Metropolitan Affairs

The aim is to give Sweden's big cities ample means of attaining long-term sustainable growth and, accordingly, new job opportunities. Ending segregation and working to bring about equality in living conditions are essential.

Promoting growth and stopping segregation

The Commission on Metropolitan Areas in Sweden coordinates and develops national policy regarding the big cities, with the aims of working for long-term sustainable growth and ending segregation. Local development agreements are the foremost means of attaining these objectives. These agreements have been offered to Botkyrka, Haninge, Huddinge, Gothenburg, Malmö, Stockholm and Södertälje. In conjunction with the central government's commitments, the municipalities are taking steps to improve living conditions in 24 metropolitan housing areas. These measures are under way in dialogue with residents and others active in these areas.

Process of learning and improvement

The local development agreements are revised annually. To support development efforts, the municipalities have drawn up local evaluation plans. Since April 1999, the National Integration Office has performed the task of coordinating evaluation at national level. Local development efforts are also characterised by long-termism, a bottom-up approach, collaboration and management by objectives.