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Northern Dimension policy: Joint Statement by the European Union, Iceland, and Norway on its closure

European External Action Service (EEAS)

24.09.2025
Brussels, Belgium
EEAS Press Team

The Northern Dimension policy has promoted good neighbourly relations, equal partnership, common responsibility and transparency in its region of operation since its launch 25 years ago. It has supported important areas of common interest including at regional and sub[1]regional level, from connectivity, energy, environment, to health, social issues, culture, and creative sectors.

Since then, the geopolitical situation has changed. At the time of its creation, the Northern Dimension policy introduced a new format for regional cooperation in Northern Europe, when there were few regional platforms for engagement. Now there is a dense network of regional cooperation. Russia engaged in the Northern Dimension policy from its inception. On 8 March 2022, the European Union, Iceland and Norway issued a joint statement on suspending Northern Dimension policy activities with the Russian Federation and Belarus following Russia's full-scale, illegal and unprovoked war of aggression against Ukraine that grossly breached the principles of the rules-based international legal order that underpin the Northern Dimension.

The European Union, Iceland and Norway have decided to terminate cooperation in the framework of the Northern Dimension. The respective foundational documents, in particular the Northern Dimension policy framework document and declaration, should accordingly be considered terminated. The European Union, Iceland, and Norway, remain committed to continuing cooperation on issues of common interest in the Northern regions of Europe in other relevant international frameworks.

The European Union, Iceland, and Norway, remain steadfast in their support for a safe, stable, sustainable, peaceful and prosperous Northern Europe region and welcome collaborations outside the terminated framework.