On May 14th, members of the Fehmarnbelt Business Council (FBBC) participated in a high-level seminar at the Swedish Parliament in Stockholm, hosted by the Transport Committee and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Southern Sweden. The event focused on the transformative opportunities that the Fehmarnbelt link offers for Sweden, Denmark, and Northern Europe as a whole.

The central message to Swedish policymakers was clear: development and infrastructure investment are already accelerating on the Danish and German sides of the Fehmarnbelt – and the momentum will only grow stronger as the tunnel nears completion. The message was consequently more precise: the time to act is now, if we want to make the most of this historic opportunity for regional growth, labour mobility, and European connectivity.

Mikkel Hemmingsen, CEO of Sund & Bælt, presented the Danish model for delivering mega infrastructure projects through state-owned companies with long-term financing strategies. He highlighted that, unlike in Denmark, Sweden does not yet have a similar institutional model to implement such projects, which could be a key to faster progress on the Swedish side.

Representing the Confederation of Danish Industry (DI), Chief Consultant Pernille Dalgaard-Duus emphasized the enormous labour market potential associated with the Fehmarnbelt connection. The project is already attracting significant numbers of workers and creating new jobs – yet labour shortages are emerging. Once the tunnel opens, cross-border commuting could be part of the solution, as seen in Southern Jutland, where many German citizens work in Danish companies.

The event also underscored the broader strategic vision: to establish a strong corridor between Stockholm and Hamburg, which could help strengthen trade and economic ties between Northern and Southern Europe.

Read the analysis: 6 recommendations to strengthen cooperation and cross-border mobility between Denmark and Germany