Historical Background
Sweden is a country large in area and small in population; it has almost nine million inhabitants. Although Sweden has long experience of regional policy measures, it was only in 1998 that the Swedish government launched a unified municipal policy. During the crises of the 1990s social divisions widened. Unemployment struck hardest in the more disadvantaged city neighbourhoods. The government wanted to take a step in a process in which all levels of governments work together to create growth in vulnerable urban areas. This is made clear in its Metropolitan Bill: 'A Policy for the Metropolitan Areas in the 21st Century'.

Current Issues
Promoting growth: the creation of new employment opportunities in the metropolitan regions. The concrete objectives are access to a qualified workforce and a business sector adapted to the requirements of the regions.

Stopping segregation: equal and comparable living conditions for all people living in the cities. This means raising employment rates for minorities, the creation of safe neighbourhoods, raising the educational level of the adult population and increasing citizen participation in disadvantaged neighbourhoods.

Characteristics
Sweden's largest cities are Stockholm with 760,000, Gothenburg with 450,000 and Malmö with 250,000 inhabitants. These three together account for thirty-five per cent of the country's population.

Among the metropolitan regions, only Stockholm has demonstrated strong economic growth over the last fifteen years. Stockholm is even the highest scoring region in Europe in terms of competitiveness, according to the World Knowledge Competitiveness Index 2004.

The socially disadvantaged metropolitan areas covered by central policy are restricted to seven municipalities: Botkyrka, Gothenburg, Haninge, Huddinge, Malmö, Stockholm and Södertälje.

Populations in the big city centres are declining, with people moving out to the suburbs or to the more thinly populated areas.

Key Features of Swedish Urban Policy
Central government, the regions, county councils and municipalities work together in urban policy. Local autonomy is one of the cornerstones of Swedish policy. Local authorities are empowered to levy taxes to finance their activities. Tax revenues are the largest source of income and constitute approximately two-thirds of total local authority income. However, property taxes fall to the State.

Urban policy is part of the remit of the ministry of Justice. The minister for Democracy, Integration Issues and Metropolitan Affairs within this ministry is Mona Sahlin.

National urban policy is coordinated by the Commission on Metropolitan Areas, which consists of state secretaries from seven ministries and the Prime Minister's Office. The chairman is the state secretary of Metropolitan Affairs at the ministry of Justice. This approach guarantees interdepartmental cooperation. The Commission's primary task is to achieve urban policy goals and to prepare matters for government decisions.

Cities can sign a three-year local development agreement with central government covering locally worked out objectives for vulnerable urban areas. These agreements are not mandatory, but cities are incentivised to enter into an agreement by central government funding.

The Swedish Association of Local Authorities represents the interests of all 290 municipalities in Sweden.

Foreign citizens of 18 and over who have resided in Sweden for at least three years are entitled to vote in municipal elections. Municipal elections are held every four years in conjunction with the County Council and Parliamentary elections.

21/12/2005

policy

Urban Policy