| Type of parliamentary body |
Multifunctional |
| Nature |
Permanent |
| Related to chambers |
Riksdagen
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| Date of creation |
1971 |
| Last renewal date |
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| Mandate |
The Committee on Industry and Trade prepares matters relating to general guidelines for industry and trade policy and associated research questions, trade and other areas. Subjects within those fields are generally referred to the Committee, whether they involve legislation, the allocation of funds or some other question. The Committee work results in a report, which serves as a basis for the parliamentary decision.
The European Union (EU) sets international trade policy for all its Member States, for instance in relation to the World Trade Organization (WTO). Since Sweden joined the EU in 1995, the Swedish Government has advocated the Swedish position within the EU. Matters regarding trade policy and WTO which are handled in Parliament often take the form of proposals that the government should take a particular position in a certain area.
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| Membership |
The Swedish Parliament has 16 committees; each has 17 members and roughly the same number of substitutes. The committees are intended to reflect the strength of the parties in Parliament, and the party distribution within each committee is decided at the start of the four-year legislative period. |
| Working methods |
Before ministerial conferences, the government will sometimes submit a written communication regarding international trade policy in connection with the EU and WTO to Parliament. The communication is handled by the Committee, together with motions from parliamentary opposition parties and from private members. The outcome of the Committee's deliberations is presented in a report, in which the Committee sets out its position. The report can also contain dissenting positions.
The Committee has the power to organize hearings. Committee meetings are private, but the hearings are usually public. A record of the hearings is usually issued in a public document.
It is customary to ask government officials to appear before the Committee and inform it about matters of current interest. Other sources of information are reports and information from the National Board of Trade and other public authorities, the EU and WTO.
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| Relations with other parliamentary bodies |
The Committee on Industry and Trade has contacts with the other parliamentary committees, including the Advisory Committee on EU Affairs, which is the parliamentary body through which members of parliament advise the government regarding EU policies. Some of the members of the Committee on Industry and Trade are also substitute members of the Advisory Committee on EU Affairs. Whenever trade policy or WTO matters are scheduled to be discussed by the Advisory Committee on EU Affairs, staff from the Committee on Industry and Trade secretariat can ask to attend as observers. |
| Relations with external bodies |
It is customary for members of the Committee on Industry and Trade to attend major intergovernmental negotiating forums, such as WTO Ministerial Conferences, as part of the official national delegation.
The officer in charge of the Committee secretariat can participate in what it is known as the Reference Group, which was set up by the Government to give representatives from various non-governmental organizations information and the possibility to advocate their points of view before a Ministerial Conference.
Whenever the Committee feels that it needs more information on a particular subject, it invites relevant experts from organizations or public bodies to a Committee meeting.
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| Subjects dealt with |
The topics dealt with in the most recent Committee report are: free trade; various WTO matters (openness, negotiations, developing countries, General Agreement on Trade in Services, the dispute settlement process, consumer protection); trade, environment and social matters; export credits; matters regarding the EU internal market. |
| CONTACT INFORMATION |
| Main address |
Riksdagen, 100 12 Stockholm |
| Phone |
+468 786 4236 |
| Fax |
+468 786 6169 |
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PRESIDING OFFICER(S)
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| Name |
Ms. Marie Granlund |
| Notes |
Chairperson of the Committee on Industry and Trade |
| Address (if different from above) |
Riksdagen, 100 12 Stockholm |
| Phone |
+468 786 4751 |
| Fax |
+468 786 6169 |
| E-mail |
marie.granlund@riksdagen.se |
| Website |
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SECRETARY
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| Name |
Mr. Ulf Renberg |
| Notes |
Secretary of the Committee on Industry and Trade |
| Address (if different from above) |
Riksdagen, 100 12 Stockholm |
| Phone |
+468 786 4236 |
| Fax |
+468 786 6169 |
| E-mail |
ulf.renberg@riksdagen.se |
| web site: |
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| Notes |
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