Working Together in an Emergency: a Case Study of Cross-Border Emergency Response Collaborations in a Norwegian-Swedish Border Region
(2024) VBRM15 20241Division of Risk Management and Societal Safety
- Abstract
- Many of the border regions along the Norway-Sweden border are thinly populated, rural areas, which means that the societal response to accidents, emergencies, and disasters in these regions will often have to rely on external assistance. And often the closest assistance can often be found in the municipality across the border. However, aligning the emergency management of two different countries with differences in systems, structure, organisation, procedures, laws, and regulations can often prove to be challenging and, as such, create the need for formalised collaboration agreements.
This thesis, therefore, aims to understand how the emergency response actors in the neighbouring municipalities of Meråker (Norway) and Åre (Sweden)... (More) - Many of the border regions along the Norway-Sweden border are thinly populated, rural areas, which means that the societal response to accidents, emergencies, and disasters in these regions will often have to rely on external assistance. And often the closest assistance can often be found in the municipality across the border. However, aligning the emergency management of two different countries with differences in systems, structure, organisation, procedures, laws, and regulations can often prove to be challenging and, as such, create the need for formalised collaboration agreements.
This thesis, therefore, aims to understand how the emergency response actors in the neighbouring municipalities of Meråker (Norway) and Åre (Sweden) understand and utilise formalised cross-border emergency response collaborations (CBERC) and how the CBERC operate in this region. To achieve this aim, a document analysis of four existing formal agreements for CBERC in the case area was conducted, in addition to an analysis of 12 in-depth semi-structured interviews of professionals working within the region's emergency response system. The results show that there are formal agreements in place, and that they contribute to an overall well-functioning CBERC in this region. However, there is also a general lack of awareness about these agreements, in addition to a significant assistance imbalance. There is also an absence of a legal framework for ambulance personnel working across the border. Based on the results, an improvement of the CBERC should focus on establishing the missing legal frameworks and implementing actions for increased awareness and knowledge. (Less) - Popular Abstract
- What do you do in an emergency when the closest response is hours away? Suppose you happen to be in an emergency in the border region between Norway and Sweden. In that case, you can potentially experience that the first responders coming to your aid are from across the border. At least if you have an emergency in Åre, Sweden. This research has found that in the border region between Åre (Sweden) and Meråker (Norway), all emergency response assistance flows from Norway to Sweden. The existing formal agreements provide a legal framework for cross-border collaboration but are not known or operationalised by the emergency response actors in the region. How then is it possible that all 12 interviewees report a very well-functioning... (More)
- What do you do in an emergency when the closest response is hours away? Suppose you happen to be in an emergency in the border region between Norway and Sweden. In that case, you can potentially experience that the first responders coming to your aid are from across the border. At least if you have an emergency in Åre, Sweden. This research has found that in the border region between Åre (Sweden) and Meråker (Norway), all emergency response assistance flows from Norway to Sweden. The existing formal agreements provide a legal framework for cross-border collaboration but are not known or operationalised by the emergency response actors in the region. How then is it possible that all 12 interviewees report a very well-functioning collaboration?
This research has discovered that the main challenges for this border region are the imbalance of cross-border assist missions and the lack of a legal framework for ambulance personnel working across the border. The assistance imbalance can indicate a difference in capacity and resources, which can potentially create a partnership with one-sided dependencies and benefits. It will, therefore, be necessary for actors in this border region to address this imbalance to avoid or limit asymmetrical power relations between the municipalities. It is also important to address the lack of legal support as it can potentially cause problems for both the ambulance worker and the person they are treating. The absence of such a framework further shows that not all obligations in the formal agreements have been met on the governmental level.
On the other hand, the results show that two main drivers are maintaining this as a well-functioning collaboration. Almost all actors emphasise how the main priority will always be on saving lives and that everything else comes second. This creates a great willingness and desire to assist, and it further contributes to good communication, coordination, cooperation, and collaboration between all involved actors. Furthermore, the shared priority and willingness to help contribute to establishing and maintaining great levels of trust between the actors. Lastly, it can be concluded that more than any collaboration agreement, trust is the main factor driving this as a very well-functioning cross-border collaboration. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
http://lup.lub.lu.se/student-papers/record/9176444
- author
- Due, Borghild Berntsen LU
- supervisor
- organization
- course
- VBRM15 20241
- year
- 2024
- type
- H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
- subject
- keywords
- Emergency management, emergency preparedness, emergency planning, emergency response system, cross-border collaboration, cross-border cooperation, border region, Norway, Sweden, Emergency services, fire and rescue, police, ambulance, first responders
- language
- English
- id
- 9176444
- date added to LUP
- 2024-10-11 12:09:59
- date last changed
- 2024-10-11 12:09:59
@misc{9176444,
abstract = {{Many of the border regions along the Norway-Sweden border are thinly populated, rural areas, which means that the societal response to accidents, emergencies, and disasters in these regions will often have to rely on external assistance. And often the closest assistance can often be found in the municipality across the border. However, aligning the emergency management of two different countries with differences in systems, structure, organisation, procedures, laws, and regulations can often prove to be challenging and, as such, create the need for formalised collaboration agreements.
This thesis, therefore, aims to understand how the emergency response actors in the neighbouring municipalities of Meråker (Norway) and Åre (Sweden) understand and utilise formalised cross-border emergency response collaborations (CBERC) and how the CBERC operate in this region. To achieve this aim, a document analysis of four existing formal agreements for CBERC in the case area was conducted, in addition to an analysis of 12 in-depth semi-structured interviews of professionals working within the region's emergency response system. The results show that there are formal agreements in place, and that they contribute to an overall well-functioning CBERC in this region. However, there is also a general lack of awareness about these agreements, in addition to a significant assistance imbalance. There is also an absence of a legal framework for ambulance personnel working across the border. Based on the results, an improvement of the CBERC should focus on establishing the missing legal frameworks and implementing actions for increased awareness and knowledge.}},
author = {{Due, Borghild Berntsen}},
language = {{eng}},
note = {{Student Paper}},
title = {{Working Together in an Emergency: a Case Study of Cross-Border Emergency Response Collaborations in a Norwegian-Swedish Border Region}},
year = {{2024}},
}