Strengthening border control delayed amid opposition from Sweden, Norway

Finland's plan to strengthen control on its northern land border with Sweden and Norway to slow down the spread of COVID-19 has been delayed due to opposition from the two neighboring countries.

Kirsi Pimiä, permanent secretary of the Ministry of the Interior, told News Agency STT on Friday afternoon that more time would be needed for the plan to take effect.

Pimiä said talks had been held with Sweden and Norway, and her impression was that "their attitude was critical".

The Finnish government announced on Monday that it would begin to further step up the control in the northwestern border with Sweden to prevent the spread of COVID-19, but commuting has continued all week unhindered. Commuting on its southern border with Estonia was blocked earlier in March.

Some 300 health care employees cross the border to work on Swedish side every day. Swedish health officials have said the contribution from the Finnish side is vital. Besides health care professionals, industrial and retail staff have also been allowed to cross the border so far.

The situation escalated on Thursday as Swedish members of parliament from the northern areas told Swedish television that "the closing would have a long term impact on Finnish-Swedish relations."

The opinions on the plan were also split on the Finnish side. Kaisa Juuso, a local MP in the Finnish border town Tornio, told a Finnish language newspaper Lapin Kansa that there is "no need to make this an issue", referring to the EU position on Monday that border crossing by critical professionals should be allowed.

The COVID-19 situation in northern Sweden is worse than in Finland. Jukka Mattila, a leading physician in the Lapland Health District in northern Finland, admitted that Sweden would suffer without the Finnish labour input. He said Finland should provide such protection to the border-crossing staff so that they would not spread the disease in Finland.

Pertti Yliniemi, one of the main owners of the Lapland tourist business, told Lapin Kansa that the Lapland operators voluntarily closed their locations, while in Sweden the ski resort businesses have remained in full swing. "Did we sacrifice in vain, if the virus continues to be carried here from Sweden?" he asked.