Communication and media
Listed below are the latest news articles published on the Swedish NAO website. Previous news related to our reports and review results can be accessed from our reports page or by using the website search in the page header.
News articles
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Clearer mandate from Finansinspektionen could improve efficiency of financial stability work
To avoid financial crises Sweden has extended supervision of the financial system with macroprudential supervision. Macroprudential supervision is relatively effective, but could be even better if the Government presented its view of various measures more clearly, and clarified the remit of Finansinspektionen.
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Aid effectiveness prospects in Swedish agencies’ development aid
Sida (the Swedish International Development Agency) and Swedish expert agencies have created conditions for effective support to government administrations in other countries. However, there is room for improvement regarding partners’ ownership and coordination between Swedish public agencies.
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No major regional differences in effects of labour market training
The Swedish National Audit Office has audited whether there are regional variations in the impact of the Swedish Public Employment Service's labour market training. The audit findings show that there is small variation in the probability of having a job after participating in the training programme.
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Lack of central government responsibility in the guardianship system
There are major deficiencies in the oversight of legal representatives and chief guardians. The Government should increase its responsibilities in achieving greater legal security throughout the country, writes the Swedish NAO in a performance audit report.
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Unclear how fiscal policy has been related to the economic situation
There is increased transparency in the Government’s fiscal policy bills and the central government annual report. However, the Swedish National Audit Office would like to see clearer reporting of fiscal policy considerations in relation to the economic situation and the local government sector’s needs for central government grants in the longer term.
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Difficult to assure quality of population registration
The Swedish NAO’s audit shows that the Swedish Tax Agency's work to maintain quality in population registration is not conducted effectively. This increases the risk of various types of welfare crime.
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Major uncertainties in financing of nuclear waste management
The Swedish National Audit Office audit shows that it is not certain whether the fees paid by the nuclear power industry for future management of nuclear waste will be sufficient – or whether taxpayers will have to share the bill.
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The Swedish National Audit Office proposes new system of specific government grants to schools
The system with a broad range of specific government grants to schools is not efficient. The Swedish National Audit Office proposes that the grants be merged into one single grant that each education provider can apply for on the basis of local conditions and needs.
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Unclear effects of support to solar power
Government support to solar power is based on reference material that lacks well-considered socio-economic analyses. Another form of support would probably have given more renewable electricity for the money, at least in the short term. The cost-effectiveness of the support in the long term is unclear and should be investigated, according to the Swedish NAO’s audit.
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Unused funds at public higher education institutions
Swedish public higher education institutions (HEIs) have accumulated more than twelve billion kronor in unspent government appropriations and other grants and fees. The Swedish NAO notes that this is inefficient use of resources and wants to see clearer governance on the part of the Government.
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Inadequate planning for relocation of Kiruna and Malmberget
The Government and LKAB had insufficient decision-support data for decisions on mining operations that would lead to parts of Kiruna and Malmberget having to be moved. This has had negative consequences for LKAB but may also mean that municipalities, companies and private individuals will not receive correct compensation.
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Effects of the utility value system on income
When there is a major shortage of housing, the design of the national system for rent setting, called the utility value system, means a reduction in income from work. This is shown in an audit by the Swedish National Audit Office.
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Sweden risks missing common EU infrastructure objectives
Sweden has undertaken to develop some roads and railways so that the EU will have a cohesive core network. The Swedish National Audit Office's audit shows that the Government and the Swedish Transport Administration have not given this commitment priority in national infrastructure planning, which means there is a risk that the EU objectives will not be achieved in time.
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Swedish National Audit Office’s support in the Balkans gives positive results
The Swedish National Audit Office supports sister-organisations in the Western Balkans in developing their performance audit capacities. A regional parallel performance audit project, on the theme public procurement has been finalised. The project has focused on practical support assisting the participants with the audit process. The cooperation has been successful and strengthened the participating organisations ability to audit and their relationships with each other.
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The audit obligation for small companies should be reintroduced
The audit obligation for small limited companies was abolished in 2010. The Swedish National Audit Office’s audit shows that the reform has had few positive effects but has entailed an increased risk of tax evasion and made fighting economic crime more difficult – and therefore the audit obligation should be reintroduced.
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The Swedish Public Employment Service's preparatory and orientation training leads to lower earnings
The Swedish NAO's audit shows that jobseekers who participate in the Swedish Public Employment Service Preparatory and Orientation Training initiative have lower future earnings than other jobseekers.
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New audit proposes improvements in the pension system’s annual report
The Swedish Pensions Agency's reporting of the pension system is by and large appropriate but risk analyses should be improved. The Swedish NAO recommends that the Swedish Pensions Agency strengthens its analysis material regarding the impact of the economy on the system’s financial result and the pension system’s key features.
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Better benefit can be drawn from international economic recommendations to Sweden
The Swedish National Audit Office would like clearer information to the Riksdag as to why Sweden does not follow certain recommendations we receive from international reviewing organisations.
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Audit of central government teachers’ pay initiatives – higher pay but less cohesion
The audit shows that central government teachers’ pay initiatives have increased teachers’ pay levels. This has also improved the attractiveness of the profession. But the reforms have also created divisions among teachers.
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Insufficient supervision of Swedish nuclear power plants
An audit by the Swedish National Audit Office shows that supervision of Swedish nuclear reactors is not carried out to the extent required by the Riksdag and the Government. The audit also shows that the Swedish Radiation Safety Authority does not carry out systematic risk assessments when planning and prioritising supervision, which means it is unclear whether the most important measures are carried out.
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Major deficiencies in the Sami Education Board’s activities
The activities of the Sami Education Board are not appropriate and need a restart. Proposals in the Swedish National Audit Office's report include transferring responsibility to the Sami Parliament.
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Sweden a world leader – but much work remains to achieve the broadband objective
The Swedish model for broadband expansion has been successful to date, but is facing increasing difficulties. Problems of competition, conflicts between private and public actors and the risk of state aid being misdirected are some of the problems highlighted by the audit report.
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Inefficient use of resources in the police forensic organisation
The audit shows that use of resources in the police forensic organisation is inefficient, and that this makes it more difficult to solve crime. Above all it is long processing times and deficiencies in the case management systems that give rise to inefficiency, but there are also deficiencies in other areas.
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The Swedish National Audit Office criticises the compensation system for the costs of receiving asylum seekers and newly arrived immigrants
The central government system of compensation to municipalities for the costs of receiving asylum seekers and newly arrived immigrants is expensive, outmoded and unnecessarily complicated. The Swedish National Audit Office proposes that the system be simplified, clarified and that the costs are monitored.
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Inadequate accessibility to Statistics Sweden’s register data impedes research and development
Several government inquiries have previously indicated inadequate accessibility to register data at Statistics Sweden. The Swedish NAO notes in its audit that the problems remain.
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