– There has been great interest from the business sector to actively participate in total defence planning, and a forum for information exchange and cooperation has long been requested. At this first meeting, we have gained an understanding of what participants see as some of the most important issues regarding how the business sector can be engaged in the development of total defence, says Carl-Oskar Bohlin.
Civil and military situation overview
Supreme Commander Micael Bydén and Charlotte Petri Gornitzka, Director General of the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency (MSB), described the global situation concerning the military and civilian situation overview.
– We see that the security policy situation in our surroundings has deteriorated at a faster pace than the capability of the Swedish civil defence has grown in recent years. We need to increase our sense of urgency, accelerate the pace, and encourage local and regional initiatives for cooperation between private and public actors, says Carl-Oskar Bohlin.
– The important thing is to get the business sector engaged and allow them to ask their questions, to start the dialogue, whether it concerns increasing robustness, securing fuel supplies, or discussing labour law issues, he says.
Guidance for war organisation
An important part of total defence is personnel supply. MSB presented at the meeting guidance for both private and public actors that can be used to plan which war organisation needs to exist and how it should be staffed to continue operations during heightened readiness.
Next steps
The government states that a new meeting is already planned before the summer to continue the discussions that have begun.
An important issue for the council going forward will be to discuss supply preparedness. At the end of August, the Inquiry on National Coordination of Supply Preparedness will present how a national function for supply preparedness should be financed and organised.
About the Business Council for Total Defence and Crisis Preparedness
The business council includes representatives from the business sector, employee and employer organisations, and the state. It is led by the Minister for Civil Defence, Carl-Oskar Bohlin. The government is also represented by the Minister of Defence, the Minister for Energy and Business, and the Minister for Rural Affairs.
The purpose of the business council is to increase participants' knowledge of cross-sectoral issues and the different conditions that apply to the business sector, employee organisations, and the state, for example, by exchanging situation information with each other.
Members of the business council come from: Almega Construction Companies Energy Companies Federation of Swedish Farmers Lif – the Research-Based Pharmaceutical Companies LO – The Swedish Trade Union Confederation SACO – The Swedish Confederation of Professional Associations SOFF – Security and Defence Companies Swedish Bankers' Association Swedish Trade Federation Confederation of Swedish Enterprise Transport Companies TCO – The Swedish Confederation of Professional Employees Engineering Companies
Additional organisations may be invited to the council's meetings when deemed necessary and depending on the areas discussed.