IP/06/1616
Brussels, 23 November 2006
A new impetus to the “Northern Dimension” A new Northern Dimension policy will be launched jointly by the leaders of the EU, Russia, Norway and Iceland at a meeting in Helsinki on 24 November. It will provide a joint framework for addressing the challenges of Northern Europe, especially its fragile environment and the socio-economic problems facing its inhabitants. It will also reflect the EU/Russia Common Spaces as relevant for this region. The Northern Dimension Summit will be attended by President of the European Commission, Jose Manuel Barroso, the Finnish Prime Minister, Mr. Matti Vanhanen, on behalf of the Finnish Presidency, the EU High Representative Javier Solana and the Commissioner for External Relations, Benita Ferrero-Waldner, along with the leaders of the other ND Partners: Russia (President Vladimir Putin), Norway (Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg) and Iceland (Prime Minister Geir H. Haarde). The Summit will adopt two new documents marking a new phase in the Northern Dimension policy. "The transformation of the Northern Dimension into a common regional policy of the EU, Russia, Norway and Iceland”, President Barroso said, “represents a turning point in the history of this policy. From now on, it will be the joint responsibility of all the Northern Dimension Partners to make this policy successful and get the most of it for our citizens in Northern Europe". He added, “The Commission will play its full role in the implementation of this policy”.
The two new basic documents due to be adopted on 24 November replace the Northern Dimension II Action Plan, i.e. the Northern Dimension Framework Policy Document and the Northern Dimension Political Declaration.
The new policy will be jointly implemented by the EU, Russia, Norway and Iceland. It will be the regional expression in the North of the four EU/Russia Common Spaces, with the added value of the membership of Norway and Iceland. Specific issues to be covered are: indigenous peoples’ welfare, public health and social well-being and a special accent on environmental protection and culture. The Northern Dimension will be therefore set up as the permanent basis to discuss the challenges and opportunities faced by the North of our continent. Canada and the US are valued observers.
The Northern Dimension will have two new geographical priorities i.e. the Baltic and the Barents Seas, along with the traditional ones: Kaliningrad and the Arctic. The Northern Dimension will focus its activities increasingly on North West Russia. The role of the four regional councils in the North, the Council of the Baltic Sea States, the Barents Euro-Arctic Council, the Nordic Council of Ministers and the Arctic Council will be intensified, each one with its different membership and territorial coverage.
Cross-border cooperation will be recognized as a cross-cutting theme producing added value at the sub-regional and trans-national level and facilitating economic cooperation and people-to-people contacts across borders in the North. The new European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument with its new opportunities for cross-border cooperation and the extended financing capabilities of the European Investment Bank for this area will represent the main EU financial contribution. Co-financing of projects will now be the general rule.
The Northern Dimension Partnership model will be favoured as an effective way to organise practical implementation of projects. The International Financing Institutions will be given a prominent place in ensuring appropriate financing and effective project implementation. Among the existing partnerships, the Northern Dimension Environmental Partnership has succeeded to bring together from various donors a total of € 235 Million for grants to finance nuclear safety projects in the Kola Peninsula and to act as seed money for large environmental infrastructures across North West Russia. The European Community is the largest donor with € 60 Million. Additional € 10 million have been allocated this year from the TACIS programme.
The Northern Dimension aims to provide a common framework for the promotion of dialogue and concrete cooperation, strengthening stability, well-being and intensified economic cooperation, economic integration and competitiveness and sustainable development in Northern Europe.
