On 15 April, the government will present the spring amending budget, which addresses financial allocations for the year. The civil defence will be allocated 385 million SEK, which includes investments in RISE (Research Institutes of Sweden) and the stockpiling of medical products, announced representatives from the Tidö parties at a press conference at Rosenbad.

The press conference was held by the Minister for Civil Defence, Carl-Oskar Bohlin (Moderate Party), in a joint press conference together with the Minister of Health, Acko Ankarberg Johansson (Christian Democrats), the Secretary of the Sweden Democrats, Mattias Bäckström Johansson, and the Liberal Party's defence policy spokesperson, Anna Starbrink.

– The security policy situation in the world has deteriorated over a long period. It has been almost ten years since Sweden decided to re-establish the total defence concept and the civil defence. This work started from virtually nothing and has progressed relatively slowly. When this government took office, we set a more ambitious level than the latest defence decision with additional investments, says Carl-Oskar Bohlin.

The budget increase spans nine areas, including cybersecurity, drinking water supply, transport infrastructure, medical products, shelter equipment, and measuring instruments for the research institute RISE, totalling 385 million SEK.

The largest item, 130 million SEK, concerns 'state reinforcement resources' - including increased resources for the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency (MSB) so that the agency can, if necessary, assist municipal rescue services. For example, the funds will be used for the procurement of equipment for firefighting as well as decontamination and detection of hazardous substances.

– The war in Ukraine has shown that attacks on cities and civilians are extensive and pose significant challenges. We have truly seen the strength in Ukraine, and we now also need to improve in Sweden, says Anna Starbrink.