Background & Purpose

Currently, some municipal ports are exempt from taxes, which EU rules say creates unfair competition against private ports. To fix this, Sweden is changing how these ports are organized.

The Decision

The parliament decided that all municipal and regional port operations must be moved into limited companies and run on commercial terms to follow EU competition laws.

Does this affect you?

  • Municipalities: They must reorganize their port operations into limited companies and ensure they follow new commercial and tax regulations.
  • Private port operators: They will face fairer competition as municipal ports will no longer have tax exemptions that previously gave them an unfair advantage.

In Practice

  • Municipalities must transfer port operations into a separate limited company.
  • Port activities must be run on a commercial basis, meaning they cannot be subsidized by tax money in a way that distorts competition.
  • The ports will be subject to standard tax rules, just like private companies.
  • The new structure must be fully implemented by August 1, 2026.