High North must not be neglected in Northern Dimension policy says Wallis

1.00.00pm GMT Thu 16th Nov 2006

Speaking in the European Parliament in the debate on 'A Baltic Sea Strategy for the Northern Dimension' (the so-called the Stubb report), Diana Wallis, President of the Switzerland, Iceland and Norway Delegation and the EEA JPC, said:

"Whilst the Stubb report on a Baltic Sea Strategy may be welcomed as providing a focus on the new Northern Dimension policy, we should take care that the Baltic Sea element is not out of proportion to the overall concept.

"The Northern Dimension now involves Norway and Iceland as full partner countries. Their interests in this policy lie in the Barents Sea and the Arctic region and it is there that the key geo-political issues of today find their focus in respect of climate change, energy and marine resources

"Just to look at a Baltic regional policy would be to miss the big issues of the day in the Northern Europe. We must keep our eyes on the far horizon especially with International Polar Year due to start in 2007."

The European Parliament later agreed to Diana Wallis's amendment which, in her words, 'keep the balance between the various strands of the Northern Dimension therefore continuing the importance of the Arctic window.'