Relationship dossier
Denmark
Sweden
Relationship assessment
Close cross-border partnership, with periodic friction over border controls and crime policy
Denmark toward Sweden
+65Denmark has supported cross-border integration through the Øresund fixed-link arrangement and cooperates with Sweden on policing cross-border crime. Danish border controls introduced in response to migration and security concerns have at times added friction.
Sweden toward Denmark
+65Sweden has supported cross-border integration through the Øresund fixed-link arrangement and cooperates with Denmark on policing cross-border crime. Swedish border controls introduced during the 2015 migration crisis, and disagreements over crime policy, have at times strained ties.
Overall relationship
+65The relationship rests on sustained cross-border infrastructure and practical cooperation, including police coordination. Temporary border controls and policy differences over migration and crime are recurring sources of friction, but the overall structure remains substantially cooperative.
How to read these scores
Scores are rough judgments, not objective measurements or current verification. Directional scores describe government policy and conduct, not public opinion. The overall score is an independent estimate, never an average.
- −100
- Extreme sustained hostility
- −50
- Substantially adversarial
- 0
- Mixed or neutral, supported by knowledge
- +50
- Substantially cooperative
- +100
- Exceptionally close sustained partnership
“Not assessed” means there is no recorded score. Pair existence makes no claim about diplomatic recognition or established relations.
Relationship context
Overview
Denmark and Sweden maintain a close relationship supported by durable cross-border infrastructure and practical cooperation, including police coordination on cross-border crime. Temporary border controls and disagreements over migration and crime policy have caused friction, but have not displaced the broader cooperative relationship.
Areas of tension
- Temporary border controls introduced during the 2015–16 migration crisis
- Differences and mutual concerns over cross-border gang crime and policing
Key developments
Denmark and Sweden concluded an agreement for a fixed link across the Øresund, enabling construction of the bridge and tunnel connection.
The Øresund Bridge opened, creating a permanent road and rail connection between Denmark and Sweden.
Sweden introduced temporary border checks during the European migration crisis, followed by Danish border controls affecting travel from Germany.
Major uncertainties
- The scope and continuity of recent police cooperation on cross-border crime are unclear.
- The longer-term effects of temporary border controls on bilateral cooperation are uncertain.