Cross-border obstacles concluded 2014–2023

Since the Freedom of Movement Council was established by the Nordic prime ministers in 2014, the Council has contributed to the resolution of 91 cross-border obstacle cases between the Nordic countries.

When a cross-border obstacle case is considered "concluded", it means that the obstacle has either been resolved or that the Freedom of Movement Council, in consultation with the national departments, has determined that the cross-border obstacle is unresolvable.

Concluded: resolved

2023

Taxation of contractors in staffing enterprises (temporary employment agencies)
Danish company car in Sweden
Group contributions across borders in the Nordic Region
Recognition of professional qualifications (also a thematic area)
Difficulties in using a phone number from another Nordic country when purchasing a ticket for public transport

2022

Recognition of parenthood for families with same-sex parents (regarding Sweden and thereby for the whole Nordic Region)
Right to leave of absence for political duties for a person living in one country and working in another (resolved in Sweden)
National restrictions on research funds (resolved in Finland)
Additional financial support for retirees to ensure a minimum income

2021

Payments of social benefits in cases of doubt about which country is responsible for payment
Customs and deposits in connection with the transfer of goods
Long case-processing in EU-related matters
Truck transports in the Nordic Region
Co-ordination numbers for foreign owners of holiday homes in Sweden
Housing allowance supplements provided due to children living or staying in the household (such as special contributions and access contributions) are discontinued during periods of working abroad
Compensation for patient travel between Norway and Finland/Sweden
Icelanders moving to Norway with Icelandic documentation of custody cannot register as sole providers due to Norwegian registration requirements

2020

Norwegian confidentiality regulations complicate the establishment of estate inventories in Finland and Sweden
E-identification with the highest security level for logging into NAV
Guide dogs when traveling
Faster information to those living abroad
Faroese tachograph cards
Collection of child support in Denmark
Recognition of Faroese driving licenses (resolved for SE)

2019

Documentation requirements for national registration in Norway
Right to leave of absence for political duties from work in another Nordic country (resolved in Norway)
Recognition of Greenlandic driving licenses (resolved in Denmark)
Nordic nursing assistants in Denmark – granting of qualification/authorisation as a social and healthcare assistant. Resolved for Norwegian home helps
Reduced parental leave compensation due to educational support from the "wrong" country

2018

Requirements for exchanging foreign driving licenses in Denmark
Requirement to maintain continuous coverage under unemployment insurance in different countries to avoid the risk of receiving lower unemployment benefits
Age limit for joining Swedish unemployment insurance (A-kassa)
Internship in Finland for doctors educated in Sweden
Compensation for patient travel between Norway, Finland, and Sweden
Guide dogs during travel, Finland
Mobile food unit as the first place of arrival in Finland
Recognition of parenthood for families with same-sex parents (when moving to Finland)
Application to Norwegian upper secondary education
Import of Norwegian salmon fry to Sweden
Regarding requirements for travel documents for air travel in the Nordic Region
Difficulties for third-country nationals to commute across borders regarding the European Spallation Source (ESS)
The Finnish four-month rule
Applying to the wrong unemployment insurance fund (A-kassa) can lead to loss of entitlement to compensation

2017

EU mobility programme, Sweden
Limited opportunity for Swedish doctors to carry out their internship on Åland
Lack of information for small and medium-sized companies when operating in other Nordic countries
Norwegian regulations for helicopter traffic make it difficult to maintain reindeer fences in Norway
Norwegian customs regulations make it difficult to maintain reindeer fences in Norway
Guide dog when travelling, resolved in Norway

2016

Right to unemployment benefit after work assessment allowance from Norway
EU mobility programme, Iceland
State educational support for employees on study leave
Recognition of Greenlandic educational qualifications
Norwegian customs and VAT regulations for Nordic companies
Commercial passenger vessel traffic across the border between Sweden and Norway
Regional statistics
Authorisation for Swedish drivers of snowmobiles to drive in Norway

2015

Work rehabilitation in the country of residence
Processing time regarding social insurance in Norway
No right to educational support after work abroad
Students’ social insurance in another Nordic country
Dual taxation Greenland and Sweden/Finland
Taxation of Danish capital pension
Procedures regarding tax affairs for genuine cross-border commuters (Norway)
Taxation of foreign pensioners in the country of residence
Payment of value-added tax when importing a work machine from Norway to Sweden
Finnish safety requirements regarding temporary import of caravans, snowmobiles, etc.
Arjeplog Agreement

2014

Language requirements for Danish occupational qualifications
Problems when moving to Iceland with the qualification period of 6 months when the E-104 form is lacking

Concluded: Unresolvable

2023

Norwegian citizens who have not lived in Norway lack the right to vote

2022

Creditworthiness, for example, for cross-border commuters in the Nordic Region

2021

Danish citizens living in another country are deprived of the right to vote
Calculation of benefits for incapacity to work after working in several Nordic countries.
Difference in when Swedish parental benefit must be claimed to avoid losing the entitlement
Loss of parental benefit for temporary work

2020

Students in Danish apprenticeship programme cannot apply for internships in Sweden
Recognition of Greenlandic driving licenses

2019

Norwegian internal tax practices complicate the execution of assignments in the construction industry
Time-consuming formalities in connection with the cross-border transfer of samples from marine mammals
Psychologist internship in Åland

2018

Temporary import of horses between Norway and Sweeden

2017

Right to income-related unemployment benefit in Sweden after work assessment allowance from Norway
Movement with disability vehicle in Norway

2016

Limited possibilities for cross-border workers to commute to Norway
Problems relating to permanently employed cultural workers in Sweden
Procedures for tax payments relating to genuine cross-border commuters
Electricity tariffs for Åland
Obstacles deriving from the Nordic tax agreement:
- Problems relating to permanently employed cultural workers in Sweden
- Procedures for tax payments relating to genuine cross-border commuters
- Taxation of payments from foreign pensioners in the country of residence and payments according to a country’s social legislation
- Taxation of student grants

The Nordic Council of Ministers for Finance has decided to take these cross-border obstacles into account in the work on reviewing the Nordic tax agreement, should the Nordic countries decide to do so. For this reason, the Freedom of Movement Council decided to write off the cross-border obstacles concerning employed cultural workers and routines for tax payments for genuine cross-border commuters. The cross-border obstacles concerning taxation of foreign pensions and taxation of study grants have already been written off by the Freedom of Movement Council, as the prerequisites for solving them were lacking.

2015

The paternal quota in Norway

2014

Work placement in another Nordic country