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WORK TO REDUCE BORDER OBSTACLES

Networks and cooperation

The Nordic Council of Ministers defines a border obstacle as “any type of problem that prevents, restricts, or renders more difficult the potential of people to operate freely across national borders”. The Kvarken Council works actively to reduce border obstacles.

The Kvarken Council – a cross-border committee

The work to reduce border obstacles in the Nordic countries focuses on creating a more open North. We want it to be possible to move, commute, study, and operate businesses freely over national borders without risk of ending up in a grey zone or being restricted by unclear laws and rules. All parties benefit from an open North.
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Border obstacle work in the Nordic countries

According to the prioritizations of the Nordic Council of Ministers, border regions should strive to eliminate border obstacles. The Kvarken Council is one of the official cross-border operators, i.e. a cross-border committee, co-funded by the Nordic Council of Ministers. Cross-border committees partake in the development of cross-border cooperation in the Nordic countries and contribute to the Nordic Council of Ministers’ Secretariat’s work with cross-border challenges.

The Kvarken Council takes border obstacle work into account in all its operations. The Council actively strives to reduce border obstacles and/or their effects in the Kvarken region with the help mappings, dissemination of information, and interest representation. The Council also actively participates in meetings arranged by the Nordic Council of Ministers.

Border obstacle work in European networks

The Kvarken Council is working actively in a number of European networks to promote a more open Europe and to reduce border barriers.

European Straits Initiative ESI

The Kvarken Council is a member of the European Straits Initiative (ESI), a partnership network of European regions located in strait areas. The network brings together regions that share similar conditions and challenges related to accessibility, transport, the environment, and regional development.

The ESI aims to highlight the specific needs of strait regions at the EU level. The network provides a framework for cooperation, exchange of experience, and joint initiatives among member regions, including active dialogue with EU institutions.

ECB Platform

In 2024, the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) established the European Cross-Border Platform (ECB Platform), replacing the former EGTC Platform. The goal of the new platform is to provide better visibility for the needs of Europe’s border regions and their inhabitants.

The ECB Platform serves as a meeting point for cross-border cooperation actors to discuss the specific conditions and needs of border regions. The platform creates permanent structures for dialogue between border regions and EU institutions through the Committee of the Regions. Furthermore, it promotes the development of political solutions that support cross-border cooperation and regional development.

Scandria® Alliance

The Scandria Corridor is a geographical corridor stretching from Northern Scandinavia through Oslo, Helsinki, Stockholm, Berlin, and Vienna to the northern part of Italy on the Adriatic coast. The Scandria Alliance is a cooperation platform for actors along this corridor, such as cities and regions. Its goal is to promote climate-friendly, multimodal, and resilient transport solutions to achieve sustainable regional development.

The Kvarken Council EGTC has been a full member of the alliance since 2021. Membership improves advocacy opportunities at the EU level and provides a natural partnership platform for new projects within frameworks such as CEF or the Baltic Sea Region Programme. In June 2025, the Kvarken Council’s Vice Chair, Åsa Ågren Wikström, was elected Chair of the Scandria Alliance Steering Committee.

 

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