2023-06-072022/23:UU5 · p.1UUForeign affairs
Nordic Cooperation and Border Obstacles, etc.
Cross-border obstacles and the role of the Nordic Border Obstacle Council
What's at stake: Free movement across Nordic borders was severely tested when borders closed during the pandemic, hitting commuters, businesses and residents of border regions; the question is how well the Nordic countries are equipped to prevent new obstacles and handle future crises, with border obstacles also flagged as a gender-equality issue since they affect male- and female-dominated occupations differently.
Case texts and AI reasoning are AI-translated from the Swedish originals; the Swedish text is authoritative.
What the vote decides
The question is whether the government and the Nordic Council should commission a dedicated Nordic inquiry into preventing cross-border obstacles and border closures and review the Border Obstacle Council's role, or whether the council's ongoing work and its new crisis mandate are judged sufficient without a further inquiry.
Yes Yes — the committee proposal
The committee notes that the pandemic-related entry restrictions have already been lifted and that the Border Obstacle Council has received a new mandate making clear that, in times of crisis, it is to build a better knowledge base for effective Nordic coordination and flag emerging problems to governments and ministerial councils, and on that basis it rejects the motions calling for a new inquiry.
No No — the reservations
Reservation 2 (C)
The reservation (C) wants a joint Nordic inquiry set up to counter cross-border obstacles and prevent Nordic borders from closing again, as part of a clear, forward-looking strategy for the Nordic Council; the inquiry should cover the Border Obstacle Council's role and whether further requirements are needed to safeguard free movement, stress the importance of cross-border information services, and broaden the post-pandemic crisis evaluation to also cover economic crises and rising unemployment - not least because border obstacles noticeably affect gender equality.
Summarised from the committee report. Party labels in the summary come from the report, not from the vote.
What do the votes mean here?
Yes The committee proposal: rejecting the motions (keeping things as they are).
No Backing the counter-proposal: reservation 2 by C.
Abstain The party marks a position of its own that is not one of the two final alternatives.
What each plan points to — and how the party voted
For each party: the vote its own election manifesto and party programme point to in this case, next to how the party actually voted. A plan can only point to Yes or No; a party can also abstain.
| Plan | Vote | Confidence | Evidence | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| V | No | Yes 21/0/0/3 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| S | No | Yes 94/0/0/13 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| MP | No | Yes 15/0/0/3 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| C | No | No 0/21/0/3 | follows the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| L | No | Yes 14/0/0/2 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| KD | No | Yes 16/0/0/3 | departs from the plan | confidence: low | not addressed |
| M | No | Yes 60/0/0/8 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| SD | No | Abstain 0/0/63/9 | departs from the plan | confidence: high | explicit |
Committee proposal
The Riksdag rejects the motions 2022/23:1120 by Catarina Deremar et al. (C) requests 3, 7, 8 and 15, 2022/23:2370 by Angelika Bengtsson et al. (SD) requests 2-4, 18, 27, 28, 31, 34, 35, 40 and 43, and 2022/23:2371 by Kerstin Lundgren et al. (C) request 3.
Original (Swedish)
Riksdagen avslår motionerna 2022/23:1120 av Catarina Deremar m.fl. (C) yrkandena 3, 7, 8 och 15, 2022/23:2370 av Angelika Bengtsson m.fl. (SD) yrkandena 2-4, 18, 27, 28, 31, 34, 35, 40 och 43 samt 2022/23:2371 av Kerstin Lundgren m.fl. (C) yrkande 3.
Riksdag decision: The Riksdag addressed a statement from the government and a report from the Nordic Council's Swedish delegation on Nordic cooperation during 2022. The Riksdag chose to address areas based on the proposals submitted in approximately ninety motions. These areas are Nordic cooperation, border obstacles, labour market, culture, education, integration, industry, transport, energy, innovation, environment, climate, food, foreign policy, security policy, crisis preparedness, the Arctic, and bilateral relations. The Riksdag laid the statement and report to record and rejected the proposals in the motions.
Counter-proposals
- The counter-proposal wants to establish a Nordic investigation to counter border obstacles and maintain free movement in the Nordic region. (C) — Reservation 2
Plan vs actual vote
Every party, in chamber order: what its own plan pointed to, how it voted, and the reasoning behind both. Highlighted rows are where the two differ — but a vote that follows the plan is a result too, so the reasoning is there for every party.
The plan wants to strengthen inter-state Nordic cooperation as an alternative or complement to the EU and guarantee people's free movement across borders.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan wants to strengthen inter-state Nordic cooperation as an alternative or complement to the EU and guarantee people's free movement across borders. A pan-Nordic inquiry to counteract border obstacles and prevent borders from closing again thus aligns with that commitment. The plan also sees inter-state work as a successful pathway for, among other things, gender equality, which the counter-proposal's equality argument builds on.
Original (Swedish)
Planen vill stärka mellanstatliga nordiska samarbeten som alternativ eller komplement till EU och garantera människors fria rörlighet över gränserna. En samnordisk utredning som ska motverka gränshinder och förhindra att gränserna stängs igen ligger därför i linje med det åtagandet. Planen ser dessutom mellanstatligt arbete som en framgångsväg för bland annat jämställdhet, vilket motförslagets jämställdhetsargument knyter an till.
- strengthen the Nordic Councildecisive»och regionala organisationer som Nordiska rådet« (party programme ↗)“and regional organisations such as the Nordic Council”
- free movement in the Nordic region»studier, arbete, fackligt och politiskt samarbete, turism, osv. bör garanteras och utvidgas« (party programme ↗)“studies, work, trade union and political cooperation, tourism, etc. should be guaranteed and expanded”
- inter-state success pathway»Vänsterpartiet ser detta som en framgångsväg även på fler områden« (party programme ↗)“The Left Party sees this as a successful pathway on several other areas as well”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
The election manifesto establishes that Nordic co-operation is central and the party programme wants to actively develop this co-operation to meet common challenges.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The election manifesto establishes that Nordic co-operation is central and the party programme wants to actively develop this co-operation to meet common challenges. Freedom of movement is explicitly affirmed, and border obstacles that shut people in conflict with that line. Establishing a Nordic joint inquiry to counteract border obstacles therefore aligns with the plan, which is moreover feminist and thus sensitive to the equality effects of obstacles.
Original (Swedish)
Valmanifestet slår fast att det nordiska samarbetet är centralt och partiprogrammet vill aktivt utveckla detta samarbete för att möta gemensamma utmaningar. Fri rörlighet bejakas uttryckligen, och gränshinder som stänger in människor står i strid med den linjen. Att tillsätta en samnordisk utredning för att motverka gränshinder ligger därför i linje med planen, som dessutom är feministisk och därmed känslig för hindrens jämställdhetseffekter.
- Nordic co-operation centraldecisive»Också det nordiska samarbetet är centralt, liksom samarbetet med de baltiska staterna.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Nordic co-operation is also central, as is co-operation with the Baltic states.”
- develop Nordic co-operation»Vi vill utveckla det nordiska samarbetet för att möta de gemensamma utmaningarna som« (party programme ↗)“We want to develop Nordic co-operation to meet the common challenges that”
- free movement is affirmed»Vi bejakar principerna om fri rörlighet för varor, personer, tjänster och kapital.« (party programme ↗)“We affirm the principles of free movement of goods, persons, services and capital.”
- feminist foundation»Med denna grundsyn är socialdemokratin ett feministiskt parti.« (party programme ↗)“With this foundation, social democracy is a feminist party.”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
The party programme commits the party to be a strong driving force in removing barriers to mobility in the Nordic region and improving the common Nordic labour market.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The party programme commits the party to be a strong driving force in removing barriers to mobility in the Nordic region and improving the common Nordic labour market. The counter-proposal's requirement for a joint Nordic investigation that examines the Border Obstacle Council's role and protects freedom of movement is a means for precisely this commitment. Broadening the crisis assessment to include economic crises also aligns with the plan's requirement for enhanced crisis preparedness.
Original (Swedish)
Partiprogrammet ålägger partiet att vara starkt pådrivande i att riva ned gränshinder i Norden och att förbättra den gemensamma nordiska arbetsmarknaden. Motförslagets krav på en samnordisk utredning som granskar Gränshinderrådets roll och värnar den fria rörligheten är ett medel för just detta åtagande. Att krisutvärderingen breddas till ekonomiska kriser ligger också i linje med planens krav på höjd krisberedskap.
- remove barriers to mobility in the Nordic regiondecisive»vara starkt pådrivande i att riva ned gränshinder« (party programme ↗)“be a strong driving force in removing barriers to mobility”
- common Nordic labour market»förbättra den gemensamma arbetsmarknaden.« (party programme ↗)“improve the common labour market.”
- enhanced crisis preparedness»satsa en större andel av försvarets pengar på det civila försvaret, och öka anslagen till krisberedskap.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“allocate a larger share of defence spending to civil defence, and increase appropriations for crisis preparedness.”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
The plan's bearing commitment is to actively remove obstacles to people's mobility across borders, and Nordic cooperation is assigned an important role.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan's bearing commitment is to actively remove obstacles to people's mobility across borders, and Nordic cooperation is assigned an important role. A joint Nordic investigation to protect free movement and prevent borders from closing again aligns with this commitment. The plan does not speak to the Border Obstacles Council's mandate, but the direction in substance is clear.
Original (Swedish)
Planens bärande åtagande är att aktivt undanröja hinder för människors rörlighet över gränser, och nordiskt samarbete tillskrivs en viktig roll. En samnordisk utredning som ska värna fri rörlighet och förhindra att gränserna stängs igen ligger i linje med detta åtagande. Planen uttalar sig inte om Gränshinderrådets mandat, men riktningen i sak är tydlig.
- remove obstacles to mobilitydecisive»Centerpartiet vill fortsätta att avlägsna de hinder som finns för enskilda människors rörlighet i världen.« (party programme ↗)“The Centre Party wants to continue to remove the obstacles that exist for individual people's mobility in the world.”
- Nordic cooperation important»Det nordiska samarbetet, som överbryggar många europeiska konstellationer, spelar en viktig roll.« (party programme ↗)“Nordic cooperation, which bridges many European constellations, plays an important role.”
- open borders and free movement»Centerpartiet strävar efter öppna gränser, fri rörlighet samt en generös och human flykting- och invandringspolitik.« (party programme ↗)“The Centre Party strives for open borders, free movement and a generous and humane refugee and immigration policy.”
The party programme establishes that the Nordic countries shall continue to lead and remove border obstacles faster than others, and that free movement is the foundation of European cooperation.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The party programme establishes that the Nordic countries shall continue to lead and remove border obstacles faster than others, and that free movement is the foundation of European cooperation. Work aiming to counteract border obstacles and prevent Nordic borders from closing again therefore aligns with the plan's commitment. That welfare systems shall facilitate secure mobility also speaks for strengthening cross-border information and crisis assessment. The plan mentions no inter-Nordic investigation as an instrument, which is why the position is derived.
Original (Swedish)
Partiprogrammet slår fast att de nordiska länderna ska fortsätta gå före och riva gränshinder snabbare än andra, och att den fria rörligheten är grunden i Europasamarbetet. Ett arbete som syftar till att motverka gränshinder och förhindra att nordiska gränser stängs igen ligger därmed i linje med planens åtagande. Att välfärdssystemen ska underlätta trygg rörlighet talar också för att gränsregional information och krisutvärdering stärks. Planen nämner ingen samnordisk utredning som instrument, varför ställningstagandet är härlett.
- remove Nordic border obstaclesdecisive»fortsätta att gå före och riva gränshinder snabbare än andra.« (party programme ↗)“continue to lead and remove border obstacles faster than others.”
- protect free movement»Den fria rörligheten för individer är grunden i Europasamarbetet och ska värnas.« (party programme ↗)“Free movement of individuals is the foundation of European cooperation and shall be protected.”
- secure cross-border mobility»De generella välfärdssystemen ska underlätta för en trygg rörlighet.« (party programme ↗)“General welfare systems shall facilitate secure mobility.”
- deepened inter-state cooperation»Europa behöver mer – inte mindre – samarbete.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Europe needs more – not less – cooperation.”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
The plan lacks its own Nordic border barrier policy, but is based on the idea that common concerns shall be solved through international cooperation and that the market shall be opened through simplified rules and fewer closed markets.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan lacks its own Nordic border barrier policy, but is based on the idea that common concerns shall be solved through international cooperation and that the market shall be opened through simplified rules and fewer closed markets. An inquiry that shall safeguard free movement and counteract closed borders is in line with this. The equality perspective shall moreover permeate all policy areas, which supports that the equality effects of border barriers are highlighted.
Original (Swedish)
Planen saknar egen nordisk gränshinderpolitik, men bygger på att gemensamma angelägenheter ska lösas genom internationellt samarbete och att marknaden ska öppnas genom förenklade regler och färre slutna marknader. En utredning som ska värna fri rörlighet och motverka stängda gränser ligger i linje med detta. Jämställdhetsperspektivet ska dessutom genomsyra alla politikområden, vilket stödjer att gränshindrens jämställdhetseffekter belyses.
- open internal marketdecisive»På det ekonomiska området kan EU bidra till välståndets uppbyggnad genom att utveckla och förbättra« (party programme ↗)“In the economic area, the EU can contribute to the building of prosperity by developing and improving”
- simplified rules»Det måste ske genom att förenkla regler och förbättra konkurrensen« (party programme ↗)“This must happen by simplifying rules and improving competition”
- Europe bound together»önskvärt att hela Europa binds samman till en öppen« (party programme ↗)“desirable that all of Europe be bound together into an open”
- equality in all decisions»Jämställdhetsperspektivet ska genomsyra alla politikområden.« (party programme ↗)“The equality perspective shall permeate all policy areas.”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
The election manifesto binds the party to deepened Nordic cooperation that explicitly extends outside defence and security policy, and the party programme highlights particularly that relations with neighbouring countries shall be strengthened to secure trade and mobility across borders.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The election manifesto binds the party to deepened Nordic cooperation that explicitly extends outside defence and security policy, and the party programme highlights particularly that relations with neighbouring countries shall be strengthened to secure trade and mobility across borders. The counter-proposal's demands – that border obstacles are countered and borders are not closed again – align with this commitment. That the demand takes the form of a joint Nordic investigation is secondary; the substance, free mobility in the Nordic region, is what the plan commits to.
Original (Swedish)
Valmanifestet binder partiet till ett fördjupat nordiskt samarbete som uttryckligen sträcker sig utanför försvars- och säkerhetspolitiken, och partiprogrammet lyfter särskilt att relationerna till grannländerna ska stärkas för att säkra handel och rörlighet över gränserna. Motförslagets krav — att gränshinder motverkas och att gränser inte stängs igen — ligger i linje med detta åtagande. Att kravet tar formen av en samnordisk utredning är underordnat; sakinnehållet, fri rörlighet i Norden, är det planen förbinder sig till.
- deepened Nordic cooperationdecisive»Verka för att Sveriges Natomedlemskap tillsammans med Finland leder till ett fördjupat samarbete inom Norden och mellan Norden och Baltikum, inte bara på det försvars- och säkerhetspolitiska området.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Work for Sweden's NATO membership together with Finland to lead to deepened cooperation within the Nordic region and between the Nordic region and the Baltic, not just in defence and security policy.”
- mobility across borders»säkra förutsättningarna för handel och rörlighet över gränserna« (party programme ↗)“secure the conditions for trade and mobility across borders”
- cooperation in northern Europe»Verka för ett fördjupat samarbete i norra Europa« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Work for deepened cooperation in northern Europe”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
The election manifesto explicitly makes Nordic coordination in crises its own point and wants to establish a Nordic crisis management committee precisely to prevent countries from making disparate decisions that close borders.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The election manifesto explicitly makes Nordic coordination in crises its own point and wants to establish a Nordic crisis management committee precisely to prevent countries from making disparate decisions that close borders. The plan also states that border barriers should be removed and that mobility within the Nordic region should increase. The counter-proposal's demand for a pan-Nordic investigation into border barriers and the Border Barriers Council's role thus aligns with the plan's commitments.
Original (Swedish)
Valmanifestet gör uttryckligen nordisk samordning vid kriser till en egen punkt och vill inrätta en nordisk krisberedskapskommitté just för att undvika att länderna fattar spretiga beslut som stänger gränserna. Planen slår också fast att gränshinder ska bort och att mobiliteten inom Norden ska öka. Motförslagets krav på en samnordisk utredning om gränshinder och Gränshinderrådets roll ligger därmed i linje med planens åtaganden.
- Nordic crisis management committeedecisive»Inrätta en nordisk krisberedskapskommitté för samordnad hantering av kriser« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Establish a Nordic crisis management committee for coordinated crisis management”
- coordination without loss of sovereignty»För att försöka motverka att de nordiska länderna, på ett okoordinerat och från varandra isolerat sätt fattar spretiga beslut vid kriser och pandemier, vilka riskerar slå sönder den nordiska integrationen och gemenskapen, förespråkar Sverigedemokraterna ett antal initiativ som skulle innebära att varje lands suveränitet upprätthålls samtidigt som nordisk samordning sker.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“In order to try to prevent the Nordic countries from making disparate decisions in an uncoordinated and mutually isolated way during crises and pandemies, which risk fragmenting Nordic integration and community, the Sweden Democrats advocate a number of initiatives that would mean each country's sovereignty is maintained while Nordic coordination takes place.”
- increased Nordic mobility»Ökad mobilitet inom Norden – för människor och myndigheter« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Increased mobility within the Nordic region – for people and authorities”
- integrated Nordic region without obstacles»För att vi ska få till stånd ett än mer integrerat Norden utan trösklar och hinder krävs samtidigt ökad samsyn om implementering av EU-direktiv och ökad utrikespolitisk samordning avseende Nordens och EU:s yttre gränser.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“For us to achieve an even more integrated Nordic region without barriers and obstacles, it also requires increased agreement on the implementation of EU directives and increased foreign policy coordination regarding the Nordic region's and EU's external borders.”
The stance rests on the quoted commitment in the party's own documents; the actual vote deviated. Click the quote to verify it in the document.
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Sources and documents
- The committee report on riksdagen.se (2022/23:UU5)
- Committee report full text (HA01UU5)
- Per-MP voting data (API)
- Case status (API)
Documents under consideration
- Motion 2022/23:1028 — Pånyttfödelse för det nordiska samarbetet av Johan Hultberg (M)
- Motion 2022/23:1120 — Nordiskt samarbete av Catarina Deremar m.fl. (C)
- Motion 2022/23:1414 — Nationell Öresundsagenda av Noria Manouchi m.fl. (M)
- Motion 2022/23:1460 — Värnande av Arktis av Emma Berginger m.fl. (MP)
- Motion 2022/23:1713 — Nationell Öresundsagenda av Noria Manouchi m.fl. (M)
- Motion 2022/23:2370 — med anledning av skr. 2022/23:90 Nordiskt samarbete 2022 av Angelika Bengtsson m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2022/23:2371 — med anledning av skr. 2022/23:90 Nordiskt samarbete 2022 av Kerstin Lundgren m.fl. (C)
- Motion 2022/23:539 — Nordisk samverkan i världen av Markus Wiechel och Alexander Christiansson (båda SD)
- Motion 2022/23:634 — En fungerande arbetsmarknad i hela Öresundsområdet av Niels Paarup-Petersen (C)
- Motion 2022/23:847 — Gränshinder mellan Sverige och Norge av Daniel Bäckström (C)
- Framställning / redogörelse 2022/23:NR1 — Nordiska rådets svenska delegations redogörelse om verksamheten under 2022
- Regeringens skrivelse 2022/23:90 — Nordiskt samarbete 2022
Source: The Swedish Parliament