Closed borders - hard blow to Åland's economy

Åland has had a great deal of autonomy for almost 100 years.

But the border issue is decided by the government in Helsinki.

- When a border is closed, the operating conditions are also closed extremely much.

Not only for the business community, but also for people who have created their lives after free movement in the Nordic countries, says Fredrik Karlström.

"Nordic countries should fight pandemic together"

He is critical of Finland's introduction of internal border controls with Schengen countries, including Sweden, until 10 November.

- This is not an international match.

The Nordic countries should fight the pandemic together.

For almost 70 years we have had open borders within the Nordic region, it is tragic to see this demolished.

Perhaps the clearest symbol of the closed border with Sweden is the cruise ship Birka, which used to go between Stockholm and Åland.

Now it is extinguished and deserted in the harbor in Mariehamn.

Swedish tourists are absent

Åland's GDP is estimated to have fallen by 16 percent by 2020. In February this year before the border closure, unemployment was 3.7 percent.

In September, it had risen to 10 percent, according to the Åland Statistics and Investigation Agency.

One of those forced to lay off staff is restaurant owner Jenny Björklund.

- During the high season, about 40 percent of our guests are Swedes.

Going from 40 percent to almost zero Swedes is a huge gap, she says.

Wants the border to be opened towards Sweden

Fredrik Karlström has held talks with the Finnish government about opening the country's borders with Sweden, but to no avail.

Today, only the land border in northern Finland is open, after extensive criticism from residents and local politicians.

Finland has not had as many deaths as Sweden, does that not show that the Finnish strategy works?

- The important thing is that you fight the pandemic, it knows no national or national borders.

A signal when you close the borders is that you are afraid of each other, that it is "us and them".

Something that I absolutely do not think should be in the Nordics, because there is much more that unites than divides us.

More about this in Sunday's Agenda 21:15 SVT 2.