In Denmark, Norway, and Sweden, diaconal actors have been pioneers in social and health work. By applying complexity theory on managing unpredictability, the article reviews recent pioneering efforts: caring for undocumented migrants—whose legal permissions have expired. Pioneering efforts apply to services for substance abusers. With Norwegian examples, unpredictability is demonstrated for institutional and drop-in services. The second part of the article analyses different strategies for facilitating diaconal actors: the Danish so-called “in-house” system, and Norwegian and Swedish public procurement legislation that allows reservation for non-profit actors. Within public procurement, defining certain services as Services of General Economic Interest (SGEI) is an option, underutilized by Norway and Sweden. Finally, a draft directive on European cross-border associations (ECBA), including religious associations, is explained. By reviewing policy documents, legislation, court rulings, and adopted and draft EU directives and regulations, the article’s overall conclusions are: the services to undocumented migrants have not affected the overall relationships between diaconal actors and political authorities, and starting such services is not a radical shift for diaconal actors. Moreover, Denmark provides the greatest predictability for non-profit actors.
Hans Morten Haugen (Thu,) studied this question.