Finland’s objectives in the Northern Dimension Policy of the European Union
Press Release 283/2004
3 December 2004
On 3 December the Cabinet Committee on European Union Affairs discussed the current situation of the EU’s Northern Dimension policy, the future challenges it faces and Finland’s basic departure points for further efforts vis-à-vis the need to adapt the Northern Dimension to changes that have taken place in the operational environment, such as enlargement of the European Union, development of structures for cooperation between the EU and Russia, development of the EU’s neighbour policy and development of new financial instruments. The ongoing action plan of the Northern Dimension, which is the second action plan, will draw to a close at the end of 2006. It is therefore now topical for Finland to inspect the country’s own objectives for continuation of the Northern Dimension from the year 2007 onwards. Now that the Cabinet Committee on European Union Affairs approved the basic departure points in its meeting today, Finland will launch discussions on the matter with the European Commission, other EU Member States and the partner countries.
The Cabinet Committee on European Union Affairs reiterated that the concept and basic idea of the Northern Dimension are still topical. The Northern Dimension should be retained as part of the European Union policy for northern regions, especially as part of the EU’s external and cross-border policy. Geographically the Northern Dimension, in addition to North-West Russia, encompasses the Baltic Sea region and the Arctic Sea region. Consequent to enlargement, the Northern Dimension’s focal point, more clearly than ever, is cooperation with North-West Russia. At the same time, there is reason to strive to reinforce cooperation between the European Union and regional councils in the North (the Nordic Council, the Arctic Council, the Council of the Baltic Sea States, the Barents Euro-Arctic Council). The ongoing second action plan would not necessarily be followed by a third action plan, but by a policy framework document of a strategic nature. The current action plan is an internal EU document, which does not bind the Northern Dimension partner countries of Russia, Norway and Iceland in the same way as Member States. The framework document could lead to the achievement of a more egalitarian policy document to which EU Member States and partner countries could be equally committed.
Efforts will be made to secure financing of the Northern Dimension within the overall scope of financing granted by the European Neighbour and Partnership Instrument (ENPI), international financial institutions and other actors
The participants of the Northern Dimension are all EU Member States and the partner countries of Russia, Norway and Iceland, with the United States and Canada as observers. Finland introduced the idea for the Northern Dimension in 1997, and in 1999 it became Union policy. The first action plan spanned the years 2000–2003; the ongoing second action plan spans the years 2004-2006. The Northern Dimension operates at two levels. At the higher level it is a political notion and an umbrella concept drawing attention to north-eastern Europe. At the lower, or practical, level, partnerships in environment issues and in social and health issues make up the core of the Northern Dimension. Partnership in environmental issues is now in the implementation phase; at the moment the base is a 200 million euro fund. Partnership in social and health issues is now being launched. Northern Dimension activities at the practical level encompass everything done by individual countries, groups of countries, the Commission, regional organisations and other actors within the geographical area of the Northern Dimension, especially North-West Russia.
Additional information: Maimo Henriksson, Head of Unit, Unit for the Northern Dimension, Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs, tel. +358 9 160 56186, gsm +358 40 527 3821.