Decision makers and experts from local to European level discussed how to strengthen the most crucial cross-border connections in Northern Europe during a Scandria Alliance conference in Oslo on 18 May 2026.
Geopolitical shifts are reshaping the Nordic strategic landscape. New cross-border transport links can boost economic growth, security, and sustainability while strengthening Northern Europe’s competitiveness. Conference participants urged the adoption of bold long-term visions, decisive political action, and innovative financing to deliver major infrastructure projects. They also called for a stronger regional voice in national and European decision-making.
Reflecting key transport trends, the conference speakers highlighted the increased importance of cross-border transport resulting from new geopolitical threats. Referring to dual use and the argument of energy independency, they agreed that strengthening military mobility will provide synergies to regional development and help to decarbonise transport.
A clear message from the Oslo conference is that close collaboration among cities, regions, industry, research and European stakeholders is essential to build resilient transport networks that safeguard Europe’s connectivity and future growth.
Åsa Ågren Wikström, chair of the Scandria Alliance General Assembly: “Regions need to collaborate across borders for the benefit of their citizens and businesses. Doing so, we have to take a holistic view and look at competitiveness, welfare and connectivity effects of infrastructure. To account for military mobility requirements, we must assure synergies by dual use infrastructure. And we must not forget to take action to protect our climate. The Scandria Alliance will continue to act as a platform for regions to exchange experiences and jointly call for better, greener and more resilient transport connections – in Northern Europe and along the entire Scandria Corridor.”
Anne Strømøy, County Mayor of Vestfold County, Norway, and political representative of Eastern Norway County Network in the Scandria Alliance: “In the current geopolitical situation, it is essential to to strengthen the resilience of our transport system. This is only possible if we cooperate across borders and involve all levels concerned: municipalities, regions, national governments and the European Union.”
The Scandria Alliance transport conference “Cross-border Connections in Northern Europe” took place in the Deichman Bjørvika library in Oslo on 18 May 2026. It brought together more than 100 decision makers and experts from politics, regional authorities, and European institutions to discuss about the future of cross-border infrastructure in the northern part of the Scandinavian-Mediterranean TEN-T Corridor. High-level speakers and panellists included the European Coordinator for the TEN-T Scandinavian-Mediterranean Corridor, Pat Cox, Norway’s Minister of Transport Jon-Ivar Nygård, Sweden’s Ambassador to Norway, Mikael Eriksson, and Hamburg’s Minister of Transport and Mobility Transition, Anjes Tjarks. The event was hosted by the Eastern Norway County Network.
Documentation of the conference
Watch this video including quotes of representatives of cross-border infrastructure projects recorded during the conference:
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More Information
Further documentation will be available soon.
For the conference programme, please visit the conference website at Eastern Norway County Network.
