Amid global crises and growing security challenges, Swedish Liberal politicians emphasize the importance of a new Øresund connection. Johan Pehrson, leader of Liberalerna, and Torkild Strandberg, chairman of Liberalerna in Skåne, argue in a Dagens Industri op-ed that a new fixed link between Sweden and Denmark could strengthen Nordic integration and drive growth.
Infrastructure a national priority
“For far too long, infrastructure between Denmark and Sweden has been treated as a regional matter. Connecting two countries through cross-border infrastructure is a national responsibility requiring state cooperation,” write Pehrson and Strandberg. They highlight how infrastructure can enhance cross-border collaboration while addressing three key challenges: security, the economy, and climate change.
The upcoming Fehmarn connection has been a major inspiration for the renewed debate about capacity at Øresund:
“The new tunnel creates entirely new growth opportunities for Danish and German businesses—opportunities that Sweden can also leverage when transport times to the continent are reduced.”
Connecting Øresund and Fehmarn Belt
The op-ed raises questions about synergies between the Fehmarn project and a potential new Øresund link. A stronger connection between the two could bolster the transport corridor from the Nordics to the continent. With a new fixed link between Denmark and Sweden to supplement the existing Øresund Bridge, capacity for both freight and passenger transport could be significantly increased.
“Industry, businesses, and daily commuters in southern Sweden need more reliable infrastructure, including an additional connection to Denmark,” Pehrson and Strandberg write. The added capacity would particularly strengthen rail freight transport, which is crucial for the green transition—a key objective of the Fehmarn project.
Resilience and integration
Like the Fehmarn project, a new Øresund connection would be part of a broader strategy to ensure resilience in the transport network. As Pehrson and Strandberg emphasize: “The vulnerability of relying on just one fixed connection is significant, especially for rail freight.” They argue that an additional link would act as a “growth engine for Sweden” and enhance supply chain security in an era of global uncertainties, including the war in Ukraine and rising tensions between China and the West.
Nordic perspective
Pehrson and Strandberg call for a joint Danish-Swedish study to lay the foundation for a future Øresund connection. The study should take a comprehensive approach to explore how freight and passenger traffic can be integrated with existing infrastructure. This approach mirrors the extensive planning behind the Fehmarn Belt project, which has fostered strong cross-border partnerships and ensured both technical and financial solutions.
The Nordics as a Hub
The core message of the op-ed is clear: The Nordics are stronger together. As Pehrson and Strandberg conclude: “A new Øresund connection will serve as a symbolic marker of free movement, Nordic integration, and resilience. A reminder that we are stronger together.”
