Such discouraging realities may certainly result in more people voicing their skepticism towards the European Union. I even saw a survey saying that the citizens in the Nordic countries would prefer being part of a Nordic union instead of the European Union. In that respect it is important to remember that the Nordic countries are dependent on Europe and that one type of cooperation does not exclude the other. Nordic cooperation both within and outside the European Union is crucial. The Nordic countries together represent a strong voice in the EU that can stand up for issues of common concern, such as the Nordic model- a model that we take for granted here in the North but that is in fact more often questioned at European level.

I do agree with some of the EU-skepticism out there. There are many issues where the EU could do much better, or chose a different path, than what the union is doing today. What comes to mind is for example the worrying deregulation agenda in the area of health and safety at the workplace.

It is always easy to point fingers but the EU has done a lot of good things for the working population in Europe.

If looking at labour law specifically, we have the EU to thank for tougher restrictions against discrimination at the workplace, non-discrimination of part-time employees, the workers’ right to influence and be consulted with at their workplaces and an open job market in 28 European states. There are of course numerous other examples.

If we then look at the finance sector as such, one can note that more than 80% of the regulation covering our sector derives from the EU. Together, NFU and the member unions have done our best to influence the regulation to the better for the Nordic employees, but it does also matter who have the seats in the European Parliament.

The worrying and negative tendencies I see in the EU are possible to influence and change.

That is why I believe in a strong and loud civil society and trade union movement in Europe. Not only do organisations like NFU actually manage to influence EU regulation but an engaged civil society will also increase the legitimacy of the European Union. The Nordic countries have such a strong heritage of organizing civil movements and we should take advantage of that also on European level.

On the 25^th of May we are electing 46 Nordic Members of the European Parliament. It is our duty to ensure that they stand up for the values that we believe in.

Ella Sjödin, Head of EU Affairs
@EllaSjdin