Theme: Border barriers in the Nordics and the EU
Photo: Marcus Gustafsson
Border barriers – a Sisyphean task?
In both the Nordic region and the EU, there is a rising number of complaints about the open labour market not being as open as we thought. Is this a warning sign, or is it a consequence of people moving more and businesses expanding their operations?
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.
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.
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.
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.
Lava-hit Icelandic town: "We don't know when we can rebuild"
Grindavík has been largely empty since 10 November. The 4000 inhabitants of the Icelandic fishing town on the south coast of the Reykjanes Peninsula had to move as a lava corridor formed partly underneath the town, causing strong earthquakes and a lot of ground movement.
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