centralförvaltning

Centralförvaltning, or central administration, refers to the part of a country's government responsible for policy development, decision-making, and implementation at the national level. It encompasses the offices of the government, including the ministries under the Prime Minister and the administrative support body that coordinates policy across ministries, as well as central government agencies (myndigheter). The centralförvaltningen operates at the national level and is distinct from local and regional administration, which handle subnational services and governance.

In Sweden, the centralförvaltningen is led by the Prime Minister and the cabinet, with the Regeringskansliet (the Government Offices) providing the government secretariat and cross-ministerial coordination. Each ministry is headed by a minister and includes policy units and civil service components. Central government agencies, or myndigheter, implement laws, regulate sectors, and administer public programs. Examples include agencies responsible for taxation, welfare, and regulatory enforcement, which operate with a degree of administrative autonomy but report to a relevant minister under statutory framework.

Functions of the centralförvaltningen include policy formulation and legislative preparation, drafting and issuing regulations, implementing government programs, budgeting and resource allocation, regulatory supervision, and public service delivery. It also serves as the government’s interface with other parts of the public sector, civil society, and international actors, including the European Union. The system is subject to parliamentary oversight and statutory accountability, with the Riksdag holding ministers to account and independent bodies auditing performance.