Do students from other Nordic countries have residence status while studying in Sweden? Are they covered by the Nordic Convention on Social Security? These are just two of the questions Jensen has submitted to the Swedish authorities.

Several students have contacted the Council of Ministers’ information service, Hello Norden, pointing out that they been denied various forms of social security both in Sweden and in their home countries. Jensen thinks the time has come to act.

One Icelandic woman studying in Sweden was denied social security because she put down studying as her reason for her being in the country. The authorities did not consider her a resident, which rendered her ineligible for housing benefit, maternity leave and help in procuring maintenance money from her child's father, all services official residents are entitled to under Swedish social security legislation.

Jensen points out that article four of the Convention says that – unless otherwise stipulated in the convention itself – all social security provisions apply to everybody with resident status in a Nordic country.

“In what way does the Swedish legislation’s residence regulation for Nordic citizens studying in the country accord with the rules and spirit of the convention?” the Danish MP asks.

Jensen has also called upon the Swedish government to clarify whether Nordic citizens studying there have the status of residents, and whether this makes them eligible for social security as per the convention.

“The point of co-operation is to promote freedom of movement, so people are able to work, live and study anywhere in the Nordic Region. This is what generates a well educated and globally oriented younger generation, the very foundation for building our knowledge economy, for growth and for welfare,” writes Jensen, a member of the Social Democratic Group..

Mogens Jensen

Kristina Aaltonen
Phone +45 61 62 34 92
Email skraa@ft.dk