The Northern Dimension and the Baltic Sea Strategy

13.2.2008

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0897/08
by Samuli Pohjamo (ALDE)
to the Commission

The EU’s regional policy has recently concentrated to a great extent on the Mediterranean region and the new Member States, as a result of which the Northern Dimension and the Baltic Sea region have not received the attention they deserved. However, they are an important factor in many of the Union’s policies which are of current topical interest.

The importance of the Northern Dimension in climate and energy policy is highlighted in energy cooperation with Russia, while the Member States which form part of the Baltic Sea Strategy will have to look closely at the broad possibilities it offers for the use and development of renewable natural resources. In the area of climate change prevention, account must also be taken of the more sensitive natural environment of northern regions and the rapid warming of the Arctic.

What does the Commission propose to do to promote cooperation on the Northern Dimension and to raise the Baltic Sea Strategy to a strong regional policy cooperation instrument of equal rank with the Mediterranean Strategy? How does it intend to make the Northern Dimension and its Baltic Sea Strategy an integral part of EU policy, with the necessary resources to tackle the particular challenges and needs it faces, such as energy policy and climate policy?

OJ C 291, 13/11/2008