A Bill to help Swedish citizens in disaster situations abroad is under proposal

An Act to regulate the responsibility of the Swedish Government for assisting Swedish citizens in emergency or disaster situations abroad is under proposal. It is proposed that the Act enter into force on 1 August 2010.

The basic principle is that the individual has a fundamental responsibility when staying abroad. In the main the Government's responsibility is to have an organisation and preparedness for being able to intervene and support individuals in emergency or disaster situations abroad when a large number of people with links to Sweden are affected.

Government responsibility is to be secondary and is to supplement the activities of other actors. Examples of these actors are travel and insurance companies, or the country affected.

Decisions concerning consular disaster response are to be made by the Government. The Government will also need to make a decision on granting funds for the response. The Government Offices, through the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, has the responsibility for overall coordination and must decide on how the resources are to be used.

The individual will be liable to repay the Government for costs defrayed directly on his or her behalf and that should be covered by any travel insurance. In that way the individual's fundamental responsibility is emphasised for visits to countries outside Sweden.

- Asian Tribune -