ärenden

Ärenden is the plural form of the Swedish noun ärende, meaning a matter, case, or business that must be addressed by a public body or organization. The term is central to Swedish administrative language and is used in municipal councils, county councils, regional administrations, and the national parliament to describe items on an agenda. A single ärende (a case) typically originates in a department with a description of the issue, relevant legal bases, and often a proposed decision or course of action. It is prepared by civil servants and assigned to a committee (utskott) or a council for examination. Supporting documentation, such as an underlag or a formal decision proposal (förslag till beslut), is circulated before meetings. The body may request additional information or hold public consultations before deciding. The final decision (beslut) is recorded in the protocol (protokoll) and the case is closed, or, if further work is required, returned to the administration for follow-up.

In the national legislature, ärenden cover a variety of matters on the agenda, including propositions from the government, motions by members, and committee reports. The term thus encompasses both administrative proceedings and policy-oriented items awaiting consideration.

Etymology: The word ärende is of Swedish origin, reflecting the notion of a task or duty to be addressed within public life.

Related terms include ärende (singular), utskott (committee), protokoll (minutes), and beslut (decision).