Suchergebnisse

The marine baseline study project in Chesterfield Inlet and Wager Bay in Ukkusiksalik National Park (UNP) was a one year, multi-disciplinary research project designed as a first assessment of important aspects of the marine environment. This project, initiated and funded by Parks Canada Agency and Government of Nunavut's Department of Environment Fisheries and Sealing Division, was a collaboration between government and the Universities of Manitoba, Québec à Rimouski, and Memorial University of Newfoundland. The project provided a unique opportunity to investigate two acutely understudied coastal sub-arctic inlets, each currently experiencing very different levels of human and industrial activity. Simultaneously, the Hudson Bay region is facing environmental changes from ongoing climate change (Dery, 2005; Ferguson et al., 2005; Gagnon and Gough, 2005) In Chesterfield Inlet, shipping has increased in recent years due to mining activities inland. The community of Chesterfield have voiced their concerns about impacts of ship traffic on the marine environment near the community. This project attempted to address some of these concerns by increasing knowledge of the benthic community and supporting habitats, including the overlying water column and seafloor, against which future assessment of biodiversity and potential stressors, such as ship traffic and climate change can be evaluated. The study also aimed to investigate, using the recent sedimentary record (~last 100 years), the concentration of contaminants including hydrocarbons, metals, and total mercury as a first step towards establishing a baseline against which future changes could be assessed. In contrast, shipping and human activity has been relatively non-existent in Wager Bay (UNP). However, there are concerns of possible future increases in tourism and mining operations based outside of the park that could increase ship traffic through the Bay. In addition to these concerns, Wager Bay is an extremely understudied, large, complex, and uncharted Bay, ...

The Integrated Nitrogen model for Catchments (INCA) was applied to three upland catchments in Norway and Finland to assess the possible impacts of climate change and nitrogen (N) deposition on concentrations and fluxes of N in streamwater in cold regions of Europe. The study sites cover gradients in climate and N deposition from the southern boreal Øygard Brook (2.6 km 2 ) in SW Norway, via the southern/middle boreal Simojoki River (3610 km 2 ) in northern Finland to the sub-arctic Dalelva Brook (3.2 km 2 ) in northern Norway. The INCA scenario simulations included future N deposition scenarios (current legislation and maximum feasible reduction) and climate scenarios for 2050 (ECHAM4/OPYC3; HadCM3) treated separately and in combination. As a result of climate change, the INCA model predicted markedly reduced duration and amounts of snow cover in all catchments. The occurrence of winter rainfall and melting periods was predicted to become more frequent so that more frequent floods in winter will to a large extent replace the regular snowmelt flood in spring. At the northernmost catchment, Dalelva, the predicted temperature increase might result in a doubling of the net mineralisation rate, thereby greatly increasing the amount of available inorganic N. At all catchments, the increased N supply was predicted to be largely balanced by a corresponding increase in N retention, and relatively small increases in NO 3 - leaching rates were predicted. This dynamic relationship is, however, strongly dependent on the temperature responses of the key N transformation processes modelled. A future reduction in N emissions and deposition, as agreed under current legislation, would have pronounced effects on concentrations of NO 3 - in streamwater at the southernmost catchment, Øygard, even following a climate change around 2050. At the more remote Dalelva and Simojoki catchments, the N emission reductions will be small compared to the internal N recycling processes, and climate change will to a large extent offset the effects of reduced N deposition. Keywords: catchments, surface water, scenarios, climate, hydrology, nitrogen deposition, nitrate leaching

Increasing conflicts between Russia and Europe, mutual economic and commercial sanctions due to conflicts with its neighbours may in the future lead to supply constraints and access to natural resources in the Russian Federation. Through the complete control of transmission channels on European territory, acquisition of a majority interest or full control of distributors in neighbouring countries and the European Union's full dependence on Russian energy and environmental impacts, Russia wants to gain a dominant position not only in the region but in the international arena (global).Developing unconventional methods of extracting oil, as well as taking over the largest Russian energy corporations overseas refineries, the latest technology, knowledge and skills allows the Russian Federation to pursue a policy of expansion into new territories rich energy resources, such as the Arctic and the restoration of the lost positions superpower using energy resources. The conflict in Ukraine, the crisis in the Crimea and the ensuing superimposed on each other sanctions require serious approach to the issue of energy security in the European Union. ; Publikacja recenzowana ; Narastające konflikty miedzy Rosją a Europą, wzajemne sankcje ekonomiczne i gospodarcze wywołane konfliktami z sąsiadami mogą w przyszłości doprowadzić do ograniczenia dostaw i dostępu do surowców naturalnych z Federacji Ro-syjskiej. Poprzez pełną kontrolę kanałów przesyłowych na terytorium Europy, przejęcie większości udziałów lub pełną kontrolę dystrybutorów w państwach sąsiadujących oraz pełne uzależnienie Unii Europejskiej od rosyjskiego czynnika energetycznego Rosja chce uzyskać dominującą pozycje nie tylko w regionie, lecz na arenie międzynarodowej (globalnej). Rozwijanie niekonwencjonalnych metod wydobycia ropy naftowej, a także przejmowanie przez największe rosyjskie koncerny energetyczne zagranicznych rafinerii, najnowszych technologii, wiedzy i umiejętności pozwala realizować Federacji Rosyjskiej politykę ekspansji na nowe terytoria bogate w surowce energetyczne, takie jak Arktyka, oraz odbudowę utraconej pozycji supermocarstwa przy pomocy surowców energetycznych. Konflikt na Ukrainie, kryzys na Krymie i związane z tym nałożone wzajemnie na siebie sankcje nakazują poważnie podejść do kwestii bezpieczeństwa energetycznego w Unii Europejskiej.

As Russia enters a period when oil production from its traditional heartland in West Siberia has plateaued and could go into decline, the search has begun for new sources of output that can help to maintain the country's output above 10 million barrels per day (mmbpd). It is vital that this level is maintained, in order to allow crude oil and oil product exports (which contribute around 45 per cent of Russia's budget revenues) to remain as a vital bulwark of the country's economy. To this end, the Russian authorities have been encouraging the country's major oil companies to explore new greenfield regions – such as East Siberia, the Black and Barents Seas, and the Arctic offshore – in the hope that major new production areas can be developed. These prospects are relatively long term, however, with major increases in oil production unlikely for a decade or more, meaning that a medium-term solution still needs to be found. Unconventional oil would appear to be just such a solution especially as, in a recent assessment, the United States Geological Survey (USGS) estimated that Russia has the largest potential shale oil resources in the world, with its 75 billion barrel estimate being almost equivalent to the country's current proved conventional oil reserves. The Russian authorities have also been expressing growing confidence in the potential from tight and shale reservoirs located in West Siberia and European Russia, with production expectations set as high as 1.5mmbpd by the Ministry of Natural Resources. The key question, of course, is whether this potential can be realized. It is becoming increasingly clear that the answer to this will be less to do with geology and technology than with the commercial environment in Russia and the corporate mind set of the companies that currently control the majority of the relevant licences.

В статье рассматриваются в исторической ретроспективе процессы региональной интеграции на Европейском Севере. Североевропейская интеграция, осуществляемая таким организациями, как Северный совет, Совет министров Северных стран, Совет государств Балтийского моря, Баренцев Евро-Арктический регион и Арктический совет, представляют собой уже опробованный инструмент развития сотрудничества на Севере Европы и в рамках ЕС в целом. Расширение ЕС на север и углубление интеграции по линии ЕС Северная Европа Россия стали предпосылкой для формирования особого североевропейского направления политики ЕС. Северное сотрудничество позволило странам Северной Европы компенсировать недостатки периферийного положения и отстаивать свои интересы в единой Европе. Система региональных организаций на Севере Европы также способствует проведению самостоятельной политики с сохранением суверенитета, экономической независимости и культурной идентичности стран региона при сотрудничестве с ЕС. Актуальность статьи обусловлена динамичным процессом развития регионального сотрудничества на Севере Европы. ; The article touches upon the process of regional integration in the European North in the historical retrospective review. The Northern European integration is represented by such organizations as the Nordic Council, the Nordic Council of Ministers, the Council of the Baltic Sea States, the Barents EuroArctic Region and the Arctic Council. Thеsе organizations have already proved efficient in developing cooperation both in the north of Europe and within the European Union as a whole. The EU's northward expansion and closer integration between the EU, Northern Europe and Russia paved the way for a special Northern European policy within the framework of the EU. Northern cooperation made it possible for the countries to compensate for the disadvantages of being on the periphery and to defend their own interests in the united Europe. The system of regional organizations in the north of Europe also has a tendency to pursue its own independent policy while preserving the sovereignty, economic independence and cultural identity of these countries in the framework of European cooperation.

In the past two decades we witnessed a decrease in both the number of oil spill incidents, and of the quantity of oil released in these incidents, which led to a diminished interest for basic oil spill science. With the introduction of more stringent oil spill legislation, much of the spill response, assessment and restoration activities were passed to governmental agencies and other stakeholders. Their capabilities were perhaps sufficient to deal with the most frequently occurring small-scale spills, however, recent large, catastrophic incidents such as the sinking of Prestige in 2002, or the Deepwater Horizon blowout in 2010, renewed the need for fundamental science in order to be able to fully understand and estimate the scope of the impacts such spills can have on the environment, economy and society. This is particularly important in the context of new explorations and discoveries of hydrocarbon resources in pristine regions such as Arctic, where extreme weather and the lack of infrastructure emphasize even more the need for a comprehensive assessment of all of the possible effects the future oil production could cause. The objectives of this thesis were set to provide new approaches and methodologies, and to improve and reevaluate the previously existing ones, in a way which can contribute to this comprehensive and proactive strategy. Their scope is comprehensive because it covers all the important aspects of marine oil spills – the sources, environmental fate and possible toxic effects. In addition, particular relevance of this thesis is drawn from the fact that the studies presented here include the investigation of real major oil spills (Prestige, DWH), and of a broad range of oils and oil products that are currently produced and transported worldwide. In order to fulfill the abovementioned general objectives, the following specific objectives had to be accomplished: Firstly, a physicochemical database of frequently transported crude and refined oils was created using elemental analysis, thin-layer ...

Learning from Our Neighbours: Inclusive Education in the Making The publication concentrates on different aspects of inclusion in education. It opens up the diverse ways inclusion is being approached and features some instructive examples of how to implement it in the school world. The publication is produced within the framework of 'A School for All – Development of Inclusive Education' project, aiming at developing inclusion in schools and teacher education. Inclusive education is informed by the principle that every child has the right to attend his/her local school and receive necessary support for learning there, in the mainstream class, instead of being placed in special schools and –classes due to his/her learning needs. The publication is based on benchmarking visits carried out by the project participants. The purpose of the visits to schools and universities in Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Russia and Finland was to learn from each other's practices. A particular attention was also paid to different ways of understanding inclusion, to the legislative basis of inclusion and to teacher education in these countries. The project participants wrote reports on these visits and this publication is an extended compilation and elaboration of those reports. This publication is directed to professionals involved in the field of education; to teachers, teacher students, teacher educators and generally for everyone interested in inclusion. A School for All – Development of Inclusive Education project is coordinated by the University of Lapland in Finland and the scientific director is Dr Sai Väyrynen. Project partners in Russia include Northern Arctic Federal University in Arkhangelsk, Murmansk State Humanities University, the Ministries of Science and Education in Arkhangelsk and Murmansk Regions and Murmansk Regional State Educational Institution of Additional Vocational Education 'Murmansk Regional In-Service Training Institute for Education'. The project is funded by the KOLARCTIC ENPI 2007-2013 –program. ; Julkaistu versio

International audience ; After discovering oil in the North and Norwegian Seas in the late 1960s, Norway is now one of the largest oil exporters and wealthiest nations in the world. Norwegians are some of the healthiest and happiest people on the planet, enjoying cradle-to-grave welfare and a national savings fund well into the billions. Yet despite its transformational power in this society, oil is a complex and highly debated topic among Norwegian policy makers and everyday citizens. In the wake of a global fossil fuel crisis, countries worldwide are racing to stake their claim in the Arctic, a new frontier estimated to hold staggering amounts of the world's usable oil and gas reserves. For Norway, this means increased exploration and drilling efforts in the Barents Sea, but also the challenges of harsh weather, darkness, and ice. It also brings attention to an area steeped in cultural significance; the Lofoten, Vesterålen and Senja coastal regions are known for breathtaking beauty and a historic fishing industry, two staples of Norwegian heritage. Whether offshore in treacherous conditions, or close to the shorelines with thriving ecosystems, oil spills in the Barents Sea could be disastrous. On the other hand, losing competitive ground at this critical time could have longstanding implications for Norway's role in the global economy. Organizational SensemakingAlthough social science research on the past and future of Norwegian oil is plentiful, few studies have focused on the role of organizational sensemaking in constructing and implementing these policies. As a process of organizing, sensemaking involves the retrospective creation of identification and meaning. In other words, sensemaking is the social process by which "situations, organizations, and environments are talked into existence" (Weick, Sutcliffe, & Obstfeld, 2005, p. 409). The central focus is communication - events, organizations, and environment can actually be created by the stories people tell about them. Within the Norwegian policy ...

International audience ; After discovering oil in the North and Norwegian Seas in the late 1960s, Norway is now one of the largest oil exporters and wealthiest nations in the world. Norwegians are some of the healthiest and happiest people on the planet, enjoying cradle-to-grave welfare and a national savings fund well into the billions. Yet despite its transformational power in this society, oil is a complex and highly debated topic among Norwegian policy makers and everyday citizens. In the wake of a global fossil fuel crisis, countries worldwide are racing to stake their claim in the Arctic, a new frontier estimated to hold staggering amounts of the world's usable oil and gas reserves. For Norway, this means increased exploration and drilling efforts in the Barents Sea, but also the challenges of harsh weather, darkness, and ice. It also brings attention to an area steeped in cultural significance; the Lofoten, Vesterålen and Senja coastal regions are known for breathtaking beauty and a historic fishing industry, two staples of Norwegian heritage. Whether offshore in treacherous conditions, or close to the shorelines with thriving ecosystems, oil spills in the Barents Sea could be disastrous. On the other hand, losing competitive ground at this critical time could have longstanding implications for Norway's role in the global economy. Organizational SensemakingAlthough social science research on the past and future of Norwegian oil is plentiful, few studies have focused on the role of organizational sensemaking in constructing and implementing these policies. As a process of organizing, sensemaking involves the retrospective creation of identification and meaning. In other words, sensemaking is the social process by which "situations, organizations, and environments are talked into existence" (Weick, Sutcliffe, & Obstfeld, 2005, p. 409). The central focus is communication - events, organizations, and environment can actually be created by the stories people tell about them. Within the Norwegian policy ...

International audience ; The Integrated Nitrogen model for Catchments (INCA) was applied to three upland catchments in Norway and Finland to assess the possible impacts of climate change and nitrogen (N) deposition on concentrations and fluxes of N in streamwater in cold regions of Europe. The study sites cover gradients in climate and N deposition from the southern boreal Øygard Brook (2.6 km 2 ) in SW Norway, via the southern/middle boreal Simojoki River (3610 km 2 ) in northern Finland to the sub-arctic Dalelva Brook (3.2 km 2 ) in northern Norway. The INCA scenario simulations included future N deposition scenarios (current legislation and maximum feasible reduction) and climate scenarios for 2050 (ECHAM4/OPYC3; HadCM3) treated separately and in combination. As a result of climate change, the INCA model predicted markedly reduced duration and amounts of snow cover in all catchments. The occurrence of winter rainfall and melting periods was predicted to become more frequent so that more frequent floods in winter will to a large extent replace the regular snowmelt flood in spring. At the northernmost catchment, Dalelva, the predicted temperature increase might result in a doubling of the net mineralisation rate, thereby greatly increasing the amount of available inorganic N. At all catchments, the increased N supply was predicted to be largely balanced by a corresponding increase in N retention, and relatively small increases in NO 3 - leaching rates were predicted. This dynamic relationship is, however, strongly dependent on the temperature responses of the key N transformation processes modelled. A future reduction in N emissions and deposition, as agreed under current legislation, would have pronounced effects on concentrations of NO 3 - in streamwater at the southernmost catchment, Øygard, even following a climate change around 2050. At the more remote Dalelva and Simojoki catchments, the N emission reductions will be small compared to the internal N recycling processes, and climate change will to a large ...

The Integrated Nitrogen model for Catchments (INCA) was applied to three upland catchments in Norway and Finland to assess the possible impacts of climate change and nitrogen (N) deposition on concentrations and fluxes of N in streamwater in cold regions of Europe. The study sites cover gradients in climate and N deposition from the southern boreal Øygard Brook (2.6 km2) in SW Norway, via the southern/middle boreal Simojoki River (3610 km2) in northern Finland to the sub-arctic Dalelva Brook (3.2 km2) in northern Norway. The INCA scenario simulations included future N deposition scenarios (current legislation and maximum feasible reduction) and climate scenarios for 2050 (ECHAM4/OPYC3; HadCM3) treated separately and in combination. As a result of climate change, the INCA model predicted markedly reduced duration and amounts of snow cover in all catchments. The occurrence of winter rainfall and melting periods was predicted to become more frequent so that more frequent floods in winter will to a large extent replace the regular snowmelt flood in spring. At the northernmost catchment, Dalelva, the predicted temperature increase might result in a doubling of the net mineralisation rate, thereby greatly increasing the amount of available inorganic N. At all catchments, the increased N supply was predicted to be largely balanced by a corresponding increase in N retention, and relatively small increases in NO3- leaching rates were predicted. This dynamic relationship is, however, strongly dependent on the temperature responses of the key N transformation processes modelled. A future reduction in N emissions and deposition, as agreed under current legislation, would have pronounced effects on concentrations of NO3- in streamwater at the southernmost catchment, Øygard, even following a climate change around 2050. At the more remote Dalelva and Simojoki catchments, the N emission reductions will be small compared to the internal N recycling processes, and climate change will to a large extent offset the effects of reduced N deposition. Keywords: catchments, surface water, scenarios, climate, hydrology, nitrogen deposition, nitrate leaching

Canada's subsistence societies exist at the margins of the dominant Euro-Canadian society, continually buffeted by the political, economic, cultural and social forces of the larger society. Their presence was perceived to impede the flow of settlers across the country in the nineteenth century and continues to be a source of irritation and frustration a century later. The purpose of this research is to study subsistence in arctic and subarctic areas of the Hudson Bay bioregion, Its objectives are to evaluate the validity of land use studies documenting subsistence land use practices; to characterize the economies and ethos of subsistence societies; and to assess the extent, persistence and future viability of these societies, Three case studies support the analysis.The first case study based on York Factory First Nation in North Central Manitoba, adopts a historical focus, The second is a spatial analysis of the contemporary land use of the Omushkego Cree in Northern Ontario. The third assesses the types of demands to be placed on the Inuit of Nunavut as they assume resource management responsibilities. The study found that: (l) different land use studies for the same area produce consistent results; (2) subsistence societies continue to harvest bush food, often over extensive ancestral hunting grounds; (3) the value-in-kind of bush food is significant relative to the overall economy of northern regions; (4) the ethos of subsistence societies in the Hudson Bay bioregion continue to be based on strong bonds of kinship and close relations with the land. The study concluded that (l) land use studies are replicable and are an appropriate methodology for establishing land use over time; (2) analyses of subsistence economies premised on the commoditisation of land and labor are inadequate; (3) there is no inherent incompatibility between the application of modern technological resource management strategies and subsistence ethos, provided the choice and application of technologies is not imposed; (4) a fundamental ...

One of the most important problems that should be solved at the UN Conference on the Law of the Sea, is that of determining the exact boundary between the continental shelf, where coastal states have exclusive rights of exploration and exploitation of resources, and the deep seabed, which is to be an international area and the common heritage of mankind. With her long coastline and the generally very broad continental shelf lying off it, Norway is one of the countries which, both relatively and absolutely, have the greatest interest attached to their national seabed territories. However, the Norwegian continental shelf differs rather significantly from the 'international norm'. Thus, large parts of the Norwegian shelf lie at greater depths than is normal off other countries. Also, the Norwegian shelf is exceptionally broad, especially in the north, where it has a width of more than 1,000 kilometers from the coast of Finnmark to the edge fronting the deep waters of the Arctic Ocean. Because of these extreme conditions, Norway could be adversely affected if an international agreement for a fixed boundary to the extent of the dominion of the coastal state over the seabed were to be based on global averages. Such an outcome to the negotiations taking place within the framework of the UN Conference on the Law of the Sea could be especially disadvantageous on the Norwegian shelf, where a narrowly-drawn boundary could, at worst, lead to a partition of the shelf between Norway and Svalbard (Spitsbergen); With the international agreement which applies to the Svalbard islands, and the special security policy situation which exists in the northern region, such a partition would be most unfortunate for Norway. The Norwegian 'problem' in the seabed issue arises because Norway negotiates from a position marked by extreme natural conditions and against the background of a security policy situation which makes the country especially dependent on a favorable outcome.

На основе исторических, этнографических, демографических и этнологических данных рассматриваются исторические, демографические и этнокультурные процессы, происходящие на европейском/Русском Севере. Анализируются содержание понятия «Русский Север» и исторические причины, которые привели к его появлению и укоренению. Дается оценка социокультурного ресурса данного маркера в современных условиях. Показано, что многовековой процесс колонизации Русского Севера в последние десятилетия не только завершился, но начался процесс его деколонизации.Очевидно, что в рамках общей Арктической стратегии необходима разработка макрорегиональной стратегии, которая бы в полной мере учитывала исторические, культурные и социальные ресурсы Русского Севера и специфику происходящих в регионе социальных и культурных процессов. ; On the basis of the historical, ethnographic, demographic and ethnological data the historical, demographic and ethno-cultural processes currently taking place in the European/Russian North are considered. The discussion starts with the analysis of the concept the "Russian North" as well as of the historical reasons that have led to its emergence and ensured its rooting. The estimation of the social and cultural resources of this marker in current conditions is given. It is argued that the centuries-old process of colonization of the Russian North is over, but the process of its decolonization has begun.The myth about the Russian North as a store of the cultural treasures of the Russian nation, the cultural core of the Russian state, is not used any more. Therefore, the Russian North has lost its cultural attractiveness.Along with the cultural attractiveness, the Russian North has also lost its social appeal: neither the people from other regions nor the population of the Russian North perceive the region as a profitable job market and a place to make a successful personal carrier. Strategies of regional development do not use the historical and cultural experiences of local communities. Furthermore, the interests of these communities often come into conflict with those of extractive companies, which tend to be more successful in lobbying their interests in the regional governments than the local population.As the decolonization proceeds, social and cultural risks grow and this can leadto significant disproportions in the social development of the region.It is obvious, that the general Arctic strategy should include a macroregional strategy of development. This strategy should give full consideration to the historical, cultural and social resources of the Russian North as well as the peculiarities of the social and cultural processes taking place there.

Proposed by Finland, the so-called "Northern Dimension of the EU" was a response to the absence of a Union strategy for dealing with Russia. For Finland itself the initiative was an instrument by means of which it could effectively promote and secure its national interests. The Northern Dimension was adopted as a EU initiative forming the overarching element of policy towards northern Europe by which is meant Iceland. Norway, the Baltic Sea region and the north-European expanses of Russia. Its main aims arc to develop regional cooperation among all the countries of the region and provide a platform for interaction between the Union and Russia, such cooperation intended to be not only of regional significance but also to advance one of the E U s strategic aims in the 21st century, which is rapprochement with Russia. The principal actors in implementations of the Northern Dimension are the European Council, the Barents Sea Council, the Arctic Council and the Council of Baltic Sea States. Expansion of cooperation on the ground involves such areas as environmental protection, nuclear safety, energy, infrastructure, human resources development, health, education, and the rule of law. To an ever growing extent the Northern Dimension is becoming an instrument stimulating the integration of Baltic Europe. The Kaliningrad Region has, potentially, a chance of becoming a template for cooperation between the EU and Russia. But this will require clear-cut decisions on the part of Moscow, of which at present there are no signs. It is in Poland's interest to take full advantage of the opportunities offered by the Northern Dimension initiative for expansion of contacts with Russia and Baltic cooperation. Poland has a stake in the creation in this region of conditions for enduring stability and mutual confidence. The Northern Dimension marks a shift in the focus of EU interest from the Mediterranean to the Baltic and the Barents Sea. ; W "Wymiarze Północnym" mieści się całokształt polityki Unii Europejskiej wobec Europy Północnej, obejmującej Islandię, Norwegię, region Morza Bałtyckiego oraz północnoeuropejskie obszary Rosji. Główne jego cele to rozwijanie współpracy regionalnej między wszystkimi państwami tego obszaru oraz stworzenie platformy współpracy Unii Europejskiej z Rosją. Ma to znaczenie nie tylko regionalne, ale służy również osiągnięciu strategicznego celu, jakim dla UE w XXI wieku jest zbliżenie z Rosją. Javier Solana uznał stosunki Unii z Rosją za najważniejszą kwestię w Europie w XXI wieku. W implementacji "Wymiaru Północnego" największy udział mają: Rada Europejska. Rada Morza Barentsa, Rada Arktyczna i Rada Państw Morza Bałtyckiego. Praktyczną współpracę należy podjąć głównie w takich dziedzinach, jak ochrona środowiska, bezpieczeństwo jądrowe, energetyka, infrastruktura, współpraca transgraniczna, rozwój zasobów ludzkich, zdrowie, edukacja i praworządność. "Wymiar Północny" w coraz większym stopniu stymuluje integracją Europy Bałtyckiej i stanowi wspólną platformą dla różnych polityk i instrumentów finansowych, w których uczestniczą nawet organizacje i inicjatywy nie będące integralną częścią UE. Finlandia zaproponowała "Wymiar Północny" ze względu na brak strategii UE wobec Rosji. Dla Finlandii, bezpośredniego sąsiada Rosji i do 2004 r. jedynego państwa członkowskiego UE graniczącego z tym krajem, wdrażanie tego projektu jest bardzo korzystne; dzięki niemu promuje i realizuje swoje narodowe interesy. Kaliningrad ma szansą stać się w ramach "Wymiaru Północnego" regionem modelowym współpracy między UE a Rosją. Wymaga to jednak zdecydowanych decyzji Moskwy, których jak na razie nie widać. W interesie Polski leży jak najlepsze wykorzystanie tej inicjatywy dla rozwijania kontaktów z Rosją oraz współpracy bałtyckiej. Dla naszego kraju szczególnie istotne było włączenie Obwodu Kaliningradzkiego do "Wymiaru Północnego" UE. Polska zainteresowana jest stabilizacją w tym rejonie i umacnianiem wzajemnego zaufania. Obecnie "Wymiar Północny" stanowi mocno ugruntowaną, oficjalną część polityki zagranicznej UE, której zadaniem jest zapewnienie trwałego pokoju poprzez współpracą gospodarczą i pozytywne współzależności. Koherentna polityka Unii w tym regionie będzie nadal rozwijana. "Wymiar Północny" przesuwa kierunek zainteresowania UE z basenu Morza Śródziemnego w kierunku Bałtyku i Morza Barentsa. ; Marcin Polom