Broken wings : Closure of Borders in the Three Nordic EU Member States during the COVID-19 Pandemic

• Main Authors: Neergaard, Ulla, Paju, Jaan, Raitio, Juha
• Other Authors: Faculty of Law, Teachers' Academy, Helsinki Rule of Law Forum
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: EU Law Live Sociedad Limitada 2022
• Subjects: 513 Law; Norway; Yoke; Iceland
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10138/338909

Artikkeli tarkastelee Ruotsin, Suomen ja Tanskan maahantulorajoituksia pandemian aikana Schengen-säännöstön ja laajemmin EU-oikeuden näkökulmasta. Pohjoismaiden erilaiset reaktiot komission rajojen sulkemista koskevaan kyselyyn on artikkelin tarkastelun keskiössä. The Nordic countries have long strived for open borders. In fact, institutionalised cooperation with a vision to make the Nordic region the most sustainable and integrated region in the world constitutes a fundamental part of identity in this part of Europe. This co operation is considered to be the world’s oldest regional partnership and is seen to have deep roots in politics, economics and culture. For a long time, open borders between those countries have been a top priority, and this was already the case back in the early 1950s when the Nordic Passport Union was launched. In 1962, the Helsinki Treaty – often referred to as the Nordic Constitution – was signed by Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden. This should be contrasted with the fact that Denmark became a member of the EU much later, namely in 1973, and Sweden and Finland even later, namely in 1995 (whereas Iceland and Norway are only associated through EFTA). Today, the Nordic Passport Union – in ‘ normal’ times – allows citizens of these countries to travel and reside in other Nordic countries without any travel documentation or a residence permit. However, throughout the first year under the yoke of the pandemic, not only fundamental principles of EU l aw, but also the essential spirit of cooperation among the Nordic countries – one could even refer to the Nordic soul – have been challenged by the many border-related restrictions laid down. Peer reviewed