The Nordic EU member states – Denmark, Finland and Sweden – have not traditionally formed close alliances in the field of EU migration policy due to Denmark’s opt-out from EU Justice and Home Affairs and their historically divergent national migration priorities.
In recent years, the Nordic countries have converged in their migration policy objectives at both national and EU levels, with governments pursuing similar policies.
Denmark has been active in promoting ‘innovative’ migration solutions at the EU level. During Denmark’s EU Council Presidency in 2025, the EU made significant progress on the legislative frameworks needed for return hubs and other schemes intended to transfer migrants outside the EU.
To some extent, the Nordic countries have all promoted so-called externalisation schemes, but no uniform Nordic approach to EU migration policy can be discerned.
Closer Nordic EU coordination could increase the influence of the Nordic bloc, but may be hampered by risks related to changing political priorities.
