Swedish minister rejects EU proposal on remote work as “not a reasonable solution”

Sweden’s employment minister Johan Britz (L) has dismissed an upcoming EU proposal encouraging remote work to reduce energy use, calling it “not a reasonable solution,” Swedish public broadcaster SVT reports.

The European Commission is expected to present measures to lower energy prices and cut fossil fuel dependence amid rising costs linked to the conflict in Iran, according to reports in the Financial Times. One proposal would urge European companies to adopt remote work one day per week.

Britz, however, questioned the effectiveness of the idea. “I struggle to see how more remote work would address our energy challenges. Most people commute without using fossil fuels,” he told SVT.

The minister stressed that decisions on remote work should remain with Swedish workplaces, not the EU. “The EU should not interfere in this. In Sweden, the starting point is that employers, in dialogue with employees and unions, decide where work is carried out,” he said.

Asked about alternative solutions to the energy crisis, Britz highlighted electrification, particularly of vehicle fleets, citing climate, security, and competitiveness reasons. When pressed on the urgency of the situation, he emphasized ensuring households have resources to cope with high fuel prices.

The minister also dismissed suggestions that technical failures during a recent Liberal Party digital conference had influenced his stance on remote work.