Theme: Border barriers
Nordic Freedom of Movement Council gears up to banish border barriers
The Nordic region aims to be the world’s most sustainable and integrated region by 2030. To achieve that, we need to change gears, facilitate trade and focus on removing the remaining border barriers, says Anders Ahnlid, the new Swedish representative on the Nordic Freedom of Movement Council.
Border barriers a hot topic in “Little Iceland”
At Jónshús, a culture house for Icelanders in Copenhagen, border barriers have become the topic of the day. Top themes: securing a bank account and claiming child benefits.
Freedom of Movement Council rids Nordics of some 90 border barriers
Since 2014, the Nordic Freedom of Movement Council has helped get rid of nearly 90 border barriers between the Nordic countries. But the Council members are not running out of work – there are still plenty to get on with.
Immigrants in Sweden queue up to work in Denmark
While Copenhagen suffers labour shortages, Malmö has high unemployment. But for many third-country nationals on the Swedish side of the border, Danish work permit requirements are so high that cross-border commuting is made impossible. This issue is a priority for the Freedom of Movement Council, while an EU project is also looking for solutions.
Not easy for Norwegians to do the Swedes’ dirty laundry
It is not always easy to do business across Nordic borders when you are self-employed. It costs both time and money, as the owners of laundry service Trysil Vask og Rens experienced when daring to cross the border into Sweden.
How the EU deals with border barriers
The EU also has programs working on removing border barriers. The best-known is Solvit, a problem-solving network which can be found in every EU/EEA country. Citizens and businesses can use this free service if they believe a country is in breach of EU rules and legislation.
Aiming for full mobility in the Nordic region’s largest labour market
The Öresund Bridge is 25 next year, yet despite the good commuting opportunities it offers there is still a way to go before the Nordic’s largest labour market is fully integrated. This year, Sweden holds the Presidency of the Nordic Council of Ministers, and greater mobility in the Nordic region is a top priority.
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