/22 ADD 1) of 4 May 2022 on the approval of the assessment of the recovery and resilience plan for Sweden
2024/0309 (NLE)
Proposal for a
COUNCIL IMPLEMENTING DECISION
amending Implementing Decision (EU) (ST 7772/22 INIT; ST 7772/22 ADD 1) of 4 May 2022 on the approval of the assessment of the recovery and resilience plan for Sweden
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,
Having regard to Regulation (EU) 2021/241 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 12 February 2021 establishing the Recovery and Resilience Facility 1 , and in particular Article 20(1) thereof,
Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,
Whereas:
(1)Following the submission of the national recovery and resilience plan (‘RRP’) by Sweden on 28 May 2021 the Commission has proposed its positive assessment to the Council. The Council approved the positive assessment by means of the Council Implementing Decision of 4 May 2022 2 . That CID was amended on 9 November 2023 3 .
(2)On 19 September 2024, Sweden made a reasoned request to the Commission to make a proposal to amend the Council Implementing Decision of 4 May 2022 in accordance with Article 21(1) of Regulation (EU) 2021/241 on the grounds that the RRP is partially no longer achievable because of objective circumstances. On that basis, Sweden has submitted an amended RRP.
Amendments based on Article 21 of Regulation (EU) 2021/241
(3)The amendments to the RRP submitted by Sweden because of objective circumstances concern six measures.
(4)Sweden has explained that one measure is no longer achievable, because of the increased costs of fossil fuels and biofuels. This concerns, respectively, milestones 13 and 14 of reform 1 (Adjustments in the reduction obligation) under component 1 (Green recovery). In particular, the increase in prices would, for milestone 13, disproportionately negatively impact households during the on-going energy crisis, whilst for milestone 14 it has been identified that the measure is not in line with Regulation (EU) 2023/2405 4 . On this basis, Sweden has requested to remove the aforementioned measure and milestones. The Council Implementing Decision of 4 May 2022 should be amended accordingly.
(5)Following the removal of measures under Article 21 of Regulation (EU) 2021/241, Sweden has further requested to increase the level of implementation of two measures. This concerns the inclusion of milestone 11 under reform 1 (Streamline the process for environmental permits) under component 1 (Green recovery), and milestone 33bis under reform 3 (National professional programme for principals, teachers and early childhood education and care teachers) under component 2 (Education and transition). The Council Implementing Decision of 4 May 2022 should be amended accordingly.
(6)Sweden has explained that three measures have been amended to implement better alternatives in order to achieve the original ambition of the measure. This concerns target 6 of investment 2 (Climate investments in the industrial sector (Industry Leap)) under component 1 (Green recovery), targets 24, 25, 26 and 27 of investment 2 (More study places in higher vocational education) under component 2 (Education and transition), as well as targets 45, 46, 47, 48 and 49 of investment 1 (Broadband expansion) under component 4 (Broadband expansion and digitalisation of public administration). On this basis, Sweden has requested to amend target 6 and the related measure description, as well as to add targets 6a and 6b. Furthermore, Sweden has requested to amend target 27 and to remove targets 24, 25 and 26. Furthermore, Sweden has requested to amend target 45 and the related measure description, and to remove targets 46, 47, 48 and 49. The Council Implementing Decision of 4 May 2022 should be amended accordingly.
(7)Sweden has explained that one measure has been amended to implement a better alternative allowing to reduce the administrative burden, whilst still reaching the objective of the respective measure. This concerns targets 3 and 4 of investment 1 (Local and regional climate investment) under component 1 (Green recovery). On this basis, Sweden has requested to remove target 3 and amend target 4. The Council Implementing Decision of 4 May 2022 should be amended accordingly.
(8)The Commission considers that the reasons put forward by Sweden justify the amendment(s) pursuant to Article 21(2) of Regulation (EU) 2021/241, and the Council Implementing Decision of 4 May 2022 should be amended accordingly.
Distribution of milestones and targets
(9)The distribution of milestones and targets in instalments should be modified to take into account the amendments to the plan and the indicative timeline presented by Sweden.
Corrections of clerical errors
(10)17 clerical errors have been identified in the text of the Council Implementing Decision, affecting one milestone, four targets and 14 measures under five components. The Council Implementing Decision should be amended to correct these clerical errors that do not reflect the content of the RRP submitted to the Commission on 28 May 2021, as agreed between the Commission and Sweden. Those clerical errors relate to target 7 of investment 3 (Energy efficiency in multi-dwelling buildings) under component 1 (Green recovery), milestone 33 of reform 2 (Employment protection act and greater transition possibilities) under component 2 (Education and transition), targets 34 and 35 of investment 1 (Elderly care initiative) under component 3 (Better conditions for addressing demographic challenges), target 52 of reform 1 (Private right of initiative – involvement of planning stakeholders in zoning) under component 5 (Investment for growth and housing), and the description of investment 1 (Local and regional climate investments) under component 1 (Green recovery), investment 2 (Climate investments in the industrial sector (Industry Leap)) under component 1 (Green recovery), investment 3 (Energy efficiency in multi-dwelling buildings) under component 1 (Green recovery), reform 2 (Abolished reduction of energy tax on fuel in certain sectors) under component 1 (Green recovery), reform 3 (Adjusted taxable benefit rates for company cars) under component 1 (Green recovery), investment 1 (More study places in regional adult vocational education) under component 2 (Education and transition), investment 2 (More study places in higher vocational education) under component 2 (Education and transition), reform 1 (Higher compensation level for vocational training in combination with Swedish for Immigrants and Swedish as a second language) under component 2 (Education and transition), reform 2 (Employment protection act and greater transition possibilities) under component 2 (Education and transition), investment 3 (Resources to meet demands for education at universities and other higher education institutions) under component 2 (Education and transition), reform 1 (Regulating the professional title of nursing assistants) under component 3 (Better conditions for addressing demographic challenges), reform 4 (A new bank account and safe deposit box system) under component 3 (Better conditions for addressing demographic challenges), investment 1 (Joint public administration digital infrastructure) under component 4 (Broadband expansion and digitalisation of public administration) and investment 1 (Investment aid for rental and student housing) under component 5 (Investment for growth and housing). Those corrections do not affect the implementation of the measures concerned.
Commission’s assessment
(11)The Commission has assessed the amended RRP against the assessment criteria laid down in Article 19(3) of Regulation (EU) 2021/241.
Addressing all or a significant subset of challenges identified in country-specific recommendations
(12)In accordance with Article 19(3), point (b), of and Annex V, criterion 2.2, to Regulation (EU) 2021/241, the amended RRP is expected to contribute to effectively addressing all or a significant subset of challenges (Rating A) identified in the relevant country-specific recommendations addressed to Sweden, including fiscal aspects thereof, and recommendations made pursuant to Article 6 of Regulation (EU) No 1176/2011, or challenges identified in other relevant documents officially adopted by the Commission in the context of the European Semester.
(13)Having assessed progress in the implementation of all relevant country-specific recommendations as part of the 2022 and 2023 European Semester, the Commission finds that some progress has been achieved with respect to the recommendations on fossil fuels by streamlining the administrative and permitting procedures for the deployment of renewables (CSR 2022.4.4 and CSR 2023.4.3). Furthermore, limited progress has been achieved with respect to the recommendations on improving the educational outcomes for pupils with disadvantaged socio-economic and migrant backgrounds by ensuring equal access opportunities in the schooling system and addressing the shortages of qualified teachers (CSR 2022.3.1 and CSR 2023.3.1).
(14)The amended RRP includes an extensive set of mutually reinforcing reforms and investments that contribute to effectively addressing all or a significant subset of the economic and social challenges outlined in the country-specific recommendations addressed to Sweden by the Council in the context of the European Semester, notably on streamlining permitting procedures for the deployment of renewables (CSR 2022.4.4, CSR 2023.4.3 and CSR 2024.4). The amended RRP is also expected to help contribute towards addressing the shortage of qualified teachers, which is a part of the recommendation on improving the educational performance of pupils (CSR 2022.3.1, CSR 2023.3.1 and CSR 2024.3.1).
Do no significant harm
(15)In accordance with Article 19(3), point (d), of and Annex V, criterion 2.4, to Regulation (EU) 2021/241, the amended RRP is expected to ensure that no measure (Rating A) for the implementation of reforms and investments projects included in this RRP does significant harm to environmental objectives within the meaning of Article 17 of Regulation (EU) 2020/852 of the European Parliament and of the Council 5 (the principle of ‘do no significant harm’).
(16)For the new reforms on the streamlining of the process for environmental permits and the National professional programme for principals, teachers and early childhood education and care teachers, Sweden provided a systematic assessment against the principle of ‘do no significant harm’. The information provided by Sweden allows to conclude that the modified plan is expected to ensure that none of the measures included therein does significant harm to environmental objectives within the meaning of Article 17 of Regulation (EU) 2020/852.
Any other assessment criteria
(17)The Commission considers that the amendments put forward by Sweden do not affect the positive assessment of the RRP set out in the Council Implementing Decision ST 7772/2022; ST 7772/2022 ADD of 4 May 2022 on the approval of the assessment of the RRP for Sweden regarding the relevance, effectiveness, efficiency and coherence of the RRP against the assessment criteria laid down in Article 19(3), points (a), (c), (da), (db), (e), (f), (g), (h), (i), (j) and (k).
Positive assessment
(18)Following the positive assessment by the Commission of the amended RRP with the finding that the RRP satisfactorily complies with the criteria for assessment set out in Regulation (EU) 2021/241, in accordance with Article 20(2) of and Annex V to that Regulation, the reforms and investment projects necessary for the implementation of the amended RRP, the relevant milestones, targets and indicators, and the amount made available from the Union for the implementation of the amended RRP in the form of non-repayable financial support should be set out.
Financial contribution
(19)The estimated total costs of Sweden’s amended RRP is EUR 3 501 632 593, which equals SEK 35 454 030 000 on the basis of the EUR SEK ECB reference rate of 28 May 2021. As the amount of the estimated total costs of the amended RRP is higher than the updated maximum financial contribution available for Sweden, the total financial contribution determined in accordance with Article 20(4), and Article 21b(2) of Regulation (EU) 2021/241 allocated for Sweden's amended RRP should be equal to EUR 3 445 666 208.
(20)Council Implementing Decision (ST 7772/2022; ST 7772/2022 ADD 1) of 4 May 2022 on the approval of the assessment of the RRP for Sweden should therefore be mended accordingly. For the sake of clarity, the Annex to that Council Implementing Decision should be replaced entirely,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:
Article 1
The Council Implementing Decision of 4 May 2022 on the approval of the assessment of the recovery and resilience plan for Sweden is amended as follows:
(1) Article 1 is replaced by the following:
“Article 1
Approval of the assessment of the RRP
The assessment of the modified RRP of Sweden on the basis of the criteria provided for in Article 19(3) of Regulation (EU) 2021/241 is approved. The reforms and investment projects under the RRP, the arrangements and timetable for the monitoring and implementation of the RRP, including the relevant milestones and targets and the additional milestones and targets related to the payment of non-repayable financial support, the relevant indicators relating to the fulfilment of the envisaged milestones and targets, and the arrangements for providing full access by the Commission to the underlying relevant data are set out in the Annex to this Decision;
(2) the Annex is replaced by the text in the Annex to this Decision.
Article 2
Addressee
This Decision is addressed to the Kingdom of Sweden.
Done at Brussels,
For the Council
The President
EUROPEAN COMMISSION
Brussels, 20.11.2024
COM(2024) 557 final
ANNEX
to the
Proposal for a COUNCIL IMPLEMENTING DECISION
amending Implementing Decision (EU) (ST 7772/22 INIT; ST 7772/22 ADD 1) of 4 May 2022 on the approval of the assessment of the recovery and resilience plan for Sweden
ANNEX
SECTION 1: REFORMS AND INVESTMENTS UNDER THE RECOVERY AND RESILIENCE PLAN
1.Description of Reforms and Investments
A.COMPONENT 1: GREEN RECOVERY
This component of the Swedish recovery and resilience plan aims at tackling challenges to Sweden’s objective of achieving carbon neutrality by 2045. The measures in the component are expected to increase local and regional measures to reduce emissions from road transport and other sources of carbon dioxide and other gases affecting the climate; increase investments in the industry’s transition towards zero net emissions of greenhouse gases; increase investments in energy efficiency in housing; and preserve biodiversity via the protection of valuable nature.
Firstly, the component aims at speeding up the transition of the transport sector to become fossil-free by increasing investments in sustainable transport solutions, such as railway and electric and biogas charging stations, complemented by a package of reforms that aim at discouraging the use of polluting cars. The reforms are part of a green tax reform to shift taxation from labour to the environment.
Secondly, the component aims at reducing the quantity of process-related emissions, which are relatively expensive to reduce since the technology is not available on the market today. More research, innovation, demonstration and implementation on a larger scale is needed. The component addresses this challenge by increasing the resources available for the Industry Leap, an investment scheme aiming to decarbonise the industry.
Thirdly, the component aims at improving the energy efficiency of the housin g sector in Sweden. The sector emits 11 million tonnes of carbon dioxide per year, mainly from electricity and space heating in homes.
Lastly, the component also aims at contributing to biodiversity by establishing formally protected areas in the form of nature reserves in valuable natural habitats.
The component is expected to contribute to country-specific recommendations addressed to Sweden, in particular “maintaining investment in sustainable transport to upgrade the different transport modes, in particular railways” (country-specific recommendation 2, 2019) and “focus investment on the green […] transition, in particular on clean and efficient production and use of energy, high-tech and innovative sectors, […] and sustainable transport” (country-specific recommendation 2, 2020) and “research and innovation” (country-specific recommendation 2, 2019)
It is expected that no measure in this component does significant harm to environmental objectives within the meaning of Article 17 of Regulation (EU) 2020/852, taking into account the description of the measures and the mitigating steps set out in the recovery and resilience plan in accordance with the ‘do no significant harm’ Technical Guidance (2021/C58/01).
1.1.Description of the reforms and investments for non-repayable financial support
Investment 1: Local and regional climate investments
The measure is an investment scheme called the Climate Leap, which shall finance local and regional activities to reduce emissions of carbon dioxide and other gases affecting the climate. The beneficiaries are both private and public entities, notably including municipalities, organisations and enterprises, excluding individuals.
The measure shall financially reinforce an existing scheme. Supported actions shall include concrete climate action in areas including among others transport, industry, agriculture and energy. These range for example from biogas and infrastructure including cycle paths or recharging points for electric vehicles to the replacement of oil by district heating.
There is no pre-determined envelope between the different types of projects. Instead, the Climate Leap shall provide financing to the investments with the largest possible GHG emission reduction per SEK invested. The selection of projects shall respect various criteria. For projects on the conversion to bioenergy for heating in industry and agriculture, the measure shall reduce GHG emissions by at least 80% through the use of biomass based on the calculation method for greenhouse gas reductions and the relative fossil equivalent set out in Annex VI to Directive (EU) 2018/2001. For projects on the production of biogas, the measure shall reduce greenhouse gas emissions on the installation by at least 65% through the use of biomass to this end based on the calculation method for greenhouse gas reductions and the fossil equivalent set out in Annex V to the Directive (EU) 2018/2001. For projects on transport (service stations), the measure shall be in line with Directive (EU) 2018/2001. For projects on waste (plastic recycling), the measure shall convert at least 50%, measured by weight, of the processed and separately collected harmless waste into secondary raw materials. For projects on energy efficiency, the measure shall achieve, on average, a minimum 30% reduction in direct and indirect greenhouse gas emissions compared to pre-calculated emissions. For projects on charging stations for electric cars and infrastructure, the measure shall be in line with Directive (EU) 2018/2001.
It is expected that this measure does not do significant harm to environmental objectives within the meaning of Article 17 of Regulation (EU) 2020/852, taking into account the description of the measure and the mitigating steps set out in the recovery and resilience plan in accordance with the ‘do no significant harm’ Technical Guidance (2021/C58/01). In particular, biofuels shall meet the sustainability and greenhouse gas emission savings criteria set out in Articles 29, 30 and 31 of the Renewable Energy Directive 2018/2001/EU (REDII) and the rules on food and feed based biofuels set out in Article 26 of that Directive, and the related implementing and delegated acts adopted in accordance with that Directive. The measure shall also comply with the air quality standards set by Directive 2008/50/EC. Activities under the Emissions Trading System shall not be eligible for funding, with the exception of waste heat that is used for district heating. Any such funding for waste heat shall have projected greenhouse gas emissions below the heat benchmark established in Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/447 1 . As a whole, the following activities are further excluded from financing: (i) activities and assets related to fossil fuels, including downstream use 2 ; (ii) activities and assets related to waste landfills, incinerators 3 and mechanical biological treatment plants 4 and (iii) activities and assets where the long-term disposal of waste may cause harm to the environment.
The implementation of the investment shall be completed by 31 December 2025.
Investment 2: Climate investments in the industrial sector (Industry Leap)
The measure is an investment scheme called the Industry Leap. This investment shall provide financial support in the form of grants for investments, research, feasibility studies, pilot projects, and demonstration projects to help the industry to transition towards zero net emissions of greenhouse gases. It shall finance projects that develop, demonstrate and implement new technology with zero, low or negative emissions of greenhouse gases in, among others, industries with high process emissions.
The measure shall reinforce an existing scheme. It shall extend the support to industrial projects that make a significant contribution to achieving climate objectives, for example biofuel production, recycled plastic refineries, hydrogen production, recycling facilities and battery production. Support from the scheme may be used for expenditure related to measures contributing to permanent negative greenhouse gas emissions, including research, development, testing, demonstration and investment. Of the total budget envelope, at least 85% of the funds shall be dedicated to research-and-development projects focusing on the low-carbon economy and no more than 15%shall be dedicated to research-and- development projects focusing on the circular economy.
Support shall be given to actions that fulfil at least one of the following criteria: (1) contribute to the reduction of industrial greenhouse gas emissions directly or indirectly linked to industrial processes, (2) contribute to negative emissions through the capture, transport and geological storage of greenhouse gases of biogenic origin or those that have been taken out of the atmosphere, or (3) through the application of new technologies or other innovative solutions in industry, contribute significantly to the achievement of the Swedish national environmental objective ‘Reduced Climate Impact’. Projects within this investment may also receive support from other Union programmes or instruments for costs that are not supported by the RRF.
It is expected that this measure does not do significant harm to environmental objectives within the meaning of Article 17 of Regulation (EU) 2020/852, taking into account the description of the measure and the mitigating steps set out in the recovery and resilience plan in accordance with the ‘do no significant harm’ Technical Guidance (2021/C58/01). In particular, biofuels shall meet the sustainability and greenhouse gas emission savings criteria set out in Articles 29, 30 and 31 of the Renewable Energy Directive 2018/2001/EU (REDII) and the rules on food and feed based biofuels set out in Article 26 of that Directive, and the related implementing and delegated acts adopted in accordance with that Directive. The measure shall also comply with the air quality standards set by Directive 2008/50/EC. Activities under the Emissions Trading System shall have projected greenhouse gas emissions that are lower than the relevant benchmarks established for free allocation 5 . As a whole, the following activities are further excluded from financing: (i) activities and assets related to fossil fuels, including downstream use 6 ; (ii) activities and assets related to waste landfills, incinerators 7 and mechanical biological treatment plants 8 ; and (iii) activities and assets where the long-term disposal of waste may cause harm to the environment. The following R&D&I actions under this investment shall be considered compliant with the ‘do no significant harm’ Technical Guidance (2021/C58/01): R&D&I actions under this investment devoted to substantially increasing the environmental sustainability of companies (for example decarbonisation, reduction of pollution and the circular economy) if the primary focus of the R&D&I actions under this investment is on developing or adapting alternatives with the lowest possible environmental impacts in the sector.
The investment shall be implemented by 31 June 2026.
Investment 3: Energy efficiency in multi-dwelling buildings
This public support scheme, which shall be established by a proposed regulation for energy efficiency in multi-dwelling buildings, aims to incentivise property owners to renovate multi- dwelling buildings, which is usually not profitable. The support scheme shall give support to investments that achieve at least a 20% reduction in the primary energy demand at the level of the building.
The implementation of the investment shall be completed by 31 December 2025. Investment 4: Strengthened railway support
This measure shall upgrade the railway in Sweden to allow more persons and enterprises to use railways as a means of transportation. The upgrades shall also improve railway capacity. The upgrade concerns the railways between Gävle-Åänge (switching rail and shunting) and Västeraspby-Långsele (switching rail and shunting).
The implementation of the investment shall be completed by 31 December 2022.
Investment 5: Protection of valuable nature
This measure aims at protecting biodiversity in areas that host high natural values, by establishing formally protected areas of nature reserves. According to the Swedish Environmental Code a land or water area may be declared a nature reserve by a county administrative board for the purpose of preserving biological diversity, protecting and preserving valuable natural environments or satisfying the need of areas for outdoor recreation. Any area that is needed for the purpose of protecting, restoring or establishing valuable natural environments or habitats for species that are worthy of preservation may also be designated a nature reserve. The measure shall consist of compensating private land owners for either the purchase of land area or the compensation for restrictions caused by the formal protection. The decision to establish a nature reserve shall specify the restrictions on the right to use land and water areas necessary to achieve the purpose of the reserve.
The implementation of the investment shall be completed by 31 December 2023.
Reform 1: Streamline the process for environmental permits
The reform aims to facilitate the green transition by establishing a more predictable, digitalised and efficient environmental permitting procedure, whilst maintaining environmental standards. The reform shall consist of amendments to legislation streamlining procedures for obtaining or extending environmental permits.
The reform shall be completed by 1 January 2025.
Reform 2: Abolished reduction of energy tax on fuel in certain sectors
This measure shall phase out the existing reduction of the energy tax on fuels consumed for heating or the operation of stationary engines. It aims to contribute to the climate objective of Sweden to become carbon neutral by 2045. The sectors that shall be included in this measure are manufacturing as well as professional agricultural, forestry, and aquaculture activities.
The implementation of the reform shall be completed gradually, starting with a 50% reduction of the tax advantage by 30 September 2021 and ending with a complete removal of the tax reduction by 31 March 2022.
Reform 3: Adjusted taxable benefit rates for company cars
This measure shall, by adjusting the taxable benefit rates for company cars, adjust the relative costs in order to better reflect the costs of private car ownership. The reform also aims to lead to an increase of the taxable benefit value, which increases the cost of having a company car. The reform aims to make the tax system neutral between car benefits and cash salary. The implementation of the reform was to be completed by 30 September 2021.
1.2.Milestones, targets, indicators, and timetable for monitoring and implementation for non-repayable financial support
See table below. The date of the baseline for all indicators is 1 February 2020 unless indicated differently in the description of the action. Amounts in the table do not include VAT.
|
Number |
Measure |
Milestone/Target |
Name |
Qualitative indicators for milestones |
Quantitative indicators (for targets) |
Time |
Description of each milestone and target |
|||
|
Unit |
Baseline |
Goal |
Q |
Year |
||||||
|
1 |
Local and regional climate investment |
Target |
T1: Award of projects reducing carbon dioxide emissions by expected 300 000 tonnes |
New CO2 or CO2 equivalent reductions in emissions |
0 |
300 000 |
Q4 |
2021 |
The Environmental Protection Agency shall award projects that shall be in line with the criteria set out in the description of the measure and that shall in total decrease carbon dioxide emissions by an additional 300 000 tonnes per year over an expected period of 16 years. |
|
|
2 |
Local and regional climate investment |
Target |
T2: Award of projects reducing carbon dioxide emissions by expected 240 000 tonnes |
New CO2 or CO2 equivalent reductions in emissions |
300 000 |
540 000 |
Q4 |
2022 |
The Environmental Protection Agency shall award projects that shall be in line with the criteria set out in the description of the measure and that shall in total decrease carbon dioxide emissions by an additional 240 000 tonnes per year over an expected period of 16 years. |
|
|
4 |
Local and regional climate investment |
Target |
T4: Award of projects reducing carbon dioxide emissions by expected 230 000 tonnes |
New CO2 or CO2 equivalent reductions in emissions |
540 000 |
770 000 |
Q4 |
2024 |
The Environmental Protection Agency shall award projects that shall be in line with the criteria set out in the description of the measure and that shall in total decrease carbon dioxide emissions by an additional 230 000 tonnes per year over an expected period of 16 years. |
|
|
5 |
Local and regional climate investment |
Target |
T5: Award of projects reducing carbon dioxide emissions by expected 15 000 tonnes |
New CO2 or CO2 equivalent reductions in emissions |
770 000 |
785 000 |
Q4 |
2025 |
The Environmental Protection Agency shall award projects that shall be in line with the criteria set out in the description of the measure and that shall in total decrease carbon dioxide emissions by an additional 15 000 tonnes per year over an expected period of 16 years. |
|
|
6 |
Climate investment in the industrial sector |
Target |
Award of projects having the potential to contribute towards reducing carbon dioxide emission |
Number |
0 |
99 |
Q4 |
2025 |
The target shall be considered as reached when a cumulative amount of at least EUR 223,1 million has been awarded to a cumulative number of at least 99 projects in order to support the Industry Leap. The projects shall (i) be in line with the criteria set out in the description of the measure and (ii) in total have the potential to contribute towards decreasing carbon dioxide emission by an additional 9 000 000 tonnes of carbon dioxide per year by 2035. The calculations shall be confirmed by an independent report. |
|
|
6a |
Climate investment in the industrial sector |
Target |
Financial support paid out to projects having the potential to contribute towards reducing carbon dioxide emission |
EUR (million) |
0 |
200,8 |
Q2 |
2026 |
The target shall be considered as reached when EUR 200,8 million has been paid to at least 99 projects referred to in target 6. |
|
6b |
Climate investment in the industrial sector |
Target |
Financial support paid out to a project having the potential to contribute towards reducing carbon dioxide emission |
Number |
99 |
100 |
Q2 |
2026 |
The target shall be considered as reached when a cumulative amount of at least EUR 63,3 million has been paid to a project pertaining to Green Steel in order to support the Industry Leap. Any amounts provided by other Union programmes or instruments shall not be counted towards this amount. The project shall (i) be in line with the criteria set out in the description of the measure and (ii) have the potential to contribute towards decreasing carbon dioxide emission by an additional 1 000 000 tonnes of carbon dioxide per year by 2035. The calculations shall be confirmed by an independent report. |
|
|
7 |
Energy efficiency in multi-dwelling buildings |
Milestone |
Entry into force of an ordinance establishing the support scheme for investments to improve energy efficiency in multi-dwelling buildings |
Provision indicating the entry into force of the ordinance. |
Q4 |
2021 |
The ordinance establishing the support scheme for investments to improve energy efficiency in multi- dwelling buildings enters into force. The support scheme shall give support to investments that achieve at least a 20% reduction in the primary energy demand at the level of the building. |
|||
|
8 |
Energy efficiency in multi-dwelling buildings |
Target |
600 000 square meters of buildings have been renovated |
Square meters |
0 |
600 000 |
Q4 |
2025 |
600 000 square meters of buildings shall have been renovated. The unit of measurement is Atemp, which is a term that defines the floor area of the building on which the energy performance should be based. Atemp is defined as the area of all floors, attic floors and basement floors with temperature-controlled areas which are intended to be heated to over 10°C and that are bounded by the inside of the building envelope. The area occupied by interior walls or openings for stairs, shafts and similar is included. However, area in garages, in the building in a residential building or in non-residential premises other than a garage is not included. |
|
9 |
Strengthened railway support |
Target |
60 km of railways has been improved or upgraded |
Kilometers |
0 |
60 |
Q4 |
2021 |
Upgrades including switching rail and shunting to the railway infrastructure between Gävle-Åänge over a distance of 60 kilometers shall be completed. |
|
|
10 |
Strengthened railway support |
Target |
40 km of railways has been improved or upgraded |
Kilometers |
60 |
100 |
Q4 |
2022 |
Upgrades including switching rail and shunting to the railway infrastructure between Västeraspby-Långsele over a distance of 40 kilometers shall be completed. |
|
|
11 |
Streamlining the process for environmental permits |
Milestone |
Entry into force of amendments to legislation to streamline the process for obtaining environmental permits |
Provisions in the amended legislation to streamline the process for obtaining environmental permits, and their entry into force. |
Q1 |
2025 |
Entry into force of legislative amendments to Sweden’s Environmental Code and relevant sectoral legislation. These amendments shall introduce: a) simplified procedures for obtaining a permit for activities having an insignificant impact on the environment; b) harmonised criteria to assess whether an environmental permit is required; c) provisions to streamline the role of administrative authorities in the process of obtaining an environmental permit to avoid overlaps between administrative authorities’ responsibilities; d) digitalised processes of applying for an environmental permit; e) an environmental permit that covers only the change in the company’s activities (ändringstillstånd), unless the permit is intended to cover, all the company’s activities, or if environmental considerations make this problematic; f) a possibility to extend a time limited environmental permit by maximum three years. |
|||
|
15 |
Abolished reduction of energy tax on fuel in certain sectors |
Milestone |
Entry into force of a law that partially abolishes a reduction of energy tax on fuel in certain sectors |
Provision in the law to partially abolish the reduction of energy tax on fuel in certain sectors indicating the entry into force |
Q3 |
2021 |
Entry into force of a law that shall partially abolish the reduction of the energy tax on fuels in industry and agriculture, forestry and aquaculture. This is the first of two steps to remove the reduction of energy tax on fuel in certain sectors. This first step shall be a 50% reduction of the tax advantage. |
|
16 |
Abolished reduction of energy tax on fuel in certain sectors |
Milestone |
Entry into force of the law to fully abolish reduction of energy tax on fuel in certain sectors |
Provision in the law to fully abolish the reduction of energy tax on fuel in certain sectors indicating the entry into force |
Q1 |
2022 |
Entry into force, following adoption by the Swedish Parliament, of a law that shall fully abolish the reduction of the energy tax on fuels in industry and agriculture, forestry and aquaculture. This is the second of two steps to remove the reduction of energy tax on fuel in certain sectors. |
|||
|
17 |
Adjusted taxable benefit rates for company cars |
Milestone |
Entry into force of a law to adjust the taxable benefit rate for company cars |
Provision in the law to adjust the taxable benefit rate for company cars indicating the entry into force |
Q3 |
2021 |
Entry into force of a law to adjust the taxable benefit rate for company cars, which shall adjust the taxable benefit rates for company cars to better reflect the costs of privately owned cars, with the objective of making the tax system neutral between car benefits and cash salary. |
|||
|
18 |
Formal protection of valuable nature |
Target |
Funding disbursed for the protection of nature with high natural values for biodiversity |
SEK million |
0 |
2 500 |
Q4 |
2023 |
At least SEK 2.5 billion shall be disbursed to enterprises or individuals for either the purchase of land or as compensation for restrictions on land use of land that has high natural value for biodiversity, with the aim of being formally protected. The outcome of the investment shall be presented in a report to be published by the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency. The report shall show how much funding in 2021-2023 has been paid in compensating private land owners for either the purchase of land area or the compensation for restrictions caused by the formal protection. The reporting shall also include information about the number of formally protected areas and the total area protected. |
B. COMPONENT 2: EDUCATION AND TRANSITION
The component “Education and transition” includes reforms and investments to improve employment opportunities by increasing human capital among the unemployed, to facilitate structural transformation, in particular adaptation to an increasingly digital society, by educating and training the labour force, to increase flexibility in the labour market with a modernised employment protection law and greater transition possibilities.
The component aims to boost employment and productivity in the long term by increasing the labour force’s human capital and better matching the demand. The structural transformation, particular the digital transition, places demands on reskilling possibilities, when the labour force lacks the skills demanded by the labour market.
Persons with particular difficulties in the Swedish labour market are those born outside of the Union, people that lack upper secondary education, older unemployed people and people with a disability. Unemployment has risen during the crisis. The component intends to counteract and avoid that people exit the labour force.
With the Covid-19 crisis many job opportunities for young people or recently arrived immigrants in the service sector have disappeared. Sectors like health, education or ICT have difficulties in finding the people with the right skill sets. The skill shortage is a barrier to growth for Swedish businesses and curbs the possibility of maintaining and improving quality in the welfare system.
The component includes reforms and investments that improve transition possibilities, in general and for people who have become unemployed. The component aims to increase the number of study places, to provide more training opportunities, with a focus on vocational training and adult education. In addition, it intends to scale up the number of places at universities and other higher education institutions.
The component is expected to contribute to country-specific recommendations addressed to Sweden, in particular “focus investment-related economic policy on education and skills” (country-specific recommendation 2, 2019) and “support education and skills development” (country-specific recommendation 2, 2020).
2.1.Description of the reforms and investments for non-repayable financial support
Investment 1: More study places in regional adult vocational education
The aim of this investment is for more people to obtain vocational training at upper secondary level and hence be able to get a job. The investment aims to improve matching in the labour market and boost employment in the long term. Parts of the initiative within adult vocational education are motivated by the need to offer training to people within elderly care who participate in the Elderly Care Initiative, which is part of component 3.
The measure shall be a temporary reinforcement of the existing Knowledge Boost, which provides vocational programmes for adults at upper secondary level. It can be combined with Swedish for Immigrants or Swedish as a second language. Priority shall be given to individuals with the greatest need of education, for example unemployed or individuals with short previous education. Training courses aim to be primarily procured from private training providers, allowing rapid scale-up and flexibility to respond to changing training demands.
The implementation of the investment shall be completed by 31 December 2023.
Reform 1: Higher compensation level for vocational training in combination with Swedish for Immigrants and Swedish as a second language
The aim of this reform is to create economic incentives for municipalities to offer a combination of vocational training and Swedish language training. This shall be done through amendments of the respective legal act increasing the amount of state compensation for such combined courses. This aims to shorten the study period and enable participants to seek and find employment faster. This reform shall support Investment 1 and thereby help increase the number of study places for the target group, notably adults without upper secondary education and adequate language skills.
The implementation of the reform was to be completed by 30 September 2020. Investment 2: More study places in higher vocational education
The aim of this investment is to improve education, training and transition prospects to meet the needs of the labour market during and after the crisis and to upskill the labour force, by increasing the number of places in higher vocational education. The investment aims to address the transition needs in the labour market, where even before the crisis there has been a labour shortage within many professions, particularly in the welfare sector, data/IT and the industrial sector. 59% of the additional study places in higher Vocational Education shall be within the fields of data/IT or contribute to the digital transition in some other way.
The implementation of the investment shall be completed by 31 December 2023.
Investment 3: Resources to meet demands for education at universities and other higher education institutions
The investment shall focus on scaling up the education at universities and other higher education institutions to tackle the challenges in the labour market. A focus shall be on programmes geared towards shortage occupations and to enable re-skilling and further studies. The investment shall increase the funding of universities and other higher education institutions to enable a greater number of full-time students (study places), reinforce society, meet people’s needs for training that leads to jobs, enable transition to better equip individuals for the future labour market and improve welfare, and boost competitiveness of the Swedish business sector. The investment aims to generate higher employment, greater productivity and underpin the supply of a well-educated labour force. On average, 27% of the additional study places shall increase digital skills or contribute to the digital transition in some other way.
The implementation of the investment shall be completed by 31 December 2025. Reform 2: Employment protection act and greater transition possibilities
The reform aims at adapting current employment protection to enhance both flexibility and mobility on the labour market. Greater mobility and more entry points for people in a disadvantaged position is needed. Employers need greater flexibility and predictability to be able to adapt operations and withstand competition, while employees need protection adapted to the new labour market, with a need for continuous upskilling and hence greater employability as an important security factor. The objective of the reform is to modernise employment protection, while maintaining the fundamental balance between the social partners.
The implementation of the reform shall be completed by 30 June 2022.
Reform 3: National professional programme for principals, teachers and early childhood education and care teachers
The aim of the reform is to improve the quality of teaching, strengthen professionalism and increase the attractiveness of the teaching profession. This shall be done through amendments of the Education Act and the supplementing ordinance enabling the introduction of a national professional programme for principals, teachers and early childhood education and care (ECEC) teachers. The legislative changes shall establish that the programme shall consist of two parts. The first part shall cover the national structure for the development of the professional competences of principals, teachers and ECEC teachers, to help strenghten their competences and knowledge development. The second part shall cover the a national merit system for licensed teachers and ECEC teachers, with the aim to increase the number of teachers and ECEC teachers who want to continue improving their competencies after aquiring the qualification and licence to teach.
The implementation of the reform shall be completed by 1 September 2025.
2.2.Milestones, targets, indicators, and timetable for monitoring and implementation for non-repayable financial support
See table below. The date of the baseline for all indicators is 1 February 2020 unless indicated differently in the description of the action. Amounts in the table do not include VAT.
|
Number |
Measure |
Milestone/Target |
Name |
Qualitative indicators (for milestones) |
Quantitative indicators (for targets) |
Time |
Description of each milestone and target |
|||
|
Unit |
Baseline |
Goal |
Q |
Year |
||||||
|
19 |
More study places in regional adult vocational education |
Target |
T1: New study places in vocational training and adult education |
Number of full-time equivalent study places |
0 |
1 000 |
Q4 |
2020 |
Number of new study places in 2020 with priority given to individuals with the greatest need of education in line with the criteria set out in the description of the measure, as compared to the baseline number of annual study places in 2019 of 34 000. The new study places created shall bring the total number of study places to 35 000. Study places are defined as full-time equivalent study places. |
|
|
20 |
More study places in regional adult vocational education |
Target |
T2: New study places in vocational training and adult education |
Number of full-time equivalent study places |
1 000 |
7 800 |
Q4 |
2021 |
Number of new study places in 2021 with priority given to individuals with the greatest need of education in line with the criteria set out in the description of the measure, as compared to the baseline number of annual study places in 2019 of 34 000. The new study places created shall bring the total number of study places to 40 800. Study places are defined as full-time equivalent study places. |
|
|
21 |
More study places in regional adult vocational education |
Target |
T3: New study places in vocational training and adult education |
Number of full-time equivalent study places |
7 800 |
15 700 |
Q4 |
2022 |
Number of new study places in 2022 with priority given to individuals with the greatest need of education in line with the criteria set out in the description of the measure, as compared to the baseline number of annual studies in 2019 of 34 000. The new study places created shall bring the total number of study places to 41 900. Study places are defined as full-time equivalent study places. |
|
|
22 |
More study places in regional adult vocational education |
Target |
T4: New study places in vocational training and adult education |
Number of full-time equivalent study places |
15 700 |
16 900 |
Q4 |
2023 |
Number of new study places in 2023 with priority given to individuals with the greatest need of education in line with the criteria set out in the description of the measure, as compared to the baseline number of annual study places in 2019 of 34 000. The new study places created shall bring the total number of study places to 35 200. Study places are defined as full-time equivalent study places. |
|
|
23 |
Higher compensation level for vocational training in combination with Swedish for Immigrants and Swedish as a second language |
Milestone |
Entry into force of the higher compensation level for vocational training in combination with Swedish for Immigrants and Swedish as a second language |
Provision in the law establishing a higher compensation level for vocational training in combination with Swedish for Immigrants and Swedish as a second language indicating the entry into force |
Q3 |
2020 |
Entry into force of the law. It shall establish an increased state compensation rate for training courses that combine vocational training in health- and social care and Swedish language training. |
|||
|
27 |
More yearly study places in higher vocational education |
Target |
New study places in post- secondary vocational education |
Number of full-time equivalent study places |
0 |
14 900 |
Q4 |
2023 |
14 900 new study places shall be created The measure shall target individuals with upper secondary education or equivalent who seek a qualified vocational qualification. |
|
|
28 |
Resources to meet demands for education at universities and other higher education institutions |
Target |
T1: Additionally registered students in higher education |
Number of full-time equivalent registered students |
0 |
9 000 |
Q4 |
2021 |
9 000 additional full-time equivalent registered students on any course given by the university during the current semester in full time equivalent as compared to the baseline of 300 400 registered full year students in 2019, resulting in a total number 309 400 full-time students in Q4 2021. |
|
|
29 |
Resources to meet demands for education at universities and other higher education institutions |
Target |
T2: Additionally registered students in higher education |
Number of full-time equivalent registered students |
9 000 |
19 000 |
Q4 |
2022 |
10 000 additional full-time equivalent registered students on any course given by the university during the current semester in full time equivalent as compared to the baseline of 300 400 registered full year students in 2019, resulting in a total number 310 400 full-time students in Q4 2022. |
|
|
30 |
Resources to meet demands for education at universities and other higher education institutions |
Target |
T3: Additionally registered students in higher education |
Number of full-time equivalent registered students |
19 000 |
25 000 |
Q4 |
2023 |
6 000 additional full-time equivalent registered students on any course given by the university during the current semester in in full time equivalent 2023 as compared to the baseline of 300 400 registered full year students in 2019, resulting in a total number 306 400 full-time students in Q4 2023. |
|
|
31 |
Resources to meet demands for education at universities and other higher education institutions |
Target |
T4: Additionally registered students in higher education |
Number of full-time equivalent registered students |
25 000 |
30 600 |
Q4 |
2024 |
5 600 additional full-time equivalent registered students on any course given by the university during the current semester in full time equivalent as compared to the baseline of 300 400 registered full year students in 2019, resulting in a total number 306 000 full-time students in Q4 2024. |
|
|
32 |
Resources to meet demands for education at universities and other higher education institutions |
Target |
T5: Additionally registered students in higher education |
Number of full-time equivalent registered students |
30 600 |
35 900 |
Q4 |
2025 |
5 300 additional full-time equivalent registered students on any course given by the university during the current semester in full time equivalent as compared to the baseline of 300 400 registered full year students in 2019, resulting in a total number 305 700 full-time students in Q4 2025. |
|
|
33 |
Employment protection act and greater transition possibilities |
Milestone |
Entry into force of the legislative amendments to modernise employment protection and enhance greater transition possibilities |
Provision in the law establishing greater employment protection and transition possibilities for employees indicating the entry into force. |
Q2 |
2022 |
Entry into force, following adoption by the Swedish parliament, of the legislative amendments the relevant legislative acts, including most notably the Employment protection act and of the proposed new laws on transition student finance and basic transition and skill support on the labour market. The legislative package shall give employers more flexibility and predictability in order to adapt their activities, compete, and adapt employee protection to the new labour market, where security consists of continuous skills development, thereby enhancing employability. Secondly, employees should have the opportunity to receive basic transition and skills support to facilitate adjustment to a new job. Thirdly, the new Student Finance Scheme for Transition and Retraining aims at facilitating an opportunity for employees to partake in lifelong learning to strengthen their position on the labour market during the course of their careers. |
|||
|
33bis |
National professional programme for principals, teachers and early childhood education and care teachers |
Milestone |
Entry into force of the amendments of the Education Act |
Provisions indicating the entry into force of the amendments of the Education Act and the entry into force of the supplementing ordinance. |
Q3 |
2025 |
Entry into force of the amendments to the Education Act and of the supplementing ordinance enabling the introduction of a national professional programme for principals, teachers and ECEC teachers. The national professional programme shall consist of: a) a national structure for the development of the professional competences of principals, teachers and ECEC teachers, which shall, among other actions, include the relevant trainings for principals, teachers and ECEC teachers, and b) a national merit system for licensed teachers and preschool teachers, which includes the qualification levels. |
|||
C.COMPONENT 3: BETTER CONDITIONS FOR ADDRESSING DEMOGRAPHIC CHALLENGES
This component contains reforms aiming at increasing the average pension age, strengthening the sustainability of public finances, improving the skills of staff working in elderly care centres, and enhancing supervision and enforcement of the financial system with respect to anti-money laundering and combating the financing of terrorism.
Sweden identified a number of challenges regarding long-term care, demography (expected to have long-term budgetary implications), as well as issues with the enforcement mechanisms for anti-money laundering/combating the financing of terrorism.
Firstly, there is a need to improve the quality of the long-term care system. A reform addressing this objective concerns regulating the professional recognition of nursing assistants, and it is complemented by upgrading the human capital for the caretakers hired by the municipalities in their centres, through the reimbursements of the costs related to their further training during paid working hours.
Secondly, the average pension age should increase at the same time as the sustainability of the public pension system should improve in the face of increasing average life expectancy and decreasing working-age population. The component addresses this challenge by including a pre-existing reform linking the retirement age to a benchmark (aligned with the average life expectancy) as well as adjusting the adjacent age limits for the social security contribution system.
Thirdly, the efforts for combating the money laundering and financing of terrorism should be stepped-up. Sweden had already imposed a number of measures, and the component adds to these with two reform proposals: (1) A public inquiry on the effectiveness of the supervisory institutional structure in the area of anti-money laundering with proposals for improvements on how to better share information between private and public institutions; (2) By passing a bill for granting access to data regarding bank accounts and safe deposit boxes to all relevant competent authorities.
The component is expected to contribute to country-specific recommendations addressed to Sweden, in particular “focus investment related to economic policy on education and skills” (country-specific recommendation 2, 2019), “ensure effective supervision and the enforcement of the anti-money laundering framework” (country-specific recommendation 2, 2019) and “improve the effectiveness of anti-money laundering supervision and effectively enforce the anti-money laundering framework” (country-specific recommendation 3, 2020), and “pursue fiscal policies aimed at achieving prudent medium-term fiscal positions and ensuring debt sustainability, while enhancing investment (…) ensure the resilience of the health system, including through adequate supplies of critical medical products, infrastructure and workforce” (country-specific recommendation 1, 2020).
3.1.Description of the reforms and investments for non-repayable financial support
Investment 1: Elderly care initiative
This investment aims at improving the skills set of the staff working in elderly care centres. It shall consist of disbursements of the salary costs related to the upskilling and training of the staff (8000 participants from different groups) during their working hours. The central government shall make these disbursements to the municipalities, which are responsible for elderly care.
The implementation of the investment shall be completed by 31 December 2023. Reform 1: Regulating the professional title of nursing assistants
This reform aims to address the lack of national legal provisions with respect to the skills and/or education required for a recognised nursing assistant title. A legislative proposal shall enter into force by 30 September 2023 indicating the educational and/or the corresponding skills required from persons seeking the title of nursing assistant. A 10-year transitionary period shall be stipulated (shall end in 2033) to enable the employees currently having the occupation to apply for and receive the certificate of recognition. The reform therefore aims to ensure legal protection for the profession of nurse assistants and increased quality and safety services in healthcare settings and in the long-term care sector.
The implementation of the reform shall be completed by 30 September 2023.
Reform 2: Adjusted age limits
The objective of this reform is to increase the average pension age and improve further the sustainability of the public pension system by gradual increases in the retirement age reflected in adjustments in the social security and tax systems. Several age limits shall be progressively adjusted as of 2023, in particular, raising the minimum age for deductions of pension benefits from 62 to 63, and the minimum age for when the basic protection for the retired can be paid from 65 to 66. Subsequently, starting from 2026, the retirement age limits shall be linked to a benchmark age aligned with the average life expectancy. The age limits for social security, tax and contribution systems shall be adjusted accordingly, to allow for a greater labour supply, and higher tax income.
The implementation of the reform shall be completed by 30 June 2026.
Reform 3: Stronger measures against money laundering and terrorist financing
A public inquiry has been arranged in order to fulfil two tasks. Firstly, to provide proposals for legislative amendments for stricter and more effective anti-money laundering and combating the financing of terrorism measures. Secondly, to assess the effectiveness of the Swedish Financial Supervisory Authority in terms of resources, staffing and government control, inter alia, as well as the effectiveness of the institutional structure of the supervisory system as a whole. A proposal was presented to the government on 31 May 2021 (SOU 2021:42) and was sent to a public consultation that was closed on 16 September 2021. The results of the public inquiry shall feed into a government proposal and the relevant legislation shall be adopted and enter into force.
The implementation of the reform shall be completed by 31 December 2023. Reform 4: A new bank account and safe deposit box system
This reform concerns giving access to data related to the identities of the bank account and safe deposit box holders to the relevant authorities (Financial Intelligence Unit, Tax Agency, Enforcement Authority, law enforcement authorities) in order to step-up the efforts on anti- money laundering and combating the financing of terrorism: Data regarding the balance and transaction history shall not be covered by this measure. Such information shall be made available on a platform managed by the Swedish Tax Authority. A legislative proposal (Prop. 2019/20:83) was to be sent to the Riksdag on 11 February and enter into force on 10 September 2020 (2020:272); the connection of roughly 150 financial institutions and competent agencies shall be carried out by the Swedish Tax Agency and aims to be finished by 30 June 2022.
The implementation of the reform was to be completed by 30 September 2020.
Reform 5: Ensuring an effective and efficient implementation of the Recovery and Resilience Plan
The aim of this reform is to establish the relevant legal mandates or assignments to the authorities involved in the coordination, monitoring, control and audit of the implementation of the Swedish RPP in an efficient and effective manner which meets the requirements set out in the Regulation (EU) 2021/241. To ensure an adequate and functional internal control system with respect to the implementation of the RRF, the following legislative amendments shall have entered into force before the first payment request is submitted to the Commission.
1)Amendments to applicable regulations and assignments to all government entities that are involved in operational aspects of implementing the RRP in accordance with the requirements of Article 22 and 34(2) of the Regulation (EU) 2021/241;
2)Entry into force of all formal mandates to carry out associated tasks to the Swedish National Financial Management Authority (ESV) as the audit authority responsible for the overall monitoring of RRF disbursements and uses, with the right to gather information on achievement of milestones and targets i.e. data access at the implementing bodies and the right to audit including the access to data on final recipients in accordance with art. 22(2), point (d) of Regulation (EU) 2021/241. The ESV shall be the competent audit authority for centralising all relevant audit findings and recommendations as well as for requesting the necessary information to carry out these responsibilities. In addition, the government shall decide on mandates to specific authorities responsible for aspects of RRF execution to report on the respective objectives and achievements of milestones and targets to the Swedish National Financial Management Authority (ESV) and to the central coordinating capacity within the government offices (Ministry of Finance), to provide management declarations, and to allow audits by the ESV and to ensure visibility of the Union financing;
3)Entry into force of all formal mandates along with the necessary budgetary allocation to carry out associated tasks by the Swedish National Financial Management Authority (ESV) on audit.
The necessary decisions in point 1) can be specified as follows:
·The Government shall decide on assignments to the following authorities to report on their respective milestones and targets, submit management declarations and to allow audits by the Swedish National Financial Management Authority (ESV) and to ensure the visibility of the Union financing:
1.National Board of Housing, Building and Planning,
2.Agency for Digital Government,
3.Swedish National Agency for Higher Vocational Education,
4.Swedish Environmental Protection Agency,
5.Swedish Post and Telecom Authority,
6.National Board of Health and Welfare,
7.Swedish Energy Agency,
8.Swedish National Agency for Education,
9.Swedish Transport Administration, and
10.Assignment to an authority within the education field
The Government intends to enter into agreements on amended conditions with Chalmers University of Technology and Jönköping University.
·The following regulations and assignments shall, if necessary, be supplemented in accordance with the requirements in Articles 22(2), points (e) and (f) as well as Article 34(2) of Regulation (EU) 2021/241. Moreover, the regulations shall be supplemented in such a way as to give ESV the responsibility to follow up on payments and to
request the necessary information from the recipients of state grants according to the regulations:
1.Regulation (2017:1319) [förordningen om statligt stöd till åtgärder som bidrar till industrins klimatomställning],
2.Regulation (2015:517) [förordningen om stöd till lokala klimatinvesteringar],
3.Regulation (2019:525) [förordningen om statligt stöd för installation av laddningspunkter för elfordon],
4.Coming Relation [förordning om stöd till energieffektivisering av bostadshus (bereds för närvarande)],
5.Regulation (2020:266) [förordningen om statligt stöd för utbyggnad av bredbandsinfrastruktur],
6.Regulation (2016:881) [förordningen om statligt investeringsstöd för hyresbostäder och bostäder för studerande],
7.Regulation (2016:937) [förordningen om statsbidrag för regional yrkesinriktad vuxenutbildning],
8.Regulation (2009:130) [förordningen om yrkeshögskolan],
9.the coming assignments for 2022 and 2023 on the payment of state grants to municipalities due to the Elderly care initiative,
10.Assignment/regulation for The Agency for Digital Government,
11.Assignment to an authority within the education field,
12.Assignment/regulation to The Swedish Environmental Protection Agency,
13.Assignment/regulation to The National Board of Health and Welfare, and
14.Assignment/regulation to The Swedish Transport Administration.
•Mandates/assignments shall ensure that the relevant authorities put in place adequate procedures on: (i) conflict of interest, (ii) double funding, (iii) detecting fraud and corruption and (iv) collecting data.
The implementation of the reform was to be completed by 31 December 2021.
3.2.Milestones, targets, indicators, and timetable for monitoring and implementation for non-repayable financial support
See table below. The date of the baseline for all indicators is 1 February 2020 unless indicated differently in the description of the action. Amounts in the table do not include VAT.
|
Number |
Measure |
Milestone / Target |
Name |
Qualitative indicators (for milestones) |
Quantitative indicators (for targets) |
Time |
Description of each milestone and target |
|||
|
Unit |
Baseline |
Goal |
Q |
Year |
||||||
|
34 |
Elderly care initiative |
Target |
1 500 participants have started education under the Elderly care initiative |
Number |
0 |
1 500 |
Q4 |
2021 |
At least 1 500 staff members of the elderly care shall have started the education (to two functional groups: nursing assistants and nurses (covering both ‘undersköterska’ and ‘specialistundersköterska’) or for heads of unit) during the period 2020-2021. |
|
|
35 |
Elderly care initiative |
Target |
8 000 participants have started education in the framework of the Elderly care initiative |
Number |
1 500 |
8 000 |
Q4 |
2023 |
At least 8 000 staff members of the elderly care shall have started the education (to two functional groups: nursing assistants and nurses (covering both ‘undersköterska’ and ‘specialistundersköterska’) or for heads of unit) during the period 2020-2023. |
|
|
36 |
Protected professional title of the profession of nurse assistant |
Milestone |
Entry into force of a law regulating the professional title of nursing assistant |
Provision in the law indicating the entry into force of law establishing qualification requirements for nurse assistant title is published in the official journal and enters into force on the date of publication |
Q3 |
2023 |
The legislative act with respect to the education required for a second level nurse title enters into force, following adoption by the Swedish parliament. The law shall establish qualification requirements, as well as a transitionary period of 10 years to enable the employees currently having the occupation to apply for and receive the certificate of recognition. |
|||
|
37 |
Adjusted age limits |
Milestone |
Entry into force of legislative amendments to adjust age limits in social security and tax Systems |
Provision in the law indicating the entry into force of law establishing adjusted age limits in social security and tax systems are published in the official journal and enter into force on the date of publication |
Q4 |
2023 |
Entry into force, following adoption by the Swedish parliament, of legislative amendments increasing age limits in social security and tax systems by one year |
|||
|
Number |
Measure |
Milestone / Target |
Name |
Qualitative indicators (for milestones) |
Quantitative indicators (for targets) |
Time |
Description of each milestone and target |
|||
|
Unit |
Baseline |
Goal |
Q |
Year |
||||||
|
38 |
Adjusted age limits |
Milestone |
Entry into force of an automatic adjustment of age limits in social security and tax systems in line with the development of remaining life length at 65 years |
Provision in the law indicating the entry into force of law establishing a connection between the retirement age and a benchmark age aligned with the average life expectancy is published in the official journal and enters into force on the date of publication |
Q2 |
2026 |
Entry into force, following adoption by the Swedish Parliament, of legislative amendments linking the retirement age limits to a benchmark age aligned with the average life expectancy |
|||
|
39 |
Strengthening measures against money laundering and terrorist financing |
Milestone |
Entry into force of legislative amendments on stronger measures against money laundering and terrorist financing |
Provision in the law indicating the entry into force of legislative provisions establishing more effective measures against money laundering and financing of terrorism |
Q4 |
2023 |
Entry into force, following adoption by the Swedish Parliament, of legislative amendments for more effective anti-money laundering and combating the financing of terrorism measures. |
|||
|
40 |
A new bank account and safe deposit box system |
Milestone |
Entry into force of a law on a new bank account and safe deposit box system |
Provision in the law indicating the entry into force of a law granting access to data related to the identities of the |
Q3 |
2020 |
Entry into force of a legislative act giving access to data related to the identities of the bank account and safe deposits box holders to the relevant competent authorities, including public prosecutors. |
|||
|
Number |
Measure |
Milestone / Target |
Name |
Qualitative indicators (for milestones) |
Quantitative indicators (for targets) |
Time |
Description of each milestone and target |
|||
|
Unit |
Baseline |
Goal |
Q |
Year |
||||||
|
bank account and safe deposits box holders to the relevant authorities has entered into force on the date of publication (10 September 2020). |
||||||||||
|
41 |
Government decisions to ensure an effective and efficient implementation |
Milestone |
M 1: Government decisions ensuring an effective and efficient implementation of the Recovery and Resilience Plan including the audit and control set-up |
Entry into force of mandates and assignments |
Q4 |
2021 |
The Government shall take decisions on the mandates/assignments to the relevant authorities, as set out in the measure description, assigned to execute the RRP and other necessary decisions required to implement the RRP in an efficient and effective manner, which meets the requirements of Regulation (EU) 2021/241. The mandates/assignments shall ensure that the relevant authorities have adequate procedures on: (i) conflict of interest, (ii) double funding, (iii) detecting fraud and corruption and (iv) collecting data. |
|||
|
42 |
Government decisions to ensure an effective and efficient implementation |
Milestone |
M 2: Government decisions ensuring an effective and efficient implementation of the Recovery and Resilience Plan including the audit and control set-up |
Entry into force of mandates and assignments |
Q4 |
2021 |
The Government shall give the Swedish National Financial Management Authority (ESV) the relevant mandates/assignments on information management with respect to the execution of the RRP (data collection on achievement of milestones and targets) and reporting aside from their mandate as audit authority. |
|||
|
43 |
Government decisions to ensure an effective and efficient implementation |
Milestone |
M 3: Government decisions ensuring an effective and efficient implementation of the Recovery and Resilience Plan including the audit and control set-up |
Entry into force of mandates and assignments |
Q4 |
2021 |
The Government shall take the decisions on relevant mandates/assignments to the Swedish National Financial Management Authority (ESV) on audit. |
|||
D.COMPONENT 4: BROADBAND EXPANSION AND DIGITALISATION OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION
This component of the Swedish recovery and resilience plan contains investments that aim to expand Sweden’s digital infrastructure and to make its public administration more efficient and fit-for-purpose by taking advantage of the opportunity of digitalisation.
Sweden’s broadband infrastructure is overall well advanced. However, to reach the government’s objective that all of Sweden should have access to high-speed broadband by 2025, there is a need to increase the availability particularly in sparsely populated areas, where market mechanisms alone do not ensure the provision of such services. Increasing the speed and availability of broadband connections shall support households and companies to reap the benefits of a rapid digital transition.
This component shall also include investments in an administration-wide digital infrastructure. Currently, the lack of such infrastructure is reflected in a heterogeneous set of different frameworks and standards, which hampers interoperability and thus increases risks to efficiency and security. The investments included in this component aim to address those issues by establishing a shared digital infrastructure.
The component is expected to contribute to country-specific recommendations addressed to Sweden, in particular “focus investment on the green and digital transition, in particular on […] high-tech and innovative sectors” (country-specific recommendation 1, 2020).
4.1.Description of the reforms and investments for non-repayable financial support
Investment 1: Joint public administration digital infrastructure
The investment, which shall be coordinated by the Swedish Agency for Digital Government with the involvement of different Swedish agencies, consists of developing new digital services and upgrading and modernising existing ones, in particular services that enable standardised digital public-sector services for businesses and citizens for example digital post and support services that enable information exchange and handling among others identity and trust frameworks. The aim is to achieve greater efficiency and security in handling public data, whilst offering citizens and businesses standardised solutions across the public administration. Funds shall be allocated to a common appropriation from which grants shall be paid to the participating authorities, in order to assist them in the development and establishment of standardised digital infrastructure and jointly developed solutions. In particular, the investment shall consist of a national framework for primary data, new and improved digital services, as well as support services for the exchange and handling of information and a common trust and security framework.
The implementation of the investment shall be completed by 31 December 2023. Investment 2: Broadband expansion
The measure shall fund support for the expansion of broadband connectivity where market operators cannot expand on a commercial basis. The central government support shall be managed by the Swedish Post and Telecom Authority, which shall test eligibility, decide on grants, make payments, and supervise and monitor the implementation. Support shall be provided up to a connection point, for example fibre, (‘homes passed’) and for infrastructure with a capacity of at least 1 Gbit/sec. The grant decision shall include provisions on operational security and reliability and an obligation for the recipient of the support to deliver broadband connection to the end users upon request within three years after the completion of the project (‘homes connected’). The support shall be technology neutral, provided that projects comply with the requested speeds.
The implementation of the investment shall be completed by 31 December 2023.
4.2.Milestones, targets, indicators, and timetable for monitoring and implementation for non-repayable financial support
See table below. The date of the baseline for all indicators is 1 February 2020 unless indicated differently in the description of the action. Amounts in the table do not include VAT.
|
Number |
Measure |
Milestone / Target |
Name |
Qualitative indicators (for milestones) |
Quantitative indicators (for targets) |
Time |
Description of each milestone and target |
|||
|
Unit |
Baseline |
Goal |
Q |
Year |
||||||
|
44 |
Joint public administration digital infrastructure |
Milestone |
National framework for basic data and joint public digital infrastructure is established and operational |
National framework and joint public digital infrastructure are established and operational for secure and efficient electronic information exchange and access to basic data within the public sector. |
Q4 |
2023 |
A national framework for basic data (initially covering personal, company, property and geographical information) and a joint public digital infrastructure, including building blocks for information exchange and handling, new digital services and trust and security frameworks for a secure and efficient information exchange in the public sector is set-up and operational. |
|||
|
45 |
Broadband expansion |
Target |
Additional number of buildings with broadband access (Homes Passed) |
Number |
0 |
66 100 |
Q4 |
2023 |
At least 66 100 additional buildings in absolute proximity to a network with capacity of at least 1 Gbit/sec (Homes Passed) in granted projects. Absolute proximity refers to buildings that are not connected to a very high capacity network (e.g. fiber), but where such a network (e.g. a fiber cable) is located near the building. |
|
E.COMPONENT 5: INVESTMENT FOR GROWTH AND HOUSING
This component shall include reforms and investments aiming at reducing frictions and foster investments in the housing market.
High house prices and associated high household debt have been identified as macroeconomic imbalances in the Swedish economy since the start of the macroeconomic imbalance procedure, leading to dedicated country-specific recommendations.
The reforms and investments related to the housing market shall aim to increase housing supply in the rental market and student housing through building subsidies, to improve prerequisites in housing construction, to reduce bottlenecks in the construction permit procedure, and to reduce the capital gains tax on housing.
Against this background, the objective of this component of the Swedish recovery and resilience plan shall be to contribute to increased housing construction and to improve the efficiency of the housing market. The component contains one investment and five reform measures.
The reform measures related to the housing market shall (1) allow stakeholders to participate in the construction planning process, (2) simplify and increase the efficiency of the regulatory framework for building permits, (3) improve prerequisites in housing construction, (4) raise the ceiling on deferred capital gains, and (5) abolish the taxed calculated income on deferred capital gains.
The component is expected to contribute to country-specific recommendations addressed to Sweden, in particular “address risks related to high household debt by gradually reducing the tax deductibility of mortgage interest payments or increasing recurrent property taxes. Stimulate investment in residential construction where shortages are most pressing, in particular by removing structural obstacles to construction. Improve the efficiency of the housing market and revising the design of the capital gains tax” (country-specific recommendation 1, 2019).
5.1.Description of the reforms and investments for non-repayable financial support
Investment 1: Investment aid for rental and student housing
The investment measure aims to relief the housing shortage by increasing the supply of new rental dwellings with a lower rent relative to new non-subsidised housing. Together with restrictions concerning income requirements, these dwellings shall be economically accessible to a larger number of households, easing the situation also for individuals in the lower half of the income distribution, students or people becoming active on the labor market. Construction subsidies shall be paid to houses to be completed in 2022 and 2023. Several conditions shall be attached to ensure that the target group is reached, namely, the investment aid is conditional on a maximum rent whereas the landlord may not refuse a prospective tenant to rent a subsidised dwelling on the ground that the income is too low, as long as the person or household is in a position to pay the rent. The support scheme shall give support to investments that achieve at least a 20% reduction in the primary energy demand at the level of the building compared to the requirements of the building regulation.
The implementation of the investment shall be completed by 31 December 2023.
Reform 1: Private right of initiative – involvement of planning stakeholders inzoning
The reform measure aims to shorten planning periods for zoning, in areas where construction is allowed. When the reform enters into force, more opportunities shall be given to stakeholders like property owners, developers and builders to initiate and partly to carry out the work on the development of detailed zoning plans. The municipality shall inform the requesting stakeholder what planning documentation is needed for a detailed planning including those documents related to national interests, beach protection and health and safety. The Planning and Building Act shall be revised to clarify that, notwithstanding the ultimate responsibility of the municipality, a proposal for a detailed zoning plan can be drawn up by property owners or others who take the initiative to propose a construction plan.
The implementation of the reform was to be completed by 31 December 2021. Reform 2: A simplified and efficient regulatory framework for building permits
The reform measure aims to make the regulatory framework for building permits more effective and efficient. The reform measure shall establish (i) when a license or notification obligation should arise for different types of construction measures, (ii) which prescriptions should be complied with in order to obtain the permit, ensuring that license obligations are not more extensive than necessary to ensure the interest of society and neighbors (iii) necessary changes in procedural rules and (iv) also make the other proposals in the planning and construction regulations and in other regulations that are deemed justified on the basis of the investigator’s analyses and requests.
The implementation of the reform shall be completed by 31 December 2023.
Reform 3: Better prerequisites in housing construction
In order to enable increased predictability and efficiency in the construction process and to facilitate repeatable processes, the Government has put forward on 16 September 2021 a legislative proposal on certified construction project companies – a more predictable construction process. The reform shall modify the Planning and Building Act (SCS 2010:900) by introducing a new player in the Planning and Building Act, a certified construction project company (“Certifierade byggprojekteringsföretag – en mer förutsägbar byggprocess”).
A certified construction project company shall have specific expertise and experience in assessing the design requirements for effectiveness and accessibility as well as technical property requirements for the construction of residential buildings that shall be set out in government regulations, and shall be able to substantiate this with a certificate issued by a body accredited for that purpose. Furthermore, the reform shall allow that a developer can use a certified construction project company in the design of new residential buildings. If such an enterprise is used, the Building committee shall not take into account the requirements covered by the certification, either prior to a decision on building permits or start-up notices. It shall be optional for a developer to use a certified construction project company in the process.
The implementation of the reform shall be completed by 31 December 2022. Reform 4: Higher ceiling for the deferred amount in the capital gains tax
The measure aims to lower transaction costs for real estate purchases by private home owners, thereby easing housing and labor mobility. The maximum amount of deferred capital gains was raised from SEK 1 450 000 to SEK 3 000 000.
The implementation of the reform was to be completed by 1 July 2020, applying to sales after 30 June 2020.
Reform 5: Abolishing the calculated income from deferred capital gains
The measure aims to lower transaction costs for real estate transactions by private home owners, thereby easing housing and labor mobility. The measure abolishes the standard income on deferred capital gains. Earlier, the deferred capital gains were subject to a standard income based on the set interest rate. This standard income had to be added to taxable income and was taxed at a 30% rate.
The implementation of the reform was to be completed by 1 January 2021, applying to tax years beginning after 31 December 2020.
5.2.Milestones, targets, indicators, and timetable for monitoring and implementation for non-repayable financial support
See table below. The date of the baseline for all indicators is 1 February 2020 unless indicated differently in the description of the action. Amounts in the table do not include VAT.
|
Number |
Measure |
Milestone / Target |
Name |
Qualitative indicators (for milestones) |
Quantitative indicators (for targets) |
Time |
Description of each milestone and target |
|||
|
Unit |
Baseline |
Goal |
Q |
Year |
||||||
|
50 |
Investment support for rental housing and housing for students |
Target |
T1: Payment of support for new completed dwellings |
New completed dwellings |
0 |
1 500 |
Q4 |
2022 |
Statistics on the total payments and number of dwellings delivered that fulfil the conditions to ensure that the target group is reached, namely, the investment aid is conditional on a maximum rent whereas the landlord may not refuse a prospective tenant to rent a subsidised dwelling on the ground that the income is too low, as long as the person or household is in a position to pay the rent. The data on rents shall be compared to non-subsidised new dwellings. |
|
|
51 |
Investment support for rental housing and housing for students |
Target |
T2: Payment of support for new completed dwellings |
New completed dwelling |
1 500 |
4 800 |
Q4 |
2023 |
Statistics on the total payments and number of dwellings delivered that fulfil the conditions to ensure that the target group is reached, namely, the investment aid is conditional on a maximum rent whereas the landlord may not refuse a prospective tenant to rent a subsidised dwelling on the ground that the income is too low, as long as the person or household is in a position to pay the rent. The data on rents shall be compared to non-subsidised new dwellings. |
|
|
52 |
Private right of initiative - participation of planning stakeholders in detailed development planning |
Milestone |
Entry into force of a law on establishing a private right of initiative |
Provision in the law establishing a private right of initiative indicating the entry into force |
Q4 |
2021 |
Entry into force, following adoption by the Swedish Parliament, of legislative amendments that include (1) an obligation for municipalities to provide information on the required planning documentation for private parties involved in development planning, (2) a right for stakeholders to obtain the list of documents the Country Administrative Board considers necessary to judge whether the development planning concerns interests that come under the purview of the County Administrative Board, for example national interests, shore protection and health and safety, as well as (3) clarifications to the Planning and Building Act that the planning documentation required when a detailed development plan is prepared may also be produced by others besides the municipality. |
|||
|
53 |
A simplified and |
Milestone |
Entry into force of |
Provision in the law |
Q4 |
2023 |
Entry into force, following adoption by the Swedish |
|||
|
Number |
Measure |
Milestone / Target |
Name |
Qualitative indicators (for milestones) |
Quantitative indicators (for targets) |
Time |
Description of each milestone and target |
|||
|
Unit |
Baseline |
Goal |
Q |
Year |
||||||
|
effective regulatory framework for building permits and others |
a law establishing a simplified and more effective regulatory framework for building permits |
establishing a simplified and more effective regulatory framework for building permits indicating the entry into force |
Parliament, of legislative amendments for a simplified and effective regulatory framework for building permits. The licensing obligation and the requirements that must be met in order to obtain a permit shall not be more extensive than necessary to ensure the interests of society and the neighbors. |
|||||||
|
54 |
Better prerequisites in housing construction |
Milestone |
Entry into force of amendments to the Planning and Building Act, establishing a certified construction project company [Certifierade byggprojekterings företag – en mer förutsägbar byggprocess] leading to better prerequisites in housing construction |
Provision in the law establishing better prerequisites in housing construction indicating the entry into force |
Q4 |
2022 |
Entry into force, following adoption by the Swedish Parliament, of legislative amendments to the Planning and Building Act (SCS 2010:900) shall introduce a new actor, namely the certified construction project company. The use of such a company in the processes of housing construction process shall replace the municipality’s early check of whether the building regulations covered by the certification are met. The purpose is to enable increased predictability and efficiency in the construction process and to facilitate repeatable processes. |
|||
|
55 |
Higher ceiling for deferred capital gains |
Milestone |
Entry into force of a change in the relevant tax law raising the ceiling for deferred capital gains [from SEK 1 450 000 to SEK 3 000 000) |
Provision in the law indicating the entry into force of law raising the ceiling for deferred capital gains |
Q3 |
2020 |
The reform measure shall raise the maximum amount deferred for capital gains taxation from SEK 1 450 000 to SEK 3 000 000. |
|||
|
56 |
Abolished standard income on deferred |
Milestone |
Entry into force of a change in the |
Provision in the law indicating the entry |
Q1 |
2021 |
The reform measure shall abolish the standard income on the deferred capital gains for the income tax. |
|||
|
Number |
Measure |
Milestone / Target |
Name |
Qualitative indicators (for milestones) |
Quantitative indicators (for targets) |
Time |
Description of each milestone and target |
|||
|
Unit |
Baseline |
Goal |
Q |
Year |
||||||
|
capital gains |
relevant tax law abolishing the standard income on deferred capital gains |
into force of law abolishing the standard income on deferred capital gains |
||||||||
F.COMPONENT 6: REPowerEU CHAPTER
The objective of the REPowerEU chapter is to reduce the overall reliance on fossil fuels and, in particular, to speed up the construction of new electricity networks, improve energy efficiency of buildings and combat energy poverty.
The component, therefore, addresses the country-specific recommendation related to reducing overall reliance on fossil fuels (country-specific recommendations 4 of 2022 and 2023). Two investments improve the energy efficiency in multi-dwelling buildings and in buildings for rental and student housing, whereas a reform streamlines authorization procedures for the expansion of the electricity grid.
No measure in this component shall cause significant harm to environmental objectives within the meaning of Article 17 of Regulation (EU) 2020/852, taking into account the description of the measures and the mitigating steps set out in the recovery and resilience plan in accordance with the DNSH Technical Guidance (2021/C58/01).
F.1 Description of the reforms and investments for non-repayable financial support
Investment 1: Scaled-up measure: Energy efficiency in multi-dwelling buildings
The objective of this measure is to scale-up Investment 3: Energy efficiency in multi-dwelling buildings, under component 1: Green recovery. The scale-up of the measure shall increase the number of renovated square meters for energy efficiency purposes.
The investment shall be completed by 31 December 2025.
Investment 2: Scaled-up measure: Investment aid for rental and student housing
The objective of this measure is to scale-up Investment 1: Investment aid for rental and student housing, under component 5: Investment for growth and housing. The scale-up of the measure shall increase the number of completed dwellings for rental and student housing.
The investment shall be completed by 31 December 2025.
Reform 1: Speeding up the authorisation process for electricity grid construction
The objective of this reform is to shorten the permitting process for electricity grid construction, in view of strengthening the electricity network within Sweden. The reform also aims to address domestic and cross-border bottlenecks in electricity transmission. The reform shall consist of legislation simplifying procedures for the construction of electricity network infrastructure. In this regard, the reform shall include the following elements:
·the introduction of a simplified procedure for granting exemptions from local area protection during the permitting process for electricity grid construction (as currently described in Chapter 7, Sections 11-b and 13-18h of the Swedish Environmental Code), which shall enable granting these exemptions faster and at earlier stages of the permitting process; and
·a presumption to use overhead line solutions instead of ground cable solutions when assessing technology choices at the highest voltage levels, which shall amend the existing requirement that both types of solutions should be explored by default.
The reform shall be completed by 31 December 2024.
F.2 Milestones, targets, indicators, and timetable for monitoring and implementation for non-repayable financial support
See table below. The date of the baseline for all indicators is 1 February 2020 unless indicated differently in the description of the action. Amounts in the table do not include VAT.
|
Number |
Measure |
Milestone/Target |
Name |
Qualitative indicators for milestones |
Quantitative indicators (for targets) |
Time |
Description of each milestone and target |
|||
|
Unit |
Baseline |
Goal |
Q |
Year |
||||||
|
57 |
Energy efficiency in multi-dwelling buildings |
Target |
1 646 000 square meters of buildings have been renovated |
Square meters |
600 000 |
2 246 000 |
Q4 |
2025 |
1 646 000 square meters of buildings shall have been renovated. The unit of measurement is Atemp, which is a term that defines the floor area of the building on which the energy performance should be based. Atemp is defined as the area of all floors, attic floors and basement floors with temperature-controlled areas which are intended to be heated to over 10°C and that are bounded by the inside of the building envelope. The area occupied by interior walls or openings for stairs, shafts and similar is included. However, area in garages, in the building in a residential building or in non-residential premises other than a garage is not included. |
|
|
58 |
Investment support for rental housing and housing for students |
Target |
T3: Payment of support for new completed dwellings |
New completed dwellings |
4 800 |
6 720 |
Q4 |
2025 |
Statistics on the total payments and number of dwellings delivered that fulfil the conditions to ensure that the target group is reached, namely, the investment aid is conditional on a maximum rent whereas the landlord may not refuse a prospective tenant to rent a subsidised dwelling on the ground that the income is too low, as long as the person or household is in a position to pay the rent. The data on rents shall be compared to non-subsidised new dwellings. |
|
|
59 |
Speeding up the authorization process for electricity grid construction |
Milestone |
Entry into force of a law to speed up the authorization process for electricity grid construction |
Provision in the law indicating the entry into force of a law speeding up the authorization process for electricity grid construction |
Q4 |
2024 |
Entry into force of a law that shall introduce: (a) a simplified procedure for granting exemptions from local area protection during the permitting process for electricity grid construction (as currently described in Chapter 7, Sections 11-b and 13-18h of the Swedish Environmental Code), which shall enable the grant of these exemptions at shorter time frames and at earlier stages of the permitting process; and (b) a presumption for the use of overhead line solutions over ground cable solutions when assessing technology choices at the highest voltage levels, which shall amend the existing requirement that both types of solutions should be explored by default. |
|||
2. Estimated total cost of the recovery and resilience plan
The estimated total cost of the RRP of Sweden is SEK 35 454 030 000, which equals EUR 3 501 632 593 on the basis of the EUR SEK ECB reference rate of 28 May 2021.
SECTION 2: FINANCIAL SUPPORT
1.Financial contribution
The instalments referred to in Article 2(2) shall be organised in the following manner:
1.1.First Instalment (non-repayable support):
|
Sequential Number |
Related Measure (Reform or Investment) |
Milestone / Target |
Name |
|
1 |
Local and regional climate investment |
Target |
T1: Award of projects reducing carbon dioxide emissions by expected 300 000 tonnes |
|
7 |
Energy efficiency in multi- dwelling buildings |
Milestone |
Entry into force of an ordinance establishing the support scheme for investments to improve energy efficiency in multi-dwelling buildings |
|
9 |
Strengthened railway support |
Target |
60 km of railways has been improved or upgraded |
|
15 |
Abolished reduction of energy tax on fuel in certain sectors |
Milestone |
Entry into force of a law that partially abolishes a reduction of energy tax on fuel in certain sectors |
|
17 |
Adjusted taxable benefit rates for company cars |
Milestone |
Entry into force of a law to adjust the taxable benefit rate for company cars |
|
19 |
More study places in regional adult vocational education |
Target |
T1: New study places in vocational training and adult education |
|
Sequential Number |
Related Measure (Reform or Investment) |
Milestone / Target |
Name |
|
20 |
More study places in regional adult vocational education |
Target |
T2: New study places in vocational training and adult education |
|
23 |
Higher compensation level for vocational training in combination with Swedish for Immigrants and Swedish as a second language |
Milestone |
Entry into force of the higher compensation level for vocational training in combination with Swedish for Immigrants and Swedish as a second language |
|
28 |
Resources to meet demands for education at universities and other higher education institutions |
Target |
T1: Additionally registered students in higher education |
|
34 |
Elderly care initiative |
Target |
1 500 participants have started education under the Elderly care initiative |
|
40 |
A new bank account and safe deposit box system |
Milestone |
Entry into force of a law on a new bank account and safe deposit box system |
|
41 |
Government decisions to ensure an effective and efficient implementation |
Milestone |
M1: Government decisions ensuring an effective and efficient implementation of the Recovery and Resilience Plan including the audit and control set-up |
|
42 |
Government decisions to ensure an effective and efficient implementation |
Milestone |
M2: Government decisions ensuring an effective and efficient implementation of the Recovery and Resilience Plan including the audit and control set-up |
|
43 |
Government decisions to ensure an effective and efficient implementation |
Milestone |
M3: Government decisions ensuring an effective and efficient implementation of the Recovery and Resilience Plan including the audit and control set-up |
|
52 |
Private right of initiative - participation of planning |
Milestone |
Entry into force of a law on establishing a |
|
Sequential Number |
Related Measure (Reform or Investment) |
Milestone / Target |
Name |
|
stakeholders in detailed development planning |
private right of initiative |
||
|
55 |
Higher ceiling for deferred capital gains |
Milestone |
Entry into force of a change in the relevant tax law raising the ceiling for deferred capital gains from SEK 1 450 000 to SEK 3 000 000 |
|
56 |
Abolished standard income on deferred capital gains |
Milestone |
Entry into force of a change in the relevant tax law abolishing the standard income on deferred capital gains |
|
Instalment Amount |
EUR 851 789 859 |
1.2.Second Instalment (non-repayable support):
|
Sequential Number |
Related Measure (Reform or Investment) |
Milestone / Target |
Name |
|
2 |
Local and regional climate investment |
Target |
T2: Award of projects reducing carbon dioxide emissions by expected 240 000 tonnes |
|
10 |
Strengthened railway support |
Target |
40 km of railways has been improved or upgraded |
|
16 |
Abolished reduction of energy tax on fuel in certain sectors |
Milestone |
Entry into force of the law to fully abolish reduction of energy tax on fuel in certain sectors |
|
21 |
More study places in regional adult vocational education |
Target |
T3: New study places in vocational training and adult education |
|
27 |
More yearly study places in higher vocational education |
Target |
New study places in post-secondary vocational education |
|
29 |
Resources to meet demands for education at universities and other higher education institutions |
Target |
T2: Additionally registered students in higher education |
|
33 |
Employment protection act and greater transition possibilities |
Milestone |
Entry into force of the legislative amendments to modernise employment protection and enhance greater transition possibilities |
|
45 |
Broadband expansion |
Target |
Additional number of buildings with broadband access (Homes Passed) |
|
50 |
Investment support for rental housing and housing for students |
Target |
T1: Payment of support for new completed dwellings |
|
54 |
Better prerequisites in housing construction |
Milestone |
Entry into force of amendments to the Planning and Building Act, establishing a certified construction project company [Certifierade byggprojekteringsföretag – en mer förutsägbar byggprocess] leading to better prerequisites in housing construction |
|
Instalment Amount |
EUR 794 178 485 |
1.3.Third Instalment (non-repayable support):
|
Sequential Number |
Related Measure (Reform or Investment) |
Milestone / Target |
Name |
|
11 |
Streamlining the process for environmental permits |
Milestone |
Entry into force of amendments to legislation to streamline the process for obtaining environmental permits |
|
18 |
Formal protection of valuable nature |
Target |
Funding disbursed for the protection of nature with high natural values for biodiversity |
|
22 |
More study places in regional adult vocational education |
Target |
T4: New study places in vocational training and adult education |
|
30 |
Resources to meet demands for education at universities and other higher education institutions |
Target |
T3: Additionally registered students in higher education |
|
35 |
Elderly care initiative |
Target |
8 000 participants have started education in the framework of the Elderly care initiative |
|
36 |
Protected professional title of the profession of nurse assistant |
Milestone |
Entry into force of a law regulating the professional title of nursing assistant |
|
Sequential Number |
Related Measure (Reform or Investment) |
Milestone / Target |
Name |
|
37 |
Adjusted age limits |
Milestone |
Entry into force of legislative amendments to adjust age limits in social security and tax systems |
|
39 |
Strengthening measures against money laundering and terrorist financing |
Milestone |
Entry into force of legislative amendments on stronger measures against money laundering and terrorist financing |
|
44 |
Joint public administration digital infrastructure |
Milestone |
National framework for basic data and joint public digital infrastructure is established and operational |
|
51 |
Investment support for rental housing and housing for students |
Target |
T2: Payment of support for new completed dwellings |
|
53 |
A simplified and effective regulatory framework for building permits and others |
Milestone |
Entry into force of a law establishing a simplified and more effective regulatory framework for building permits |
|
Instalment Amount |
EUR 908 904 220 |
1.4.Fourth Instalment (non-repayable support):
|
Sequential Number |
Related Measure (Reform or Investment) |
Milestone / Target |
Name |
|
4 |
Local and regional climate investment |
Target |
T4: Award of projects reducing carbon dioxide emissions by expected 230 000 tonnes |
|
31 |
Resources to meet demands for education at universities and other higher education institutions |
Target |
T4: Additionally registered students in higher education |
|
33bis |
National professional programme for principals, teachers and early childhood education and care teachers |
Milestone |
Entry into force of the amendments of the Education Act |
|
59 |
Speeding up the authorization process for electricity grid construction |
Milestone |
Entry into force of a law to speed up the authorization process for electricity grid construction |
|
Instalment Amount |
EUR 374 265 494 |
Fifth Instalment (non-repayable support):
|
Sequential Number |
Related Measure (Reform or Investment) |
Milestone / Target |
Name |
|
5 |
Local and regional climate investment |
Target |
T5: Award of projects reducing carbon dioxide emissions by expected 15 000 tonnes |
|
6 |
Climate investment in the industrial sector |
Target |
Award of projects having the potential to contribute towards reducing carbon dioxide emission |
|
6a |
Climate investment in the industrial sector |
Target |
Financial support paid out to projects having the potential to contribute towards reducing carbon dioxide emission |
|
6b |
Climate investment in the industrial sector |
Target |
Financial support paid out to projects having the potential to contribute towards reducing carbon dioxide emission |
|
8 |
Energy efficiency in multi- dwelling buildings |
Target |
600 000 square meters of buildings have been renovated. |
|
57 |
Energy efficiency in multi- dwelling buildings |
Target |
1 646 000 square meters of buildings have been renovated. |
|
32 |
Resources to meet demands for education at universities and other higher education institutions |
Target |
T5: Additionally registered students in higher education |
|
38 |
Adjusted age limit |
Milestone |
Entry into force of an automatic adjustment of age limits in social security and tax systems in line with the development of remaining life length at 65 years |
|
58 |
Investment support for rental housing and housing for students |
Target |
T3: Payment of support for new completed dwellings |
|
Instalment Amount |
EUR 516 528 150 |
SECTION 3: ADDITIONAL ARRANGEMENTS
1.Arrangements for monitoring and implementation of the recovery and resilience plan
The monitoring and implementation of the recovery and resilience plan of Sweden shall take place in accordance with the following arrangements:
·The international and economic department Ministry of Finance shall be the Coordinating Authority and shall have the overall responsibility for monitoring and implementation of the plan as a whole. The responsible public authority shall monitor, verify and validate the achievement of milestones and targets. The Coordinating Authority shall prepare and sign the management declaration and also be responsible for the preparation and submission of the requests for payment to the European Commission and for payments at national level.
·Public authorities (myndigheter) shall be responsible for the implementation of individual measures of the recovery and resilience plan of Sweden. They shall report to the Coordinating Authority on the progress of the implementation and on the achievement of milestones and targets.
·The overarching audit authority shall be the Swedish National Financial Management Authority (ESV). Recurrent audits on efficiency, effectiveness and reliability of accounts are regularly undertaken by the National Audit Office (NAO).
2.Arrangements for providing full access by the Commission to the underlying data
In order to provide full access to the Commission to the underlying relevant data, Sweden shall have in place the following arrangements:
·The Ministry of Finance bears the overall responsibility for the implementation of the recovery and resilience plan and is accountable on behalf of all public sector entities on the operational and administrative aspects of the RRP. To ensure coherence in the implementation of the RRP, the overarching audit authority is the Swedish National Financial Management Authority (ESV), which assists the Ministry of Finance with its overall coordination duties. The ESV is also responsible for collecting the data for monitoring the achievement of milestones and targets by the Ministry of Finance. The Ministry of Finance (Coordinating Authority) is responsible for handling and ensuring a central reply to requests for information and access to data on final recipients. The collection and storage of such data is ensured by the authorities responsible for implementing the RRP.
·In accordance with Article 24(2) of Regulation (EU) 2021/241, upon completion of the relevant agreed milestones and targets in Section 2.1 of this Annex, Sweden shall submit to the Commission a duly justified request for payment of the financial contribution. Sweden shall ensure that, upon request, the Commission has full access to the underlying relevant data that supports the due justification of the request for payment, both for the assessment of the request for payment in accordance with Article 24(3) of Regulation (EU) 2021/241 and for audit and control purposes.
Where the activity supported achieves projected greenhouse gas emissions that are not significantly lower than the relevant benchmarks an explanation of the reasons why this is not possible should be provided. Benchmarks established for free allocation for activities falling within the scope of the Emissions Trading System, as set out in the Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/447.
Except projects under this measure in power and/or heat generation, as well as related transmission and distribution infrastructure, using natural gas, that are compliant with the conditions set out in Annex III of the ‘Do no significant harm’ Technical Guidance (2021/C58/01).
This exclusion does not apply to actions under this measure in plants exclusively dedicated to treating non-recyclable hazardous waste, and to existing plants, where the actions under this measure are for the purpose of increasing energy efficiency, capturing exhaust gases for storage or use or recovering materials from incineration ashes, provided such actions under this measure do not result in an increase of the plants’ waste processing capacity or in an extension of the lifetime of the plants; for which evidence is provided at plant level.
This exclusion does not apply to actions under this measure in existing mechanical biological treatment plants, where the actions under this measure are for the purpose of increasing energy efficiency or retrofitting to recycling operations of separated waste to compost bio-waste and anaerobic digestion of bio-waste, provided such actions under this measure do not result in an increase of the plants’ waste processing capacity or in an extension of the lifetime of the plants; for which evidence is provided at plant level.
Where the activity supported achieves projected greenhouse gas emissions that are not significantly lower than
the relevant benchmarks an explanation of the reasons why this is not possible should be provided. Benchmarks established for free allocation for activities falling within the scope of the Emissions Trading System, as set out in the Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/447.
Except projects under this measure in power and/or heat generation, as well as related transmission and distribution infrastructure, using natural gas, that are compliant with the conditions set out in Annex III of the ‘Do no significant harm’ Technical Guidance (2021/C58/01).
This exclusion does not apply to actions under this measure in plants exclusively dedicated to treating non - recyclable hazardous waste, and to existing plants, where the actions under this measure are for the purpose of increasing energy efficiency, capturing exhaust gases for storage or use or recovering materials from incineration ashes, provided such actions under this measure do not result in an increase of the plants’ waste processing capacity or in an extension of the lifetime of the plants; for which evidence is provided at plant level.
This exclusion does not apply to actions under this measure in existing mechanical biological treatment plants, where the actions under this measure are for the purpose of increasing energy efficiency or retrofitting to recycling operations of separated waste to compost bio-waste and anaerobic digestion of bio-waste, provided such actions under this measure do not result in an increase of the plants’ waste processing capacity or in an extension of the lifetime of the plants; for which evidence is provided at plant level.