The Swedish Model

Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt writes in his blog about the Swedish Model. He references both the discussions about what Sweden did around 1992 during the local bank crisis we had, but also the agreement that was made this week regarding (nuclear) energy.

Mr Bildt point out that we although we are a small country can still be a leader regarding policy and ideas on how to (my interpretation) reach a sustainable society by reaching agreements that reach wider than normal political agreements.

I think, now when Sweden end up being the presidency of the European Union on July 1, it is a good chance we also present the Swedish Model regarding IT Policy. The policy we actually have in Sweden, but is not talked about so much. The view we have on broadband (in an as rural country as Sweden is), sharing of passive infrastructure, the view regulator have on de-facto monopolists, requirements on openness, availability and effective choice for the end user.

And of course the, I claim, sort of unique cooperation we have between telecom and electricity companies in time of crisis and disasters that now (spring 2009) is slowly expanded into also Internet services. A cooperation that is built upon shared understanding in the market that cooperation is needed and not through regulation and legal court cases.

Which of course is the complete oposite from the unfortunate and bad quality legislation regarding wiretap, data retention and IPRED. Non-cooperation, enforced legislation that is so unclear that parties does not know what they must to according to the legislation.

I hope that will not be remembered as The Swedish Model regarding IT Policy.