Through the pandemic, several family relationships have felt the rules of entry into Norway on the body.
While Norwegian citizens have always had the right to enter the country, the border is virtually closed to others. Among those who can not travel into Norway now are grandparents, boyfriends or fiancés, according to the government.
Norway’s entry rules violate the EEA agreement – opens case
One of the families affected by the entry rules in Norway is the Mosling family.
Both Yvonne Mosling and her husband Thomas Mosling were both born in Norway. When they were three years old, they both moved across the border to Sweden, and have lived there a lifetime. Now they live in Sweden with their children Benjamin, Thilde, and Nathanael.
Almost the rest of the family now lives in Norway. This has made it especially difficult for their son Nathanael (12), who has both autism and ADD.
– For him, it has been extremely difficult not to meet grandma and grandpa, Yvonne says to Dagbladet.
Thomas’ mother has moved back to Norway with her husband. Yvonne’s father did the same, who during the pandemic decided to settle in Norway with his wife.
The Mosling family chose to live in Sweden, and they say that they feel as Norwegian as Swedish.
LONG-TERM CONSEQUENCES: Nathanael (12) has been diagnosed with autism and ADD. Now mother Yvonne is worried about the long-term consequences it may have for her son that he cannot meet his grandparents in Norway. Photo: Private
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– His autism makes it extra difficult for him when we can not have routines that we have had before. He is very close to his grandmother and her husband, whom he calls grandfather. He is used to seeing them at least every third weekend. In the summer, he is a lot in their caravan at Larkollen camping, she says and adds:
Long queues at the Swedish border
– There will be many questions, and above all: many tears. The fact that you can be seen on social media and by phone does not work for an autistic child. It is often difficult for them in social relationships.
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Get legal assistance
People who experience interference in their family life as a result of entry restrictions now receive legal assistance and has sent a letter to the Ministry of Justice.
Gets desperate letter: – Very painful and sad
In a press release, the law firm Andersen & Bache-Wiig, led by lawyer Lina Smorr, writes that they are now assisting people “who experience significant encroachments on their right to family life as a result of entry restrictions in connection with covid-19.”
On Tuesday, another letter was sent to the Ministry of Justice and Emergency Preparedness with a copy to, among others, the Ministry of Health and Care Services.
The letter states that they believe the entry restrictions constitute disproportionate and unlawful interference with this group’s right to privacy and family life under the Constitution and the European Convention on Human Rights.
“The purpose of the letter is to help the authorities identify the encroachments on fundamental human rights this group is experiencing, and call for a thorough proportionality assessment and early relief for the group,” said lawyer Smorr.
In contact with ESA
State Secretary in the Ministry of Justice and Emergency Preparedness, Lars Jacob Hiim (H), informs Dagbladet that the ministry is in contact with ESA about these issues.
– I understand very well that many are impatient to receive visits from their loved ones and that many have difficulty during the strict measures that have been introduced. Facilitation for entry will be considered in step three of the reopening plan, but it is too early to determine which relief will come, Hiim writes in an e-mail to Dagbladet.
He further points out that there are strict entry restrictions to prevent infectious virus variants from entering the country.
– We do not want to have strict measures longer than necessary, but we must remember that we have introduced these strict entry restrictions to prevent the spread of infection, especially of new and more infectious variants of the virus
These cannot travel to Norway
These can not travel to Norway and apply to both citizens from all countries. Including EU / EEA citizens and Nordic citizens:
- Tourists, with a few exceptions.
- More distant family members, such as grandparents.
- Boyfriend or fiance.
- Foreigners (including Nordic citizens) who are to work or study in Norway, and who do not fall under any of the exceptions below.
- Persons who have been granted a residence permit to work or study in Norway and who are not already resident here.
- Business travelers.
- Foreigner who has been granted a Schengen visa, but who does not fall under any of the exceptions below.
- People who have leisure property in Norway, but do not live here.
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Met at the border
Yvonne Mosling also thought that the families who cross the border have been forgotten. Nevertheless, she understands that there must be some special rules and measures during a pandemic.
TOGETHER ON SKYPE: The Mosling family has Friday tacos in Sweden, with grandma and grandpa on skype from Norway.
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She says that the border has previously only been a name for something that you have not had to deal with so much, when you have previously traveled back and forth on small and large roads. That has changed now.
– Here we have lived with each other as equals and suddenly we are not equals anymore. It does not feel good, says Yvonne.
Although the Mosling family has not been able to meet the grandparents in Norway, they have been creative in meeting on the border line between Norway and Sweden. Yet it is not quite the same.
– We have had a couple of meetings where we have stood on either side of the border. But it has almost hurt more than it has given, because then he is reminded of what he is losing, says Yvonne.
– We’re worried
It is tough for the whole family that they can not meet each other as often as before, and especially for their son Nathanael.
Yvonne is now worried about the long-term consequences for her son that he no longer has a close relationship with his grandparents.
She explains that if you have that type of diagnosis, then you also have a risk of mental illness. He has a tough everyday life both in everyday life and at school. He always faces adversity, and it is a great loss for him that he has not been allowed to meet his grandmother and grandfather.
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– We are worried about what this will lead to. We have already seen that he is very depressed and has cried more than he has done before. He has needed much more follow-up and support from us, in another way. So it is clear that one will be worried about how this will affect him in the future as well, she says.
Lost grandmother – sent to quarantine hotel alone
She explains that Nathanael understands that there are rules that he must follow, but he still does not understand why the grandparents can not come to Sweden.
– Then we must explain that no, they can not come, because then they can not go back without being quarantined. It costs a lot of money, and they have a job, says Yvonne and adds:
– The most difficult thing to explain is that it is Norway that puts a stop to it.
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