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




AuthorsHeinikoski Saila, Hyttinen Tatu

PublisherBrill | Nijhoff

Publishing placeLeiden

Publication year2022

JournalNordic Journal of International Law

Volume91

Issue1

First page 80

Last page100

eISSN1571-8107

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1163/15718107-91010004(external)


Abstract

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.



Last updated on 2024-26-11 at 11:51