The Northern Dimension (ND) policy was elaborated in 1999 with the participation of Norway, Iceland, EU Member States and the Russian Federation. Geographically the ND focuses increasingly on northwest Russia, Kaliningrad, the Baltic and the Barents Seas, the Arctic and Sub-Arctic areas. The main objectives of the policy are to provide a common framework for the promotion of dialogue and concrete cooperation, strengthen stability and well-being, intensify economic cooperation, and promote economic integration, competitiveness and sustainable development in Northern Europe. Among the partnerships within the ND, NDEP and NDPTL are the ones where EIB is actively participating. EIB also participates in the Northern Dimension High Level meetings.

NDEP – Northern Dimension Environmental Partnership

The NDEP unites the Russian Federation, European Commission, other bilateral donors and the main IFIs active in the region to co-ordinate and accelerate the implementation of important environmental and nuclear safety projects in North West Russia and in Kaliningrad, and recently also Belarus. EIB (together with Russia, the European Commission, EBRD, NIB, NEFCO and the World Bank) is a member of the NDEP Steering Group (SG), the main operative body. EIB, together with the other IFIs are observers to the Assembly of Contributors, the decision making body in allocating NDEP grants. Most EIB-loans signed with Russia so far are NDEP-projects, co-financed with the EBRD and NIB.

Northern Dimension Partnership for Transport and Logistics (NDPTL):

The NDPTL aims to provide support for planning and decisions concerning infrastructure of importance to cross-border transportation in the Northern Dimension region. The initiative was launched with the aim of improving major transport connections in northern Europe and an MoU was signed on 21 October 2009 by representatives of the European Commission, Norway, Russia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Sweden and Belarus at a conference on the future of Trans-European transport networks in Naples. The Partnership should cover all modes of transport including road, rail, inland waterways, aviation, maritime as well as Motorways of the Seas and completes and supplements Trans-European Networks (TENs). EIB together with NIB, who is going to host the secretariat for NDPTL, is participating in the steering committee for the NDPTL.

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