Northern Dimension

The Northern Dimension (ND) is one of the regional policies of the EU formed in 1997 at the initiative of Finland. In 2006 the Political Declaration and the Northern Dimension Policy Framework Document were adopted. Since then the project has been considered a joint policy of the EU, Iceland, Norway and Russia, providing for equal participation of all four parties.

Since May 2015 Belarus has observer status in the ND.

Four partnerships have been created within the Northern Dimension: on ecology; transport and logistics; health and social well-being; culture. Belarus participates in the activities of the first two partnerships.

The Northern Dimension Environmental Partnership (NDEP) was created in 2002 in order to meet environmental challenges of water supply, wastewater treatment, solid waste management, energy efficiency and nuclear waste disposal. The NDEP fund is co-financed by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), the Nordic Investment Bank (NIB), the Nordic Environment Finance Corporation (NEFCO), the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the World Bank.

To date, our country has contributed 2 million euros to the NDEP fund. It opens up opportunities to attract funding for the implementation of such large multi-year projects within the Partnership as “Belarus: Environmental Infrastructure Project” and “Programme in the Water Sector in the Republic of Belarus”.

In 2020, Belarus held the presidency of the Northern Dimension Partnership in the field of Transport and Logistics (NDPTL). The activities of the NDPTL aim to coordinate national transport policies in the region, including holding joint events.