A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal
The Impact of Covid-19 on the Free Movement Regime in the North: Analysis of Border Closures in Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden
Authors: Heinikoski Saila, Hyttinen Tatu
Publisher: Brill | Nijhoff 
Publishing place: Leiden
Publication year: 2022
Journal:Nordic Journal of International Law
Volume: 91
Issue: 1
First page : 80
Last page: 100
eISSN: 1571-8107
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1163/15718107-91010004
In  this  article,  we  analyse  the  measures  during  the  Covid-19  pandemic  with  which  the Nordic countries Sweden, Denmark, Norway and Finland have placed restrictions based on the Free Movement Directive 2004/38/ec and reintroduced internal border controls  stipulated  in  the  Schengen  Borders  Code  (Regulation  2016/399).  Although  currently regulated by these EU rules, Nordic free movement dates back to the common Nordic labour market and Nordic passport union established in the 1950s. Already in the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, all Nordic countries except Sweden decided to  reintroduce  stricter  internal  border  controls  and  restrict  the  entry  of  EU  citizens  into  their  countries.  The  article  analyses  these  restrictions  and  illustrates  that  the  countries interpret EU rules differently, lack a common Nordic approach to EU law in the field of free movement, and compromise even the rule of law.