Efforts to ensure freedom of movement in the Nordic Region include initiatives to prevent the emergence of new cross-border obstacles.
All ministerial councils are responsible for ensuring the consistent application of EU legislation across the Nordic Region within their areas of expertise. The nations are committed to preventing new Nordic border obstacles that could emerge from new national laws or EU/EEA regulations.
A significant part of the preventive work takes place within the framework of Info Norden's and the three cross-border regional information services' information assignments. By guiding and informing Nordic residents and companies about cross-border laws and regulations, it becomes "easy to do the right thing" and fewer problems arise for Nordic citizens. In contact with residents, the information services can also detect potential cross-border obstacles and other problems that residents and companies encounter at an early stage. Within the framework of the established network between the Secretariat of the Freedom of Movement Council and the information services, there is also an exchange of knowledge and co-operation with the aim of further streamlining the work on border obstacles and detecting potential border obstacles before they affect residents and companies.
The Freedom of Movement Council's preventive work
As part of its preventive efforts, the Freedom of Movement Council has, for example, highlighted potential mobility issues that could arise if ID and border controls were introduced in border regions.