Due to the direct and tangible effects that closed borders and various national restrictions caused in the border regions and in the Nordic countries during the period 2020 - 2022, the Freedom of Movement Council took an initiative in March 2020 to map out the problems that arose. Since 13 March 2020, the information services identified and reported covid-related disruptions to free movement and other consequences that arose in the Nordic border regions and in the Nordic countries.
The information services had a unique and strategic role in their dialogue with people and businesses during the crisis. They were particularly crucial in the work of identifying corona-related disruptions and carried out major and crucial information initiatives that facilitated everyday life for those who lived, worked or operated in more than one Nordic country.
Compilations of the information services' reports were regularly communicated to the Ministers for Nordic Co-operation, the Nordic Committee for Co-operation, the Nordic Council, and other relevant stakeholders. Up until and including January 2022, 21 reports had been delivered in which 121 corona-related disruptions were identified. The disruptions were alternately resolved and became active again as the countries' entry restrictions and national decisions changed during the period. As entry restrictions and other national decisions eased during the spring of 2022, the disruptions also ceased. However, some challenges remain as the labour market has changed, especially considering that remote work has become the new normal for many professions.
The purpose of the reports was to inform and raise awareness among decision-makers and authorities about the specific problems the corona crisis created for free movement in the Nordic Region and the consequences caused by the countries' entry bans. The reports were further communicated to, among others, the Freedom of Movement Council, the Ministers for Nordic Co-operation, the Nordic Committee for Co-operation and the Nordic Council. The reports also contributed to the discussions held in the Nordic Council of Ministers, the Freedom of Movement Council, and the Nordic Council regarding improvements to Nordic co-operation during times of crisis.
Although not exhaustive, the reports provided a situational overview and testified to how the crisis affected the lives and daily routines of individuals and businesses residing and operating in the border regions. Furthermore, the disruptions highlighted in the reports were not to be equated with formal border cross-border obstacles, as they were not examined in the same way as border obstacles published in the official Freedom of Movement Database.
The Freedom of Movement Council also identified four general challenges during the crisis:
How far does the obligation to work extend if a country decides to completely close the border, thereby making it impossible for cross-border commuters residing abroad to travel to their jobs?
There is a general need for clear information and a uniform interpretation of regulations within the individual countries.
The Nordic countries have different national strategies for reducing and preventing the spread of infection.
The lack of cross-border regional statistics.
During the crisis, the Freedom of Movement Council, in co-operation with the information services, conducted four digital surveys. These surveys targeted primarily individuals living and working in border regions with high levels of cross-border commuting. However, it was also possible to specify other combinations of regions, such as for example Denmark–Norway and Åland–Sweden.
In the latest survey, conducted in July - August 2022, the number of respondents was significantly lower compared to previous surveys. In June 2020, 1,669 people responded; in December 2020, 2,676 people responded; in June 2021, 2,105 people responded; and in July/August 2022, only 279 people responded. The low response rate in the last survey makes it difficult to compare the results with previous surveys. However, it is a clear indication that cross-border life at the time of the survey had returned to normal, something to which information services also testified.
A consistent finding from the surveys has been that respondents believe their mobility was restricted, that there is a need for coordination at the Nordic level, and that it is important for the authorities' information to be both up-to-date and adapted to the border regions.
Based on the reports received by the Freedom of Movement Council, the Council also approached responsible ministers with a series of letters that focused on specific challenges.