Press Release: 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 2006. 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.