Ministry of Enterprise, Energy and Communications Sweden Small Business Act – Think Small First in Sweden Håkan Hillefors Division for Entrepreneurship Ministry for Enterprise, Energy and Communication

Ministry of Enterprise, Energy and Communications Sweden Division for Entrepreneurship Financing Business support Entrepreneurship promotion Information & service to SMEs Smart regulation Programs and projects

Ministry of Enterprise, Energy and Communications Sweden Outline Swedish governance and decision making structure Think Small First Principle Think Small First - Swedish Examples

Ministry of Enterprise, Energy and Communications Sweden The democratic system in Sweden Regional level Elections to the County Council Assembly The County Council Assembly elects the County Council Executive Board Local level Elections to the Municipal Council The Municipal Council elects the Municipal Executive Board National level Elections to the Riksdag (Swedish parliament) The Riksdag elects the Prime Minister, who forms a government 18 County Councils 21 Counties 290 Municipalities

Ministry of Enterprise, Energy and Communications Sweden The Government Offices form a single authority The Government Ministry of Rural Affairs Ministry of JusticePrime Minister’s Office Ministry for Foreign AffairsMinistry of DefenceMinistry of Health and Social Affairs Ministry of Finance Ministry of Education and Research Ministry of the Environment Ministry of Enterprise, Energy and Communications Office for Administrative Affairs Ministry of Culture Ministry of Employment

Ministry of Enterprise, Energy and Communications Sweden The Work In the Government Offices Extensive consultation processes within government offices Prime Ministers Office keeps tab of implementation Collective decision making by government

Ministry of Enterprise, Energy and Communications Sweden SBA - Think Small First Not only one of the principles of SBA but… It enshrines and acts as the leading principle of the SBA Think Small First – A Small Business Act for Europe!

Ministry of Enterprise, Energy and Communications Sweden Think Small First - Principle III Subsidiarity and proportionality Assess the impacts – SME Test Consultation Information and dialogue Reduce the Costs for Business

Ministry of Enterprise, Energy and Communications Sweden Think Small First in Sweden Smart Regulation Programme Consultation Impact assessments Regulatory Council Regional and Local Levels Service Tools

Ministry of Enterprise, Energy and Communications Sweden Five areas Reduce the Costs for Businesess Simpler Reporting of Information Easier to contact regional and Local Authorities Follow up suggestions from the Business Community Better Impact Assessment s

Ministry of Enterprise, Energy and Communications Sweden The Government appoints a committee/commission of inquiry The committee presents its proposal in a report The Government circulates the report for comment Initiative for change The Government drafts a proposal for change - a Government bill It consists of representatives from e.g. ministries, government agencies, interest groups such as business or consumer organisations, trade unions, academics and experts. Normally it works for 6-12 months. The report with suggestions for legal text and recommendations is submitted to the government. The report is also including an impact assessment. The report is published and open to the public. Before the Government takes position to the suggestions in the report it is circulated for consultation to “referral bodies”; e.g. government agencies, interest groups such as business or consumer organisations, trade unions, academics, courts, local and regional authorities. The Better Regulation Council is especially looking at the impact assessment and the effects on administrative costs. The Government bill is published. If the consultation results in major changes from what is suggested in the report the Government bill is sent out for a new consultation. The Government bill is submitted to the Riksdag (Swedish parliament) for consideration The parliament is free of further consultations if they feel the need for it. After the parliament committees have discussed the matter, a vote is taken in the Riksdag The debate is open for the public. The Government promulgates a law, which is then published in the Swedish Code of Statues (SFS) The aim is that major legislation shall take force 1 July or 1 January. Consultations with business sector in the process that precedes a new Act

Ministry of Enterprise, Energy and Communications Sweden Regulations and steering documents Regulated in the Constitution Government Agencies must comment Ordinance on Impact Assessments Guidelines and Recommendations

Ministry of Enterprise, Energy and Communications Sweden Impact assessments Mandatory impact assessments SME Test integrated Working method achieves synergy effects, transparency and uniformity An internal web-portal has been set up within the Government Offices containing a compendium of the information relevant to impact assessment work

Ministry of Enterprise, Energy and Communications Sweden Regulatory Council Established 15 may 2008 Scrutinise the design of new or amended rules that can have a significant impact on businesses Takes part in the formal consultation process 4 members and 8 staff in secretariat

Ministry of Enterprise, Energy and Communications Sweden Council on Legislation Scrutinizes legislative proposals before being sent to Parliament Comments on the how the proposal links to the constitution and other laws Selected judges from the two Supreme Courts 3 judges takes part in each session

Ministry of Enterprise, Energy and Communications Sweden simplerrules.se

Ministry of Enterprise, Energy and Communications Sweden All information in one place! Find forms and permits Find contact information to responsible government agencies and to advisors (e.g. start a business, marketing and financing) Electronic tools that make it possible to register a company on the webpage Soon possible to receive information and decisions from agencies on the webpage Point of Singel Contact for the Service Directive

Ministry of Enterprise, Energy and Communications Sweden To Conclude Attitudes are really important Simple for everyone Do it right from the beginning Think Small First!

Ministry of Enterprise, Energy and Communications Sweden THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION!