News
New OECD report: lessons for Nordics' crisis preparedness
Mar 23, 2023 The OECD has looked at how the Nordic region handled the corona crisis and which lessons might be learned when dealing with new labour market crises. What sets the Nordics apart from other industrial nations was the close cooperation with the social partners.
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Denmark's 50 years long tug-of-war with the EU
Mar 23, 2023 Denmark is the EU veteran among the Nordic countries. This year marks the 50th anniversary of Denmark joining the EC, as it was called back then. And during all these years, the Danes – with increasing difficulty – have fought to maintain their labour market model. Now, they have run out of patience and the tug of war has culminated with Denmark trying to have the minimum wage directive ruled invalid.
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Iceland starting to ponder EU membership
Mar 23, 2023 Iceland applied for EU membership in 2009, after the collapse of the banking system almost bankrupted the country. The government at the time, led by the EU-friendly Social Democratic Party, believed membership was vital for financial stability. The Euro was also seen as better than the small and unstable krona.
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How the EEA grant gives Norway influence in the EU
Mar 23, 2023 Norway and Iceland have full access to the EU internal market thanks to the EEA agreement. But they have to pay a fee. Between 2004 and 2021, Norway paid a total of 60 billion Norwegian kroner (€5.3bn) for access. The difference is that the country has a say in what the money is used for, which brings both influence and attention. A new report details what has been achieved.
Portrait
The Norwegian civil servant working for Sweden
Mar 23, 2023 In January, Norwegian Finn Ola Jølstad swapped his day job as a senior civil servant at the Ministry of Labour and Social Inclusion in Oslo for a job at the Swedish Ministry of Employment. His job exchange lasts six months and falls right in the middle of Sweden’s EU Presidency.
News
The greatest threats to energy supply in the Nordic region
Mar 23, 2023 Nordic Energy Research has presented a list of risks to the energy market. Topping it, somewhat surprisingly, is the long approval process facing new energy projects along with the fact that there is little public support for state-funded infrastructure investments.
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2023 Gender Equality Barometer: a dramatic fall
Feb 27, 2023 A dramatic fall from 92 to 77 female points – that is the result in the Nordic Labour Journal’s gender equality barometer 2023. It measures whether a man or a woman holds 24 positions of power in the five Nordic countries. 100 points for both genders would mean full equality.
News
Tur-retur tries to halt the brain drain from Finland to Sweden
Feb 27, 2023 It is a full table at the pub near Sweden’s parliament building. Around ten immigrants have gathered for the monthly meeting of the Swedish association of Ostrobothnians in Stockholm. It is an active association. In addition to the monthly pub meeting, there is a choir and other activities.
News
Creating synergies for life science cooperation in the Öresund Region
Feb 27, 2023 Is a bridge enough to expand the common labour market in the Öresund region, or is more needed? The answer from Medicon Valley Alliances’ CEO is: We must also become better at identifying and using the factors that benefit both Denmark and Sweden and explore the potential of this.
Editorial
When sustainability becomes the fashion
Jan 19, 2023 The circular economy is only part of the solution for making our society greener. But it is very concrete and it is easy to measure its results. The circular economy is the theme for this edition, and we look at how it influences trade, fashion and the textile industry.
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