Ändamålsmässighet

Ändamålsmässighet is a Swedish legal principle that emphasizes the proportionality between a public authority's action and the purpose it aims to achieve. It dictates that any measure taken by a public body must be suitable, necessary, and proportionate in the narrow sense to attain a legitimate objective. Suitability means the measure must be capable of contributing to the desired outcome. Necessity requires that there be no less intrusive means available to achieve the same purpose. Finally, proportionality in the narrow sense, often referred to as strict proportionality, demands a balancing of the benefits of the measure against the harm it causes to individual rights and interests. This principle is a fundamental aspect of administrative law and is applied across various contexts, including law enforcement, taxation, and regulatory decisions. It serves as a safeguard against arbitrary or excessive state intervention, ensuring that public power is exercised reasonably and with due regard for individual freedoms. The concept is closely related to principles found in other legal systems, such as the principle of proportionality in European Union law.