Last year, the Nordic countries agreed on a vision to become the most sustainable and integrated region in the world.
But the co-operation has taken a real hit, according to the Swedish Nordic Minister.
- When I took office just over a year ago, the prime ministers had just launched this vision, says Anna Hallberg (S).
She continues:
- I think that those who live in our border regions feel quite far from that vision.
Politically, we have a consensus.
We want towards that vision.
We believe in it.
But when our citizens feel that we are not there, but are leaving, then we must take it seriously.
Boundary closures
Norway, Denmark, Finland and Iceland have different border restrictions against all or parts of Sweden - restrictions that were changed several times during the pandemic.
What's the worst - are there border closures?
- It is above all the border closures and the citizens who have chosen to live and work in our border regions.
They are affected by these unpredictable decisions that are made and it affects their everyday lives enormously, says Minister of the Nordic countries Anna Hallberg (S).