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 agencies that are answerable to the ministry. The Ministry of Defence has the following departments:

The Legal Secretariat (RS)

The Legal Secretariat is responsible, answerable to the Director-General for Administrative and Legal Affairs, for referrals to the Council on Legislation, government bills and other work connected to legislation. The Secretariat is also responsible for international law, matters concerning release of public documents, some security protection issues, compensation and other legal matters. The Legal Secretariat provides advice on legal matters to the Ministry's executive and other departments.

Head of Department: Ms Maria Hedegård

The Secretariat for Intelligence Co-ordination(SUND)

The Secretariat Intelligence Co-ordination(SUND) has the task of monitoring, directing, assuring the quality and developing intelligence activities. SUND is to work for improved co-ordination between the defence intelligence agencies, other agencies that engage in intelligence activities and the Government Offices and contribute to a balanced view of threats and risks for the country's external security and interests.

Head of Department: Ambassador Per Anderman

Secretariat of Strategic Planning (SALP)

The Secretariat serves to promote strategic planning capacity at the Ministry of Defence. Hence, its responsibilities include issues associated with orientation of defence planning, particularly in a long-term perspective. It bases its assessment on broad analyses of developments in long-term international security policy, defence technology and industry, and military doctrine, drawing conclusions regarding the consequences for Sweden's defence. The Secretariat assesses the need for measures to adapt the Total Defence.

In addition, the department analyses Swedens ability, drawing on the resources of the Total Defence, to find operational solutions to the tasks of defending Sweden against armed aggression, asserting our territorial integrity, promoting peace and security in our vicinity and strengthening Swedish society in the face of severe peacetime emergencies

Finally, the department analyses different options for the long-term development of Total Defence resources, taking into account conceivable needs for operational capacity and likely economic and other basic conditions.

Head of Department: Olle Hjelm

The Secretariat of the Defence Commission (BER)

The Defence Commission is a forum for consultations between the Government and representatives of the political parties in the Riksdag. It endeavours to achieve as broad agreement as possible on the formulation of Swedens security and defence policy. On the basis of these consultations the Government formulates its proposals to Parliament. In addition to representatives of the Government and the parties in the Riksdag the Commission includes advisers and experts from the Ministry of Defence, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Finance, the Armed Forces and the Swedish Emergency Management Agency. The Defence Commission is directed by the Ministry of Defence and it also has a secretariat that coordinates research activities, etc.

The main task of the Commission is to monitor security developments in other countries on a continuous basis and assess threats and risks and developments in international cooperation on security and defence.

It also analyses significant changes. If the Committee considers it necessary, it submits proposals for modifications of Sweden's security and defence policy. Another of its tasks is to contribute to the public debate, for example by publishing reports and arranging seminars.

Head of Department: Mr Jan Hyllander

Department for Financial Planning, Personnel and Co-ordination (EPS)

This department is responsible for economic and financial matters within the remit of the Ministry of Defence and for the Ministry's internal economy and operational planning. The department collaborates with the Ministry's other departments on general economic and financial matters.

Its tasks include developing methods for control, development of the activities of the agencies that report to the Ministry of Defence and coordinating work on government bills and the budget in the Ministry of Defence and in other ministries.

This department is responsible for all general personnel matters in the Ministry, IT issues, internal and external information, The EU co-ordination unit, committees, and other matters of an administrative nature that do not fall within the remit of any other department.

Head of Department: Mr Reidar Ljöstad

Department for International and Security Affairs (SI)

The department continuously analyses international developments in the fields of security and defence and their consequences for Sweden's security. One of the department's main tasks is to prepare and plan the implementation of Sweden's participation in international peace-support cooperation.

The department is responsible for general coordination of the participation of the Total Defence authorities in the Partnership for Peace (PfP) and the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council (EAPC). The department is also responsible for matters related to the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), the Western European Union (WEU) and EU emergency management operations.

The department's responsibilities within the Ministry include developing defence-related Nordic cooperation and Total Defence-related confidence- and security-building cooperation in the Baltic Sea region, with special emphasis on the Baltic countries.

Matters relating to arms control and disarmament also fall within the departments area of responsibility. The department prepares, implements and follows up the Ministry's international contacts and is responsible for broadening exchanges of information and deepening coordination of the international activities of the Total Defence authorities.

The department also deals with contacts with the foreign defence attachés accredited in Sweden, matters relating to permission for visits by naval vessels, flights made by military aircraft, and service abroad, as well as decisions relating to foreign visits to some of the authorities that report to the Ministry.

Head of Department: Mr Peter Göthe

Department for Military Affairs (MIL)

This department deals with matters and issues relating to planning, control and evaluation of the tasks, capability and operations of Sweden's military defence. This means that the department is responsible for authorities, allocations and other functions relating to the military side of the Total Defence.

Its field of activity includes handling and preparing matters relating to the development of the armed forces, the structure of the combat, rapid reaction and basic organisation, investments in equipment, defence-related industries, research, personnel, national service, the environment, information warfare and international peace support operations. The department is also responsible for cooperation with other countries in matters such as defence equipment and defence-related industries.

The agencies that fall within the department's area of responsibility are: the Armed Forces, the Defence Materiel Administration, the National Service Administration, the Swedish National Defence College, the National Defence Radio Establishment, the Swedish Defence Research Agency.

Head of Department: Mr Mats Nilsson

Department for Crisis Preparedness(SSK)

The department is responsible for five different areas of activity and for the EU and international dimension associated with these areas.

The first of these areas is civil defence, i.e. preparedness for a situation of heightened alert. The agencies with responsibilities in this area are the Swedish Emergency Management Agency, the Swedish Rescue Services Agency and the National Board of Psychological Defence. The Ministry of Defence is in charge of civil defence coordination at the Government Offices. The Department for Crisis Preparedness also has the role of coordinator for issues related to voluntary defence activities.

The second area concerns the preparedness of society to meet serious disruptions to services that are vital to its functioning and catastrophic accidents, i.e. events designated severe peacetime emergencies. Here too the Ministry of Defence has overall responsibility for coordination within the Government Offices.

The policy area Protection against accidents, which is the third area, comprises measures to prevent accidents and to limit the consequences when accidents do occur. The agencies with responsibilities in this area are the Swedish Rescue Services Agency and the Swedish Coast Guard.

The fourth area encompasses the domain of the Swedish Coast Guard, which includes protection against accidents. The Swedish Coast Guard exercises surveillance, supervision and control at sea.

In the fifth area, the department is in charge of preparedness at the Government Offices and associated matters.

EU-related activities include matters relating to the emergency services in the European Community and within the framework of the EU's civil crisis management

The international activities consist of work in international organisations such as the UN/NATO/EAPR. It also includes the national control of the agencies, international activities.

Head of Department: Ms Ulrica Gradin