Document Actions

Ministers call for joint Nordic adaptation of EU rules

It is not sufficient to remove existing obstacles to freedom of movement which make everyday life difficult. We must also prevent new ones appearing if the Region is to act on full power as dynamic growth region. The Nordic ministers designated co-ordination of efforts in connection with the introduction of EU directives as a priority area.

Nov 18, 2010
Karen Ellemann

"The Nordic countries can be 'standard makers' instead of 'standard takers'", said Karen Ellemann at the end of the Nordic conference on legislative co-operation. Elleman is the Minister for the Environment and Nordic Co-operation in Denmark.

Photographer
Johannes Jansson/norden.org

All of the Nordic countries have strong links to the European Union, either as members or because they are part of the EEA. This means that the countries must follow the different directives drawn up by the EU. There is a risk that new obstacles to freedom of movement will emerge when the countries adapt to the directives individually. It is therefore especially important that the Nordic countries endeavour to go in the same direction when adapting the EU rules, said Nordic ministers Karen Ellemann and Astrid Thors, in conjunction with a Nordic conference in Copenhagen, and stressed that joint co-ordination would make the Nordic countries a leading region in Europe.

"Today already our EU national negotiators should co-ordinate their processes in order for the Nordic voice to be clearer even before the EU directive is fixed and decided. There is no reason not to act proactively. As ministers we must do what we can to establish a new practice in the Nordic Region, for all of our benefit", underlined the ministers.

Measures for Nordic co-ordination in the implementation of EU directives were discussed at the two-day long conference "Nordic legislative co-operation" which recently finished in Copenhagen. Denmark holds the Presidency of the Nordic Council of Ministers in 2010 to be followed by Finland which takes over at the beginning of the new year. Karen Ellemann, Danish Minister for the Environment and Nordic Co-operation and Astrid Thors, Finnish Minister of Migration and European Affairs attended the conference along with the Secretary General of the Nordic Council of Ministers Halldór Ásgrímsson, Chairman of the Freedom of Movement Forum, Ole Norrback, and senior officials from across the region.

Contacts

Johan Lindblad
Phone +45 33 96 02 90
Email jol@norden.org

Related content
  • Freedom of Movement Forum (Organisation)

    The Freedom of Movement Forum is a political body, set up by the Nordic governments to foster freedom of movement in the Nordic Region for individuals as well as businesses. In dialogue with the governments, the forum aims to identify, prioritise and suggest solutions for concrete obstacles between the countries. The Forum is run by a Chairperson appointed by the prime ministers, and the Nordic Council of Ministers' Secretary General. The forum also consists of a representative from each of the Nordic countries including Åland.
  • Stort stöd för arbetet mot gränshinder (News Item)

    Arbetet för att minska antalet gränshinder mellan de nordiska länderna går bättre än på länge. Nu gäller det för politikerna att använda sin makt och ta vara på den förändringsvilja som finns. Det framgick när frågan om gränshinder var uppe på sessionens andra dag.
  • Freedom of Movement