Sweden: A new government authority for civil contingencies 2009 - MSB
The Swedish government has decreed that on 1st January 2009 a new authority, called the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency (MSB) will come into force to strengthen Sweden’s civil protection and emergency preparedness. The new authority will be responsible for unifying, coordinating, and supportive tasks prior to, during and after emergencies.
The Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency is being formed from three existing national government authorities, all of which will be closed down on 31st December 2008, namely the Swedish Emergency Management Agency (KBM), the Swedish Rescue Services Agency (SRSA) and the National Board of Psychological Defence (SPF).
The Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency will be in place and working with an all-encompassing task with regard to civil contingencies, that is to say, the whole spectrum of contingencies from everyday road traffic accidents and fires, up to chemical emergencies, power cuts and other technical failures all the way up to even more serious emergencies, such as bomb threats and other antagonistic attacks, epidemics, natural disasters and war.
The new authority will be based at several locations around Sweden, for example, Stockholm, Karlstad, Revinge (Lund) and Sandö (Kramfors). The Director-General’s Office will be located in Stockholm.
The development of the new authority is led by Helena Lindberg, prospective Director General of the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency.