The purpose of this study is to increase the understanding of cross-border life events in the Nordics and Baltics. This effort is highly relevant for the implementation of the Nordic Council of Ministers' Vision 2030, aiming to make the Nordic region the most integrated region in the world. This ambition includes fostering a strong sense of collaboration across the Nordic countries and, in the scope of this study, also the Baltic countries.
The report provides knowledge on how the existing legal and procedural frameworks for handling cross-border life events are experienced by cross-border workers to develop and improve cross-border digital services, focusing on necessary interactions and services. Specifically, the report contains: 1) an overview of cross-border life events with digital implications in the Nordics and Baltics, 2) detailed visualizations of the journey maps of three prioritized life events related to cross-border work, and 3) perspectives on cross-border challenges in terms of systemic inefficiencies, best practices, and possible improvements of efficiency.
Context
Technological development in the public sector across EU has entailed new regulations and initiatives from EU in the field of digitalization, for instance through an ambitious EU-target of making 100% of key public policies online by 2030. In addition to this development, the Nordic Prime Ministers have adopted Our Vision 2030 with an aim to make the Nordic region the most integrated region in the world. This ambition includes fostering a strong sense of collaboration across the Nordic countries. The vision emphasizes economic integration, sustainable development, social cohesion, and the establishment of a competitive region that is innovative and digitally connected. The goals underline the importance of cross-border cooperation and shared policies to address common challenges, enhance regional identity, and promote a high quality of life for citizens across the region. The strong level of cooperation and interaction between the Nordic and Baltic countries highlights the relevance of adapting a Nordic-Baltic scope of the study of cross-border life events.
One results of this development is the increasing digitization of life events in the Nordics and Baltics. Even though technological development is a common denominator for the region, there are still differences between the national digitalization strategies, accessibility, and traditions across countries. This leads to potential difficulties, especially when life events take place across borders, e.g. in the Nordics and Baltics.
Cross border challenges can have major impacts on the region’s general and cultural integration, as well as specifically on citizens and businesses that rely on interactions with a range of authorities and specific services if they want to move to or act in another country in the region.
Thus, the Nordic Council of Ministers (hereafter NCM) are interested in knowledge of in how life events are practiced across borders, and what implications cross-border life events entails to identify where and how resources could be allocated or prioritized to further develop cross border digital services. This requires in-depth knowledge about the users moving (or acting) from one country to another, their experiences in doing so, and what interactions and services they encounter.
Scope of the study
The scope of this study encompasses both a geographical and conceptual framework, defining Life Events in a digitalized Nordic-Baltic context. It covers the Nordic countries—Denmark (including Greenland and the Faroe Islands), Finland (including Åland), Iceland, Norway, and Sweden – and the Baltic countries, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. These countries form the analytical and geographical scope due to the region's ambition to become the most digitally integrated in the world