The Riks dag Administration - Riksdagen

The Riks dag Administration 

2008

Cover photograph: A patch panel in one of the Riks dag’s server halls. In 2008, electricity consumption was 

cut by 4.5 per cent, a reduction of 450,000 kilowatt hours. The reduction has mainly been achieved by cutting 

down the number of servers, switching to low-energy light bulbs and through the introduction of new cooling 

equipment. 

PHOTOGRAPHS: MELKER DAHLSTRAND 

The Riks dag Administration 2008 is intended to give a brief overview of 

the work that takes place behind the scenes to support the decision-makers 

in the Riks dag. The brochure has been prepared by various departments 

in the Riks dag Administration and is based on information previously 

published in the Riks dag Administration’s Annual Report for 2008 

(2008/09:RS2). The Annual Report is available on the Riks dag website. 

Production: The Information Department of the Riks dag 

ISSN: 1653-8307 

ISBN: 978-91-85050-83-3 

The Riks dag Administration 2008 can be downloaded in PDF format from 

www.riks dagen.se under the heading “Beställ”. 

A print version can also be ordered free of charge from: The Department 

for Parliamentary Documents, 100 12 Stockholm, Sweden. 

Telephone: +46-8-786 5810, fax: +46-8-786 6176 

E-mail: ordermottagningen@riks dagen.se 

Internet: www.riks dagen.se 

Other information and study materials produced by the Riks dag 

can also be ordered on the website.

The Riks dag Administration 

2008 

T H E R I K S DAG A D M I N I S T R AT I O N 2 0 0 8 | 3

The Riks dag Board. The members of the Riks dag Board decided to make the Riks dag Administration greener and introduced an 

environmental management system – ISO 14001. The Board decides on the planning of the work of the Riks dag and is headed by the 

Speaker Per Westerberg. 

Seated, from left: Roger Tiefensee (Cen), Liselott Hagberg, Third Deputy Speaker (Lib), Birgitta Sellén, Second Deputy Speaker (Cen), 

Secretary-General of the Riks dag Anders Forsberg, Speaker Per Westerberg (Mod). Standing, from left: Stefan Attefall (ChrDem), Ulf 

Holm (Grn), Berit Andnor (SocDem), Lars Lindblad (Mod), Sven-Erik Österberg (SocDem), Magdalena Andersson (Mod), Margareta 

Israelsson (SocDem), Margareta Pålsson (Mod), Leif Jakobsson (SocDem), Morgan Johansson (SocDem) and Allan Widman (substitute 

for Johan Pehrson) (Lib). 

4 | T H E R I K S DAG A D M I N I S T R AT I O N 2 0 0 8

The Riks dag Administration 2008 

A GREENER RIKS DAG 

The Baltic Sea at risk, climate change and 

endangered species in our Swedish fauna. 

Environmental problems attract attention 

and cause people to take action. Be it about 

sorting household refuse or demanding major 

political changes. The members of the 

Riks dag represent the people of Sweden 

and are their voice in Sweden’s supreme 

decision-making assembly. In 2008, there 

were many forums in which our elected 

representatives could debate environmental 

issues, including the Riks dag’s Future Day. 

This event brought together researchers 

and MPs to enable an exchange of views on 

issues that will come to affect us for many 

years to come. 

The most important task of the Riks dag 

Administration is to give members of the 

Riks dag the support and services they need 

to carry out their political responsibilities. 

A greener Administration is an ambition 

shared by MPs and the Administration 

alike. This is why the Administration made 

great efforts in 2008 to become ISO certified 

by 2009 for our systematic environmental 

work. This brochure gives a brief presentation of the 

Riks dag Administration’s work in 2008. For natural reasons, we 

have chosen to focus a little extra on the measures we have taken 

for a better environment. 

Anders Forsberg 

Secretary-General of the Riks dag 

Towards a greener Administration. Secretary-General 

Anders Forsberg with one of the Riks dag’s own bicycles. Bicycles 

are available on loan to transport members and employees of 

the Riks dag to their various meetings around town. 


Our task: supporting the work of members of the Riks dag 

in the Chamber and in committees 

EVERY YEAR THE RIKS DAG takes thousands of decisions that affect people’s 

everyday lives. The Chamber and the committees are the hub of the work of the 

Riks dag. The task of the Administration is to ensure that the machinery is welloiled. 

6 | T H E R I K S DAG A D M I N I S T R AT I O N 2 0 0 8 

“ The 

The Chamber is like the heart of the Riks dag. This 

is where our elected representatives debate issues that 

concern each and every one of us. The Secretariat of 

the Chamber in the Riks dag Administration ensures 

that the planning of the work of the Chamber is as 

smooth as possible. It is here that all documents in the 

form of Government bills, private members’ motions 

and interpellations are received and registered. Sometimes 

things do not turn out as planned. In 2008, a 

number of Government bills were submitted to the 

Riks dag that had not been planned in advance. 

The committees provide the Chamber with background 

material for decisions. The Chamber is dependent 

on these background materials from the committees, 

which in parliamentary terms are known as 

committee reports. Each committee is like a miniature 

Riks dag, which means that the larger parties have 

more seats than the smaller parties. 

The officials in the committees are politically impartial and help 

members from all parties represented in the Riks dag. They retain their 

jobs even if there is a new political majority following an election. The 

officials become experts in their committees’ subject areas, but do not 

include any party-political values in their assessments. 

CRISES AND TURBULENCE ON THE TABLE 

OF THE COMMITTEES 

During the autumn, the Government submitted five bills on the subject 

of the financial crisis. The Riks dag had a short time in which to consider 

the proposals, a situation that made planning and flexibility crucial. 

The Head of the Secretariat of the Committee on Finance Ingvar Matt- 

financial crisis 

and recession mean more 

work for the Committee 

on Finance where I work. 

Head of the Secretariat of the Committee on 

Finance Ingvar Mattson about the autumn of 2008.

“ Never 

45–54 år 

son speaks of an intensive autumn with many long meetings in the spot- 

35–44 år 

light of the media. 

25–34 år 

Another committee that received attention during the year was the 

–24 år 

Committee on Defence. Dramatic, overwhelming and complicated. This 

Kvinnor 57 % Män 43 % 

is how Head of the Secretariat of the Committee on Defence Ingemar 

Wahlberg describes the many turnabouts in connection with the decision 

on signal surveillance. When the Committee started to consider the 

matter in April 2008, the media and bloggers were silent. The public debate 

became heated about two weeks before the Riks dag was due to take 

its decision in mid-June. The formal procedure for the handling of the 

matter was complicated and required in-depth knowledge of the Riksdag 

Act’s rules on deferment and reconsideration. 

In addition to the lobbying and all the legal turnabouts, the signal surveillance 

decision was technically complicated. In the committee secretariat, 

thorough preparation and background reading were required for 

a full understanding of the matter. Issues relating to the 

technicalities of surveillance tend to be rather complex. 

So how satisfied are the members of the Riks dag with 

their committee secretariats? A survey conducted in 2008 

shows that, on a ten-point scale, the MPs give the committees 

8.8 points for service and competence. 

Another of the committees’ tasks is to follow up decisions. 

Was the result as the members of the Riks dag expected? 

During the year, the committees carried out 13 

follow-ups, a number of which had an environmental perspective. 

Examples include the status of Swedish fishing 

Head of Secretariat Ingemar Wahlberg 

waters, our marine environment and the role of renew- 

on the Committee on Defence’s consideration 

of the Signal Surveillance Act. 

able fuels. 

before have 

I experienced a matter that 

has sparked such strong 

reactions. 

2008 

2007 

Ärendebehandling 

Consideration of business 

Interpellationssvar 

Replies to interpellations 

Debatter Debates m.m. etc. 

Frågestund Question-and-answer sessions 

Voteringar Votes 

Information från from regeringen the Government 

Övrigt Miscellaneous 

The work of the Chamber. The volume of work in 2008 reveals a slight 

increase in the number of hours of work in the Chamber compared with 2007 

(approx. 5 %). The increase mainly concerns the total time for legislative debates. 

The number of motions during the general private members’ motions period was 

the highest during this current electoral period. 

60– år 

55–59 år 


ON THE BALL WITH EU AFFAIRS 

The Riks dag needs to be on the ball at all times as regards 

developments in the EU. All 349 members should have the 

chance to work with EU issues. The idea is that greater involvement 

among our MPs will give our citizens more influence 

in the EU. 

Every year the Riks dag receives over a thousand documents 

from the EU, which must be read by the MPs. Charlotte Rydell 

is responsible for coordinating EU issues at the Riks dag. It’s not 

just the Riks dag that adopts laws affecting people in Sweden. 

The EU also takes decisions that we have to comply with. 

“EU decisions have an impact on our everyday lives. That’s 

why it’s important that our elected representatives have their 

say in the making of EU policies.” 

When Sweden was new as a member of the EU, no more 

than a handful of members worked actively with Union affairs. 

Today these issues have become a more natural part of the MPs’ everyday 

business. EU affairs are no longer a matter of foreign policy, they have become 

Swedish domestic policy. 

It usually takes longer for the EU to take decisions than it does for individual 

member states. When an issue is considered in the Union, it is important 

that Sweden becomes involved as early as possible. 

“In this way we have much greater chances of making our voice heard”, 

says Charlotte Rydell. 

The Riks dag’s 15 committees devote a lot of time to examining EU 

documents. When a committee has completed its examination, it presents 

a report on what the members think of the EU proposal. This is followed 

by a debate and decision in the Chamber on the committee’s examination. 

In addition to their examination of documents, the committees can hold 

deliberations on EU matters with ministers whenever they want. The deliberations 

take place in the committee, but it is in the Committee on EU 

Affairs that the Riks dag gives the Government a negotiating mandate. In 

concrete terms, this means that a minister cannot travel to a ministerial 

meeting in Brussels without the Riks dag having given the Government 

its support for the position the Government plans to pursue in 

the EU. 

Broad, integrated, timely and efficient. These words are 

the guiding principles of the Riks dag’s work with EU affairs. 

Together, the first letter of these four words spell “BITE”. In 

principle this acronym stresses that the Riks dag must never be 

toothless in relation to the EU. 

“Our EU efforts must show more bite”, says coordinator 

Charlotte Rydell with a laugh. 

IMPORTANT TO MEET RESEARCHERS AND 

PARLIAMENTARIANS FROM OTHER COUNTRIES 

We are bad at predicting problems before they occur. That was 

what members of the Riks dag said in a survey a couple of years 


EU efforts must show bite. Charlotte 

Rydell wants the Riks dag to be on the ball 

in the EU. 

“ The Riks dag must 

never be toothless. 

EU coordinator Charlotte Rydell on the Riksdag’s 

relations with the EU. 

PHOTO : LUBBE GARELL

Electricity and cooling needs. In a conventional computer hall, more energy is required for cooling than actually running the computers.

ago. To address this, the Riks dag organised, for the third 

year running, a Future Day where researchers and members 

of the Riks dag were able to meet to discuss important 

issues concerning the future. The three themes this 

year were climate change, IT and the aging population. 

During the opening panel debate on how best to communicate 

the climate threat, environmental researchers 

had the chance to submit a wishlist to the MPs. The re- re- re- 

searchers’ wishlist asked for: 

» Political courage to take long-term decisions; 

» More money for research; 

» More researchers as advisers to MPs; 

» A better transfer of knowledge between researchers 

and MPs. 

The Riks dag’s international commitments are increasing all the time. During 

2008 the Speaker Per Westerberg was actively involved in the international work 

of the Riks dag. A number of Speakers from other countries, including Croatia 

and Moldova, visited the Riks dag. Per Westerberg led trips to Brazil, Egypt and 

India, and all delegations included members of the Riks dag. Here at home, the 

Speaker welcomed several heads of state and ministers to the Riks dag. 

There are a number of parliamentary associations in which Swedish MPs are 

involved. In all these associations the Swedish MPs meet parliamentarians from 

other countries to discuss issues requiring international cooperation. 

The International Department of the Riks dag helps the Speaker and members 

of the Riks dag in their international commitments. In concrete terms, this involves 

planning, implementing and following up travel and visits. The Department 

has 20 members of staff. 

THE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORT 

AND COMMUNICATIONS IN CALIFORNIA 

During the year, a number of committees made study trips to other countries. 

The Committee on Transport and Communications travelled to California to 

study environmental and other issues connected with their area of responsibility. 

The members brought themselves up-to-date with California’s efforts to environmentally 

adapt its transport system and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Toge ther 

with the members of the Riks dag, committee secretaries Mattias Revelius and 

Lena Sandström were the officials who planned and took part in the visit. 

“The trip was highly rewarding. All items on the programme felt meaningful. 

The MPs were active and interested and the mood in the delegation was very positive”, 

says Mattias, who arranged his first committee trip. 

Foreign travel often requires air travel. The Riks dag has therefore decided to 

offset its carbon footprint for these trips by setting aside a special pot in the budget 

for this purpose. 


“ The 

MPs were 

active and interested 

and the mood in the 

delegation was very 

positive. 

Mattias Revelius, Secretary to the Committee 

on Transport and Communications 

on the study visit to California.

More space in the server hall. The number of servers was reduced from 206 to 173 in 2008, largely thanks to virtualisation technology designed to 

better distribute and make use of server power.

Our task: assisting the members and parties of the Riks dag 

TO BE ABLE TO FULFIL THEIR POLITICAL RESPONSIBILITIES, 

members of the Riks dag require a whole range of practical services 

in the Riks dag. These include everything from the cleaning 

of offices to well-functioning internal communications and computers 

that don’t play up. 

MPs and party secretariats can turn to the Research Service of the 

Riks dag if they want a survey or study to be carried out on a specific 

topic. A member who is planning to write a motion about environmental 

taxes, for example, can request a study on the way in 

which other countries deal with environmental taxes. Furthermore, 

the Research Service can help to calculate how a proposed tax reduction 

or tax increase may affect the Swedish economy. 

During 2008, the Research Service carried out some 2,100 studies. 

This number is lower than in 2007. However, the trend indicates 

that the studies are generally becoming more complex. “Today, 

members want answers to a greater number of questions and 

very often they want a comparison with other countries, primarily 

with the EU 27”, says Charlotte Albrektsson, Senior Administrative 

Officer at the Research Service. 

The Riks dag Library is one of Sweden’s largest social science 

libraries. Its most important task is to ensure that members 

of the Riks dag have all the documentation they need 

to take decisions. The Library offers much more than just 

printed books. An abundance of electronic books and journals 

are also available. The Library has been cooperating 

closely with the Research Service for some time to ensure 

that staff at the Research Service receive all relevant material 

on the topics they are studying. 

In recent years, the Riks dag Administration has taken 

steps to develop its internal communications. The Riks dag 

intranet has been re-launched and is today an established information 

channel. The aim of the intranet is that everyone 

in the Riks dag should have easy access to factual, comprehensible 

and topical information of all kinds about what is 

going on in parliament. 


A sample of new books at 

the Riks dag Library about 

the environment: 

Björklund, Johanna, Holmgren, Pär & Johansson, 

Susanne Mat & klimat [Food and 

climate]. Stockholm: Medström 

Azar, Christian Makten över klimatet [Control 

of the climate]. Stockholm: Bonnier 

Zedillo, Ernesto Global Warming: Looking 

Beyond Kyoto. Washington, D.C: Brookings 

Institution Press 

Abelin, Lars Naturreservat & nationalparker: 

pärlor i den svenska naturen [Nature 

reserves and national parks: Swedish gems]. 

Stockholm: Designförlaget 

Kjellén, Bo A New Diplomacy for Sustainable 

Development: the Challenge of Global 

Change. London: Routledge

Fluorescent tubes for recycling. There are separate containers for low-energy light bulbs, halogen light bulbs and fluorescent tubes. In total there are 

84 recycling stations in the Riks dag. We sort coloured glass, uncoloured glass, PET bottles and aluminium cans, batteries, metal packaging, low-energy lamps, 

household refuse and paper.

The political duties of a member involve travelling. The 

majority of MPs travel to the Riks dag in Stockholm on a 

weekly basis. All details of travel by MPs must be publicly 

available, which means that receipts and travel expense 

accounts must be saved. In 2008 the Department for Services 

for Members of the Riks dag dealt with 8290 travel 

expense accounts. Most MPs register their travel expenses 

themselves in a computer system. 

The Riks dag is one of the few parliaments in the world 

to offer childcare services for the children of MPs. This is 

to make it easier to combine family life and politics. 

MEETINGS NEED TECHNOLOGY AND LEANING 

The Riks dag is a place where people meet. This is why 

there are a number of meeting rooms for which the Riks dag Administration 

is responsible. In 2008, these rooms were updated with 

new technology and accessibility was improved. By the end of 2009 

the renovation of all committee assembly rooms will be completed. 

However, the renovation work must not spoil the original character 

of the rooms, and new technology should be designed so that it 

blends in with the environment. 

The cleaning services in the Riks dag Administration employ 

35 people who keep the Riks dag premises spick-and-span. In recent 

years the cleaning services have sought to reduce the amount 

of chemicals used. Head of cleaning services, Slavica Mladenovic, 

says that the Administration now has higher environmental standards 

when purchasing products and services. Daily cleaning activities 

have become more environmentally friendly. 

During the autumn of 2008, the new public entrance to the 

Riks dag was opened. All visitors and groups now have to pass a security 

check to enter the building. This is similar to the checks carried 

out at airports, which means that visitors pass a metal detector 

and bags are x-rayed. 


“The intranet 

should be the natural 

place to go. 

The Secretary-General Anders Forsberg 

about where to find information.

Efficient systems. In 2008 energy consumption for heating was reduced by seven per cent, corresponding to 800,000 kilowatt hours. Greater 

awareness and improved knowledge at the Property Management Department have produced results.

Our task: informing citizens about the work 

of the Riks dag 

IT HAS TO BE EASY FOR CITIZENS to find out what’s happening 

in the Riks dag and what decisions are being taken. The 

Riks dag Administration therefore has an important task in 

creating openness and accessibility in the work of the Riks dag. 

Everyone must be given the best opportunities to be an active 

member of society. 

Schools are an important target group for the Riks dag. Every year some 

50,000 pupils make study visits to the Riks dag. Some meet a member 

of the Riks dag, while others go on specially designed educational tours. 

What is it like being a member of the Riks dag? In the Democracy 

Workshop, secondary school pupils can take part in a role play that gives 

them a feel for the everyday work of our MPs. The game is based on a 

pedagogy of learning by experience, and each pupil has an active part to 

play. The pupils get to practise taking a stand on matters, cooperating 

and expressing opinions in front of one another. The available times in 

the Democracy Workshop were quickly filled in 2008. 

THE RIKS DAG SPONSORS EXPENSIVE TRIPS 

We want to give more upper secondary school classes 

for whom travel to Stockholm is expensive a chance to 

visit parliament. This is why the Riks dag introduced 

a new travel allowance for schools in 2008. For classes 

whose applications are granted, the Riks dag pays travel 

costs exceeding SEK 600 per pupil. The pot to be 

shared by Swedish schools in 2008 amounted to SEK 

1.5 million. 

The first class to receive a travel allowance came 

from the Gränsälv Upper Secondary School and they 

travelled over 1,000 kilometres to reach the Riks dag. 

As pioneers, the pupils were offered a rather special 

visit with a welcome by the Speaker Per Westerberg in 

the Chamber. 


“ We really 

felt like members 

of parliament. 

Pupil at the Democracy Workshop 

who got to see what it was like 

to be a politician.

Double-sided printing. Producing new paper is a real energy guzzler. The Riks dag has adjusted its printers for double-sided printing to reduce paper 

consumption.

MUCH-VISITED WEBSITE ASPIRES TO NEW 

GOALS 

The Riks dag website is the channel that reaches the 

most people. An evaluation conducted in 2008 revealed 

that many people find it difficult to find the information 

they are looking for. The aim of the website 

is that 90 per cent of all visitors should find the information 

or documents they are seeking. In order to 

fulfil this goal, the website is going to be restructured 

to make it more user-friendly. It’s easy to set the goal 

that everyone should be able to find information. But 

how does one actually achieve this? Web editor Magnus 

Korkala talks of the challenges facing the website: 

“The evaluation showed that our users find it difficult 

to navigate the website. People are used to Google 

and want our website to be just as easy. This is a challenge that we must 

take seriously. Many people also feel that they have to search back and 

forth on the website to find documents that connect together. We want 

to get better at doing this job for them.” 

Magnus Korkala reminds us that people perceive information in different 

ways. We have different ways of learning, quite simply. 

“We produce huge volumes of text in the Riks dag. Most of our information 

on the website is also written. But this doesn’t suit everybody. A 

lot of people feel excluded. We therefore want to test how we can open 

up the website to more people, using simple and instructive pictures, 

clickable animations and video clips.” 

FRUITFUL DISCUSSIONS AMONG TOMORROW’S 

POLITICIANS 

Apples or bananas? In November 2008 at the Riks dag’s Open Day, tours 

for children were arranged for the first time ever. Like members of the 

Riks dag, the children got the chance to take decisions. But not about 

the Signal Surveillance Act, the Lisbon Treaty or any stability plans, here 

children had the task of deciding what fruit should be served in schools 

every day. Apples won with a clear majority. But the children’s decision 

was not in line with the Administration’s view. Because the Administration 

had decided that the 2,000 bags for the lucky dip should contain reflector 

tags, comics and bananas … If we listen to the voice of the children, 

maybe it will be apples next time! 

The Open Day at the Riks dag attracted some 4,000 visitors who 

were able to acquaint themselves with the various parts of the Riks dag 

during a total of four hours. This was the ninth time the Riks dag had 


“ People are used 

to Google and we 

want our website to 

be just as easy. 

Web editor Magnus Korkala on 

the future of the website.

“ PR is incredibly 

important with this 

kind of event. 

Information Officer Ingeborg Granlund about 

the importance of marketing in attracting 

people to the Riks dag Open Day. 

opened its doors to the public in this way. A new feature 

in the history of Open Day was that younger citizens 

were especially targeted. Tours for children, lucky dips 

and a games corner were included on the programme for 

the first time. Information Officer Ingeborg Granlund 

speaks of the marketing of the Open Day.“If an event is 

attractive to children, it’s not only the families with children 

we attract but also their relatives – aunts, cousins 

and grandparents. We did a lot of work with marketing 

and PR in order to reach our target groups. For example, 

we advertised on the underground for the first time, 

and this got a good response. PR is incredibly important 

with this kind of event. The media coverage of our 

Open Day helped to spread the picture of the Riks dag as an open 

and accessible parliament to a broader public.” 

Children invaded the Riks dag. During Open Day many children wanted to test the 

rostrum in the Chamber. A lot of adults also wanted to try it out. 


Our task: maintaining and preserving buildings 

and documents 

THE RIKS DAG BUILDINGS ARE TO BE MAINTAINED and documents 

saved for posterity. The Administration has the task of maintaining and 

renovating the Riks dag buildings so that the activities of parliament can 

continue on Helgeandsholmen in Stockholm. It must be possible for 

people today and in one hundred years’ time to read all the thousands of 

documents that are produced every year. 

The Riks dag building on Helgeandsholmen is 104 

years old. A few years ago the Property Management 

Department decided that the façades needed restoration. 

In 2008 the renovation of the façade on the East 

Wing of the Riks dag continued and will be completed 

in 2009. 

During the year a major renovation of the windows 

has been carried out in some of the Riks dag buildings. 

The renovation cost SEK 1.7 million and has resulted 

in a better quality of indoor air. Furthermore, 

the rooms are less draughty now, which has meant that 

heating costs have been reduced. 

NEW VERSIONS OF OLD TAPES 

Tape recordings from the Chamber from 1966 to 1992 

have been digitised by the National Archive of Recorded Sound and 

Moving Images and are now available in the Riks dag Archives. Digitising 

these sound recordings is a way of preserving the contents for the future, 

as the plastic tapes were becoming too old to use. 

“The tapes contain important parts of the Riks dag’s history”, says 

Head of the Riks dag Archives Sara Tedebrand Frant. 

Before the digitisation she conducted a “preservation study”. In this 

she pointed out that the tapes contained things that the parliamentary 

record did not include, such as irony and emphasis on specific words. It’s 

mainly radio and TV companies that contact the Archives to ask for a 

specific recording. 


“ The tapes 

contain an important 

part of the 

Riks dag’s history. 

Head of the Riks dag Archives 

Sara Tedebrand Frant on the 

importance of old sound recordings.

USE THE NET INSTEAD ! 

Don’t let opening hours and distance from the Riks dag limit you. If 

you’re looking for an old parliamentary document there’s no need to visit 

the Riks dag Library in Stockholm in person. Instead you can find it 

quite easily on the Riks dag website. Since the summer of 2008, all Government 

bills from 1971 to the present day have been available at www. 

riks dagen.se. 

A total of 750,000 pages have been scanned, which means that about 

half of the unicameral Riks dag’s documents are now available in the system. 

The parliamentary record will be entered during 2009. Digitisation 

makes it easier to access the documents, which in turn makes the work 

of the Riks dag more transparent. It is important that people have easy 

access to these documents as, for example, many proposals and laws are 

based on earlier preparatory materials and decisions. 

Older buildings need to be maintained. The façade of the East Wing of 

the Riks dag on Helgeandsholmen was renovated in 2008. The Riks dag building 

was designed by the architect Aron Johansson and the Riks dag moved in in 

1905. 

PHOTO : BJÖRN HOLM 


Our task: being a good employer 

APPROXIMATELY 660 PEOPLE are employed by the Riks dag Administration. 

Many different occupations are represented here. There are 

lawyers, carpenters, cleaners, librarians, administrative officers and a 

great many other occupational groups. The Administration aims to be a 

modern and attractive employer that applies laws and rules in the correct 

manner. Activities are funded by public funds, which means that we must 

be extra prudent with expenditure. 

A couple of years ago, the Riks dag drew up a common set of basic values 

to characterise its activities. The basic values contain common ethical 

guidelines, and should always serve as a basis for the Administration’s 

own management documents. They should also provide support when 

the formal rules are unclear or insufficient. 

Responsive, without prestige and open. These are the guiding principles 

for how management in the Riks dag Administration should be. This 

is set out in the Riks dag’s management policy. But guidelines are one 

thing – the Riks dag is now investing greatly in management development 

programmes. All 60 managers at the Riks dag Administration 

have attended courses in the art of management. 

The new programme was prepared by the Human Resources 

Department, but the decision to implement it was taken by 

the leadership of the Administration. The programme started in 

2008, and will continue until the end of 2009. 

The actual development programme consists of two parts. The 

first is about the manager’s role. It includes such issues as how a 

manager deals with his or her position in the organisation. The 

programme also includes discussions about how managers relate 

to their responsibilities. The specific nature of being a manager 

in a politically controlled organisation has been given considerable 

scope. 

The second part of the programme is about the role of leader, 

and the focus is now on the manager as an individual. It is about 

becoming aware of how one is perceived as a manager. About 

practising what one preaches. And do colleagues have the same 


The Riks dag Administration’s 

basic values 

The Riks dag is the foremost representative 

of the people. Working for the Riksdag 

Administration involves working in 

the service of democracy, and ultimately, 

of the people. Our task is to create the 

best possible conditions for the members 

of the Riks dag to carry out the tasks included 

in the position of trust given to 

them by the Swedish people. 

In contacts with members of the Riks dag, 

the public and colleagues our activities 

should be characterised by: 

» Impartiality, objectivity and integrity 

» Openness, responsibility and a spirit of cooperation 

» Consideration and respect for all people’s 

equal value

“ We’re doing this 

to get better managers 

for our activities 

and our employees. 

Head of Human Resources Eva Brandorf 

Helsing who has sent all managers in the 

Riks dag Administration on a course. 

perception of the manager as he or she does? All managers 

at the Riks dag will carry out a leadership analysis. 

This analysis is called a “360-degree assessment” and 

refers in a figurative sense to the circle of people that 

surround a manager in his or her everyday work. 

In concrete terms these people and the manager will 

answer a questionnaire. For colleagues, this involves 

assessing the manager and for the manager it involves 

scrutinising oneself. The manager will then be given 

feedback on the basis of the results and will have the 

opportunity to draw up a plan for the continued development 

of his or her management. 

The Riks dag has worked with continuing professional 

development for all employees for many years. 

However the Administration has never before taken such major or 

long-term measures for management, says Head of Human Resources 

Eva Brandorf Helsing. 

Fitness activities in the open air. Once a year the Riks dag organ- organises 

a much-appreciated recreation day for members and employees of 

the Riks dag. 

PHOTO : CATHERINE SVEDELID

Our task: making the Administration greener 

ENVIRONMENTAL OBJECTIVES. The Riks dag Administration has 

prepared four objectives for a greener Riks dag Administration. 

The objectives concern paper consumption, heating, transport and 

electricity. The objectives are to be achieved by 2011. 

The Riks dag Administration is in the process of introducing an environmental 

management system. But what exactly is an environmental 

management system? Anne Rymer-Rythén, Project Manager 

for the system, says that it’s about establishing routines for one’s 

environmental work. Measurable goals will be set and work with 

environmental issues will be systematic. 

According to Anne Rymer-Rythén, it is important to always 

consider the impact on the environment of a specific project or activity. 

The finale for the introduction of the environmental management 

system will be when the Administration becomes ISO certified, 

hopefully early in the summer of 2009. 

The positive effects of these efforts could already be seen in 2008. 

One is that energy consumption for heating dropped by 7 per cent 

and electricity consumption by 4.5 per cent. By 2011, energy consumption 

for heating should have been reduced by 10 per cent, and 

electricity consumption by 10 per cent too. 

“I get the feeling that our staff have become more aware since 

we introduced the environmental management programme. This 

can be seen, for example, in connection with purchases and 

procurement and in our daily work, for example, recycling 

of rubbish and how we use our resources in the form of 

electricity and paper.” 

TRANSPORT A BIG BURDEN ON 

THE ENVIRONMENT 

One of the objectives of the Riks dag’s environmental activities 

is to reduce carbon dioxide emissions caused by 

transport by 10 per cent by 2011. One step towards this objective 

is that taxis and rental cars should if possible always 

be environmental cars. 

Petra Robin is responsible for the administration of travel 

by members of the Riks dag. 


Environmental objectives 

by 2011 

» Paper consumption 

We must reduce our paper consumption 

by ten per cent. 

» Transport 

Carbon dioxide emissions as a result of 

travel by staff in the Riks dag Administration 

must be reduced by ten per cent. 

» Energy consumption 

We must reduce energy consumption 

in the Riks dag buildings by ten per cent. 

The proportion of renewable energy 

must be at least 80 per cent.

Lake source cooling. The intake to the Riks dag’s new cooling equipment is visible just below the Members’ Building. It cools both the 

Chamber and the IT Department’s server halls.

“Our impression is that more people are choosing to 

go by train, rather than by air”, she says. 

All public procurement by the Riks dag Administration 

systematically involves environmental requirements. 

In 2008, 129 procurements were recorded in the Riksdag 

Administration’s register. 

Since last autumn the Riks dag Restaurant serves an 

eco-friendly dish every day. The dish contains organic, 

eco-friendly products. 

One of several measures that has been taken to reduce 

paper consumption in the Riks dag is that the preliminary 

record from the Chamber is no longer distributed 

to all MPs. Circulation in the Chamber has been reduced 

from 510 to 260 copies and the number of printed pages has been 

reduced by 1.3 million in one year. The principle of not distributing 

everything to everyone has also started to be applied in the case of certain 

newspapers and internal communications. Since the spring of 2008, 

printers in the Riks dag Administration have been automatically set for 

two-sided printing. 

To cut energy consumption, the Administration uses cooling equipment 

to make use of water from Lake Mälaren around the Riks dag. The 

system cools technical equipment, computer halls and parts of the Riksdag 

buildings. 

ENVIRONMENTAL AUDITORS 

Nine environmental auditors have been appointed from 

among the employees in the Riks dag. The auditors work for 

the Secretary-General of the Riks dag and their task is to improve 

the environmental management system and create a 

better understanding of it. In addition to a course in inter- inter- 

nal environmental auditing, the auditors have conducted interviews 

with officials to identify the Administration’s strong 

and weak points as regards measures to improve environmental 

performance. 

“For an environmental management system to be successful, 

it must have the full support of the management”, emphasises 

Anne Rymer-Rythén. “Otherwise this work will 

not receive the attention it deserves in the organisation.” The 

Project Manager for the environmental management system 

is satisfied with the measures that are being taken for a greener 

Riks dag. 

“I am counting one hundred per cent on us becoming ISO 

certified in June 2009”, she says. 


“The decision has 

to come from top 

management. 

Project Manager Anne Rymer-Rythén on 

how to succeed with an environmental 

management system. 

Green proposals from 

members of the Riks dag... 

Here are a few of the proposals from MPs on 

ways to make the Administration greener: 

1. Solar cells on the roofs of the Riks dag 

2. Distance-voting in the Chamber 

3. Purchase a Government train 

4. Use hydropower from the water surrounding 

the Riks dag 

… and here is a selection of 

proposals from employees: 

1. Biogas in the Riks dag’s cars 

2. More video conferences 

3. Plants on the roofs of the Riks dag buildings 

4. Encourage people to take the stairs instead of 

the lift

Electric waste. The cables are fragmented and the insulating material is separated from the metal. As much as possible from the cables is 

recycled.

The Riks dag Administration in figures 

SOME SAMPLE FIGURES from the Riks dag Administration’s Annual 

Report for 2008. The activities of the Riks dag Administration are mainly 

funded by way of two appropriations under expenditure area 1 (The Governance 

of the Realm) of the central government budget: 

» Appropriation 90:2 Parties and members of the Riks dag, etc. 

» Appropriation 90:3 The Riks dag’s administrative costs 

Financial support to the political parties is also paid - Appropriation 90:6 Support 

to the political parties. 

Below follows a summary of appropriation expenditure for each appropriation. 

This is followed by a presentation of revenues, expenditure and 

transfers. An overview of the Riks dag Administration’s assets and liabilities 

at year-end is also given, as well as a presentation of some other financial 

data. 

PARTIES AND MEMBERS OF THE RIKS DAG, ETC. 

This appropriation is used to fund members’ pay, IT and telecommunications, 

the pay of the Swedish members of the European Parliament 

(MEPs) and pensions and guaranteed income payments to former members 

of the Riks dag and MEPs. Participation by members in international 

parliamentary cooperation and travel in the EU are funded by this appropriation, 

as are grants for individual study trips. 

Furthermore, support to the party groups in the Riks dag and grants to 

inter-parliamentary cooperation are funded by this appropriation. 

Appropriation expenditure for 2008 SEK 762 million 

THE RIKS DAG’S ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS 

This appropriation is used to fund the Riks dag Administration’s personnel, 

premises, security, computer technology and IT support, internal 

services, administration, publishing and printing, library and information 

activities. Furthermore, grants to associations in the Riks dag are funded 

by this appropriation. The appropriation also covers property administration, 

maintenance, repairs, renovations, reconstruction and upkeep of the 

Riks dag buildings as well as interest and repayments. 



1,800 

1,600 

1,400 

1,200 

1,000 

800 

600 

400 

200 

(SEK) 

million 

0 

2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 

Appropriation expenditure for 2008 

Support to the political parties 

The Riks dag’s Administrative costs 

Parties and members of the Riks dag, etc.

REVENUES FOR 2008 

Revenues for 2008 amount to SEK 1,136 million. For the most part, 

these comprise funds from the above-mentioned appropriations, SEK 

1,092 million.Other revenues consist of rent income on properties owned 

by the Riks dag Administration, SEK 19 million, and revenues from the 

sale of parliamentary documents, SEK 8 million. 

EXPENDITURE FOR 2008 

Expenditure for 2008 amounts to SEK 1,526 million, of which the largest 

part, SEK 1,138 million, has gone to members of the Riks dag and 

personnel. 

Other costs include expenditure for premises, SEK 16 million, deductions, 

depreciation and financial costs, SEK 94 million and miscellaneous 

operating costs, SEK 278 million. 

SUPPORT TO THE POLITICAL PARTIES 

According to the Act on state support to political parties, financial support 

is paid partly in the form of support to the parties and partly in the 

form of support to the party secretariats. The Riks dag Administration 

manages the appropriation for Support to the political parties and is responsible 

for paying out funds to the national organisations of the political 

parties. 


TRANSFERS FOR 2008 

Transfers for the year amount to SEK 431 million and consist for the 

most part of support to the political parties, SEK 172 million and support 

to the parliamentary party groups, SEK 244 million. In addition, SEK 15 

million was paid out in contributions to bodies like the Nordic Council, 

the Inter-Parliamentary Union and OSCE (the Organization for Security 

and Cooperation in Europe). 


ASSETS AND LIABILITIES AT YEAR-END 

(SEK million) 

Intangible fixed assets 1 

Tangible assets 1,193 

Financial assets 2 

Receivables 20 

Accruals and deferrals 25 

Settlement of accounts with 

the State – 127 

Cash and bank balances 185 

Total assets 1,299 

EXPLANATION OF SOME OF THE ASSET 

AND LIABILITY ITEMS 

Intangible fixed assets 

This item shows the accounted value of in-house developed software. 

Tangible assets 

This item mainly consists of the accounted value of buildings and 

land, SEK 1,065 million, and of machines, movables and installations, 

SEK 110 million. 

Financial assets 

This item comprises shares in tenant-owned housing associations 

with an estimated market value of around SEK 50 million. 

Cash and bank balances 

This item mainly comprises the balance of the Riks dag Administration’s 

interest-bearing account with the National Debt Office. 

Agency capital 

The agency capital consists of four parts: state capital, comprising 

art, land and the main buildings on Helgeandsholmen funded by appropriations, 

donation capital, consisting of Villa Bonnier with art 

items, capital change for the year, and capital change brought forward 

from the previous year. 

Allocations to reserves 

This item shows allocations for pensions of members of the Riksdag 

and MEPs, life annuity and supplementary pensions for surviving 

spouses, as well as income guarantee payments for members of the 

Riks dag. It also shows allocations for contracted pensions for employees 

with a partial pension. Pensions to other staff in the Riks dag 

Administration are paid out by the National Government Employee 

Pensions Board (SPV). These pensions, like those of other central 

government authorities, are reported in the SPV’s balance sheet. 


Agency capital – 1,202 

Allocations to reserves 2,185 

Total liabilities etc. 270 

Accruals and deferrals 46 

Total equity 

and liabilities 

1,299 

Securities pledged none 

Other contingent liabilities none 

OTHER FINANCIAL DATA 

(SEK million) 

BORROWING FRAME 

Authorised borrowing frame with the 

National Debt Office. 300 

Utilised borrowing frame during the year 150 

OVERDRAFT FACILITY 

Overdraft facility at the National Debt Office 141 

Maximum utilised during the year 0 

APPROPRIATION CREDIT 

Approved appropriation credit 63 

Utilised appropriation credit during 

the year 0 

APPROPRIATION SAVINGS 

Parties and members of the Riks dag, etc. 41 

The Riks dag’s administrative costs 87 

Support to the political parties 3 

Revenues from charges 40 

AUTHORISATIONS 

Allocated framework 170 

Outstanding commitments 124 

Operational cost per year/employee 0.9

Organisation and personnel 

IN 2008 the Administration Office changed name to the Administrative Division. 

The Office of Information and Knowledge Management also changed name and is 

now called the Communications Division. In total there were 661 employees at the 

end of the year, 376 women and 285 men. 

Administrative 

Division 

and Secretariat 

Finance Department 

Department for Services for 

Members 

Legal Services Department 

Human Resources Department 

Security Department 

Property Management 

Department 

Internal Services Department 

IT Department 

Controller 

International 

Department 

Secretariat 

of the Chamber 

275 89 

1 

Central Bureau 

Department for the 

Parliamentary Record 

Research Service of the 

Riks dag 

Riks dag 

Board 

Secretary-General 

of the Riks dag 

22 4 

1 

Management 

Secretariat 

Secretariats of parliamentary 

committees and 

Committee on EU Affairs 

Committee on the Labour Market (AU) 

Committee on Civil Affairs (CU) 

Committee on Finance (FiU) 

Committee on Defence (FöU) 

Committee on Justice (JuU) 

Committee on the Constitution (KU) 

Committee on Cultural Affairs (KrU) 

Committee on Environment and 

Agriculture (MJU) 

Committee on Industry and Trade (NU) 

Committee on Taxation (SkU) 

Committee on Social Insurance (SfU) 

Committee on Health and Welfare (SoU) 

Committee on Transport and 

Communications (TU) 

Committee on Education (UbU) 

Committee on Foreign Affairs (UU) 

Committee on EU Affairs (EUN) 

Speaker’s 

Office 

7 

Communications 

Division 

125 137 

Department for Parliamentary 

Documents 

EU Information Centre 

Information Department 

Riks dag Library 

Journal From the Riks dag 

and the Ministries 


Contacting the Riks dag 

WWW.RIKS DAGEN.SE 

The Riks dag website contains comprehensive information 

about the activities of the Riks dag, current business, members 

of the Riks dag etc. 

E-mail: riks dagsinformation@riks dagen.se 

THE RIKS DAG TELEPHONE ENQUIRY SERVICE 

Via the Riks dag Telephone Enquiry Service callers can obtain 

answers to questions about the activities and decisions of the 

Riks dag, votes, constitutional issues etc. 

Telephone: 020-349 000 (national calls, Mon-Thurs, 9 

a.m.–12 noon, 1– 4.30 p.m., Fri 9 a.m.–12 noon, 1–4 p.m.) 


RIKS DAGEN DIREKT 

This telephone voice answer-back service enables callers to 

listen directly to debates in the Chamber, public committee 

hearings and press conferences. 

Telephone: 020-349 900 (national calls) 

THE PUBLIC GALLERY 

The Public Gallery of the Chamber is open to the public 

during meetings of the Chamber. Free admission. 

Entrance: Riksgatan 3A, public entrance 

STUDY VISITS 

School classes and other groups must book their visits in 

advance. 

Telephone: +46-8-786 48 62 (Mon–Thurs 9–11a.m.) 

Universities, university colleges, public authorities and 

organisations can book specially adapted study visits. 

Telephone: +46-8-786 59 31 (office hours) 


GUIDED TOURS FOR THE PUBLIC 

Between September and mid-June tours of the Riks dag are 

held for the public on Saturdays and Sundays at 12 noon and 

1.30 p.m. and during the summer on weekdays at 11 a.m. and 

12.30, 2 and and 3.30 p.m. Tours to view the works of art in 

the Riks dag are held on Mondays at 6 p.m. during the working 

year. All tours are free of charge. 

Entrance: Riksgatan 3A, public entrance 

THE INFORMATION CENTRE 

The Information Centre of the Riks dag is open to the public. 

Visitors can obtain information, search in databases, purchase 

parliamentary documents, follow debates in the Chamber on 

a wide-screen TV, meet members of the Riks dag etc. Mon- 

Thurs 10 a.m.–5 p.m., Fri 10 a.m.–3 p.m. 

Entrance: Storkyrkobrinken 7A 

Telephone: +46-8-786 54 63 



THE RIKS DAG LIBRARY 

The Riks dag Library has one of Sweden’s largest collections of 

social science literature. It is open to the public on Mon, Wed, 

Thurs 12–5 p.m. Tues 12–7 p.m., Fri kl. 12–3 p.m. 

Entrance: Storkyrkobrinken 7A 

Telephone: 020-555 000 (national calls), +46-8-786 40 00 

E-mail: biblioteket@riks dagen.se 

THE EU INFORMATION CENTRE 

The EU Information Centre is entrusted by the Riks dag to 

provide the public with politically impartial, objective and 

all-round information about the European Union and Swedish 

membership of the EU. 

Website: www.eu-upplysningen.se 

Telephone: 020-250 000 (national calls, Mon–Fri. 9–11 a.m., 

2–4 p.m.) 

E-mail: eu-upplysningen@riks dagen.se 

RIKS DAG & DEPARTEMENT (NEWS FROM 

THE RIKS DAG AND THE MINISTRIES) 

This journal is issued 38 times a year and contains journalistic 

articles about proposals and decisions from the Riks dag, the 

Government and the EU. The journal is also available as a talking 

book. 

Website: www.rod.nu 

Telephone: +46-8-786 40 00 

PARLIAMENTARY DOCUMENTS 

Government bills, private members’ motions, committee 

reports, parliamentary records etc. can be found on the Riksdag 

website. They can also be purchased at the Information 

Centre of the Riks dag or ordered from The Department for 

Parliamentary Documents, 100 12 Stockholm, Sweden 

Website: www.riks dagen.se 

Telephone: +46-8-786 58 10 Fax: +46-8-786 61 76 

E-mail: ordermottagningen@riks dagen.se 

INFORMATION AND STUDY MATERIALS 

The Riks dag provides information about its activities and decisions 

in books, brochures, fact sheets etc. Some of this material 

is available in other languages, including English and French, 

as well as in Easy Swedish and sign language. Some material is 

also available in other formats, including talking book, dvd etc. 

Publications also include special materials for schools. All materials 

may be ordered from the Department for Parliamentary 

Documents, 100 12 Stockholm, Sweden 

Website: www.riks dagen.se 

Telephone: +46-8-786 58 10 Fax: +46-8-786 61 76 

E-mail: ordermottagningen@riks dagen.se

The Riks dag buildings 

Besides the main buildings on the islet of Helgeandsholmen, the Riks dag 

includes a number of buildings in the immediate neighbourhood. Most of the 

buildings are connected by an underground passageway. The Riks dag Administration 

rents out a total of 10,750 square metres of premises to various 

tenants. The Riks dag Administration also rents certain premises itself, 3,226 

square metres for offices and 3,053 square metres for storerooms. 

DROTTNINGGATAN 

Rosenbad 

STRÖMGATAN 

Gustav Adolfs torg 

Foreign Ministry 

RV 

Riddarhus- 

torget 

Gallerian 

JAKOBSGATAN 

The Riksdag 

C 

M 

RIKSGATAN 

L 

REGERINGSGATAN 

RÖ 

B 

STORKYRKOBRINKEN 

VÄSTERLÅNGGATAN 

N 

J 

Mynttorget 

NORRBRO 

Jakobs kyrka 

Royal Opera 

SLOTTSKAJEN 

Royal Palace 

RÖ – The East Wing of the Riks dag 

Riksgatan 2 

RV – The West Wing of the Riks dag 

Main Entrance, Riksgatan 1 

Public Entrance, Riksgatan 3A 

L – The Members’ Building 

(in the “Mars” and “Vulkanus” blocks) 

Mynttorget 2 

C – The “Cephalus” block 

Riddarhustorget 7–9 

B – Brandkontoret 

(“The Fire Office”) 

(in the “Aglarus” block) 

Mynttorget 4 

N – The “Neptunus” block 

Mynttorget 1 

M – The “Mercurius” block 

Storkyrkobrinken 7 and 13 

J – Jakobsgatan 

Jakobsgatan 6, floor 3 


34 | T H E R I K S DAG A D M I N I S T R AT I O N 2 0 0 8


Half as many printed copies. Circulation in the Chamber of the preliminary record to members of the Riks dag has been reduced from 510 to 260 

copies. Many members have chosen not to receive the preliminary record in printed form.

The Riks dag Administration - Riksdagen

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?