The Northern Dimension - One Pillar of the Bridge between Russia and the EU

Abstract

Although Russia is not an applicant for membership of the European Union, it is linked to European integration in many ways. The EU Tacis programme, started at the beginning of the 1990s, provided early assistance for Russia's transition to a market economy and market-oriented international integration. The Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) between the EU and Russia, which came into force in 1997, was a milestone, as were mutual cooperation strategies developed by each of the sides at the end of the 1990s. Naturally, Russia's internal reform progress and its preparation for WTO membership are also significant for EU-Russia relations. Current steps towards creation of the Common European Economic Space, uniting the EU and Russia, represent a new level of cooperation. In addition to EU programmes and projects, which are purely Russia-related, Russia also figures large in the so-called Northern Dimension (ND) policy of the EU. The role of the ND in the network of EU-Russia institutions and programmes, where the above-mentioned general elements are only small parts of the whole, needs further clarification. It so happens that the most promising opportunities and demanding challenges of the ND policy begin with the letter "e". Omitting some key areas, such as economy and education, sub-sections of this article will be devoted to energy, environment, eDimension, enterprises and EU enlargement.