National crisis management centre
Thursday 4 October, Inquiry Chair Christina Salomonson delivered to Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt her report on the establishment of a national crisis management centre at the Government Offices.
Summary of the report
On January 11, 2007, the Swedish government commissioned Coast Guard Director-General Christina Salomonson to study and propose the establishment of a Crisis Management Centre within the Government Offices.
The report concludes that crisis management in the Government Offices should be based upon a cross-sector joint approach and be coordinated by the Prime Minister's office. Planning and preparing for crises requires an efficient and professional organization as well as an executive leadership that cuts across sectors and the responsibility of each individual ministry. Director-General Salomonson therefore proposes that a position of Director-General for Crisis Management be established within the Prime Minister's office to oversee and ensure crisis management coordination and planning.
The Office of the Director-General for Crisis Management will support the daily work of the Director-General. The office will enhance awareness, assemble and coordinate information and analyses, initiate inter-ministerial coordination and support decision-making during crises. Specifically, the office should identify and advise on relevant measures both within the Government Offices and in the interplay between ministries and authorities.
During crises, the State Secretaries of the ministries involved play a key role in shaping the strategic direction of crisis management, and ensure coordinated measures and communication from the Government Offices. The office of the Director-General for Crisis Management will support the work of the strategic group.
An advisory committee consisting of senior representatives from agencies with key tasks in coping with crises will be appointed by the government. The committee should share information and ensure coordination between the government and the involved agencies during crises.
In normal situations the office will perform tasks to identify and bench-mark crisis management capabilities and make sure that all ministries have a crisis management plan and capacity. The office will also provide advice on potential risks and threats to societal security, as well as plan and execute exercises and training activities. Furthermore, the office will be the point of contact for cooperation with similar offices or functions in other countries as well as within the joint EU crisis management structures.
A Government Offices Crisis Coordination Center will be established with relevant technological support to be activated and used by the government during crises.
