Canada & the European Union
In June 2000, Canada and the EU adopted their respective Northern Dimension policies. Both the EU's Northern Dimension Action Plan (NDAP) and the Northern Dimension of Canada's Foreign Policy recognize the importance of pursuing cooperation throughout the circumpolar north while noting the special concerns facing the Russian Federation.
The EU's Second Northern Dimension Action Plan (NDAP), emphasizes the need for synergy among all Northern Dimension partners, including Canada. Adopted by Heads of State of the European Council in October 2003, the NDAP remains geographically focussed on Russia and the Baltics, but recognises the Arctic as a region with needs that cut across the plan's 5 priority areas:
• business, economy and infrastructure;
• human resources, education, scientific research and health;
• the environment, nuclear safety and natural resources;
• cross border cooperation and regional development; and
• justice and home affairs.
Under this plan, the Canadian approach is highlighted as a model for cooperation between the European EU and non-EU Member States in the North.
The EU actively participates in the work of the three most important regional bodies in the North: the Council of Baltic Sea States (CBSS), the Arctic Council (AC), and the Barents Euro Arctic Council (BEAC).

Canada's Approach
Canada is committed to the successful implementation of the 1999 Canada-EU Joint Statement on Northern Cooperation. The Joint Statement is a demonstration of commitment at the highest political level to promote cooperation between Canada and the EU in the North through information exchange, expert level dialogue and joint projects on issues such as sustainable development, Indigenous peoples, climate change and pollutants, eco-friendly technology, northern children and youth, and higher education.
Some recent examples of implementation include:
• In August 2003, the Canadian Minister of Indian and Northern Affairs, visited Brussels to discuss areas where Canada and the EU could be working together on issues of mutual interest in Northern Russia. These include issues of the environment, destruction of weapons of mass destruction through the G8 Global Partnership and Indigenous peoples.
• In October 2003, Canada became a founding partner in the Northern Dimension Partnership for Public Health and Social Well being. The main objective of the Partnership is to tackle health and social problems that cross the boundaries of the Northern countries including, unhealthy lifestyles, homelessness, communicable diseases and illicit drugs.
• Three Canada-EU Progress Reports on Northern Cooperation have been completed.
• Canada-EU Symposium titled Climate Change and Environmental Assessment Processes: Impacts on the Arctic was held in Brussels, March 2004. This symposium is considered to be one of the thematic workshops under the theme Sustainable Development as called for in the December 2002 Canada-EU Joint Statement on Science and Technology.

Economic Development
Overcoming Trade Barriers
It is also important to acknowledge the barriers to economic development, such as the lack of infrastructure, the need to increase capacity and understanding about how the North fits into the larger economy, and trade barriers that prevent northern products from reaching potential markets. In this area Foreign Affairs Canada works in close cooperation with domestic programs that support sustainable economic development and promote international trade, in other federal departments and in territorial and provincial governments. The Department also works with northern communities and Indigenous peoples organizations in order to achieve results.