Organisation
The Ministry of Defence has existed in its present form since 1920. The ministry has been in its present premises at Gustav Adolfs torg in Stockholm since 1966.
The Ministry of Defence has a staff of 150: political advisers, officials, assistants, clerical officers, military advisers in military issues, etc.
The Minister of Defence, Karin Enström, is head of the Ministry of Defence.
Political leadership
Subject to the overall authority of the Minister, ministry business is directed by the State Secretary.
The Ministry also has a Press Secretary and Political Advisers whose job is to serve the Minister as political colleagues. This group is generally described as the Ministry's political leadership. Unlike other Government Offices officials, ministers and political appointees leave their posts when there is a change of government.
Senior officials
There are four senior officials at the Ministry of Defence. These are: the State Secretary, the Director-General for Administrative Affairs, the Director-General for Legal Affairs, the Director General for Political Affairs. Among these, only the State Secretary is a political appointee.
Director-General for Administrative Affairs
The Director-General for Administrative Affairs sees to it that Ministry of Defence business is conducted properly and is responsible for the drafting of proposals for laws and other regulations.
Departments and secretariats
The Ministry's day-to-day business is conducted by the various departments. The title given to a head of department is Director. The departments process business prior to Government decisions. They also take care of contacts with the Ministry's agencies and monitor their activities.
EU and international efforts
In addition, the Ministry of Defence is represented by special attachés at the Permanent Representation of Sweden to the European Union in Brussels, the Delegation to NATO at the Swedish Embassy in Brussels and the Permanent Mission of Sweden to the United Nations in New York. One Ministry official, moreover, is stationed at the Geneva Centre for Security Policy.
The Minister of Defence takes part in the formal meetings of EU Ministers of Defence. These meetings take place within the framework of the General Affairs and External Relations Council (GAERC). Click on the link above to the right for more information before and after GAERC council meetings.
