The European Parliament,

–  having regard to its resolution of 16 January 2003 on the Northern Dimension – New Action Plan 2004-2006,

– having regard to its resolution of 20 November 2003 on the Northern dimension,

–  having regard to the Second Northern Dimension Action Plan endorsed at the European Council held in Brussels on 16 and 17 October 2003 and the Commission Working Document concerning that plan (COM (2003) 343 final),

–  having regard to the Commission staff working document 2004 Annual Progress Report on the Implementation of the Northern Dimension Action Plan (SEC (2005) 688),

– having regard to the results of the 15th EU-Russia Summit in Moscow on 10 May 2005,

–  having regard to Rule 103(2) of its Rules of Procedure,

A.  whereas the present Action Plan for the Northern Dimension covers the period 2004-2006,

B.   whereas the ministerial meeting to be held on 21 November in Brussels will approve the guidelines for preparing a political statement and a framework document for implementing the policy to be pursued in the years following 2006,

C.  whereas the Northern Dimension has now moved into a new phase where it will have an important contribution to make in carrying forward the EU's new neighbourhood policy, building on shared interests and a common agenda between the enlarged Union and its neighbours - mainly Russia,

D.   whereas the environmental partnership in the Northern Dimension has provided a successful model for similar partnerships in new areas,

E.  whereas the success of the Northern Dimension initiative in the future depends on the active participation of all actors involved - not only at the national, regional and local level but also at that of the social partners and civil society,

F.   whereas the overall objective of the Northern Dimension policies should be to stimulate sustainable development and economic growth, to reduce poverty and to increase welfare as well as to strengthen democracy and stability in the ND area,

G .  whereas poverty is still a huge problem in Russia and some other states and poverty is the main reason for most of the health and social problems in this area as well as for illegal immigration and trafficking,

H.   whereas gender equality should be mainstreamed in the future development of the Northern dimension so that both women and men are equal participants in and beneficiaries of its programmes,

I.   whereas maritime safety remains an important issue, especially in the Baltic Sea, where oil transport by tanker is increasing rapidly; whereas the Baltic Sea is already heavily polluted and its position as an inland sea makes it especially vulnerable,

1.  Welcomes the idea of replacing the present three-year action plans for the Northern Dimension by permanent documents comprising a joint political statement and a strategic framework;

2.  Emphasises the need to involve elected representatives, trade unions and NGOs at all levels in the preparation of the new political statement and framework for the Northern Dimension and in the process of their implementation and review;

3.  Stresses the importance of the regional councils – the Council of the Baltic Sea States, the Nordic Council, the Arctic Council and the Barents Euro-Arctic Council – and notes that the Commission should be more active in participating in their meetings;

4.  Recalls the scope of the Northern Dimension, which extends beyond North-West Russia to Iceland and Norway; calls on the Commission to make proposals for involving Greenland and Alaska in the cooperation;

5.   Strongly supports the establishment of new partnerships in the Northern Dimension, inspired by the success of the environmental partnership; recalls, however, that there is still a lot of work to be done in the two existing partnerships, focusing on the environment and on health and social issues respectively;

6.  Recalls the crucial role of women, especially in solving health and social problems, and insists that women’s organisations be involved as partners in the social and health projects;

7.   Calls for attention to be paid to the question of trafficking in women so that the idea in the present Action Plan of projects aimed at improving the situation of victims and potential victims and at discouraging demand for sexual services from women and children will not be forgotten;

8.   Recalls that in developing the transport infrastructure in the Northern Dimension region, special attention must be paid to the environmental sustainability of proposed solutions by giving rail and sea transport priority; considers that a railway connection should be built between the Nordic countries and the Komi region in Russia to make use of the huge natural resources in Komi;

9.  Stresses the importance of maritime safety, particularly in the Baltic Sea, which should be reflected in an acceleration of the exclusive use of double-hull tankers and by proposing that the Baltic Sea be designated as a Particularly Sensitive Area by the International Maritime Organisation; underlines, however, that maritime safety is also a social issue that is related to the skills, working conditions and wages of seafarers;

10.  Is still deeply concerned about the risks at the Sosnovy Bor nuclear plant, which uses very old-fashioned technology and is situated near the big cities of St Petersburg, Helsinki and Tallinn; observes that the present Action Plan does not make any proposals concerning Sosnovy Bor, only Ignalina;

11.  Recalls that in the Arctic region the effects of global climate change could be dramatic, that Arctic nature is also especially vulnerable and that its protection needs special attention as part of the Northern Dimension;

12.  Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission and the governments of the Member States and the Partner Countries (Iceland, Norway and the Russian Federation).