The role of Northern Dimension Partnership in Public Health and Social Well-being Dr. Viktoras Meižis, Head of the Foreign Affairs Division, Ministry of Health, Lithuania International Conference on “Promotion of Healthy Lifestyles, Work Ability & Social Inclusion” St. Petersburg, Russia, 11 – 12 December 2007

Northern Dimension Geographical Area Priority Sectors A new opening from begining of 2007 Four partners: EU, Iceland, Norway and Russia Economic Cooperation Freedom, Security and Justice External Security, Civil Protection Research, Education and Culture Environment, Nuclear Safety and Natural Resources Social Wellfare and Health Care NDPHS The ND area ranges from the European Arctic and Sub-Arctic to the southern shores of the Baltic Sea encompassing the countries in its vicinity, as well as the North West Russia in the East to Iceland and Greenland in the West

Northern Dimension Priority Sectors Objectives (Oslo Declaration of 27 October 2003 establishing the NDPHS) A new opening from begining of 2007 Four partners: EU, Iceland, Norway and Russia Economic Cooperation Promote sustainable development in the ND area by improving people’s health and social well-being Freedom, Security and Justice Contribute to intensified co-operation in social and health development External Security, Civil Protection Research, Education and Culture Assist Partners and Participants in improving their capacity to set priorities in health and social well-being Environment, Nuclear Safety and Natural Resources Enhance co-ordination of international activities within the ND area NDPHS Social Wellfare and Health Care

Objectives (Oslo Declaration of 27 October 2003 establishing the NDPHS) Promote sustainable development in the ND area by improving people’s health and social well-being Contribute to intensified co-operation in social and health development Assist Partners and Participants in improving their capacity to set priorities in health and social well-being Enhance co-ordination of international activities within the ND area Partner Countries Structure Canada Iceland Denmark Latvia Lithuania Estonia Norway Finland Poland France Germany (associated) Russia Sweden

Partner Organisations Structure Partner Countries Partner Organisations BEAC IOM Iceland France Finland Estonia Denmark Canada Lithuania Norway Poland Russia Sweden Germany (associated) Latvia CBSS NCM EC UNAIDS WHO ILO BSSSC

STRUCTURE PAC Secretariat CSR ITA ITA ITA ITA AIDS PHC SIHLWA PH Alcohol Children OHS

Priorities Reduction of major communicable diseases and prevention of lifestyle related non-communicable diseases Including HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis, the use of illicit drugs, cardiovascular diseases and the consequences of socially distressing conditions Enhancement and promotion of healthy and socially rewarding lifestyles Including determinants of health and social well-being, such as sexual behaviour, alcohol consumption, smoking, the use of illicit drugs, peoples’ social and work environments and social skills

Implementation Annual work plans Areas of action (Expert Group work plans and Partnership work plans, that build on them) Objectives and targets Action lines (incl. financing) Evaluation Reporting Areas of action Encourage coordinated development of projects, e.g. the EU co-sponsored NDPHS Database project Implement and appraise projects Monitor and assess situation in the region Develop policy recommendations Disseminate information and reach out to & involve relevant stakeholders

Examples of achievements so far - 2007 (1) Stronger involvement of the Russian Federation (From 2006) Russia strongly involved in CSR and PAC. The new ND policy has increased her engagements even further, especially as regards the Expert Group level.The last CSR meeting was held in the Kaliningrad. Russia has assumed the position of the NDPHS Co-Chair Increased engagement of the European Commission The EC has actively re-engaged in the NDPHS activities. It participates in CSR meetings, cooperates closely with the NDPHS Secretariat and has become involved at the Expert Group level. Next CSR mtg. will be held in Brussels Support from the Nordic Council of Ministers NCM has (part-time) seconded two staff members from its office in St. Petersburg. They will, i.a., help strengthen cooperation with and involvement of Russian stakeholders in the NDPHS activities

Examples of achievements in 2007 (2) NDPHS Strategy Healthy Life – Healthy Work First Strategy for the Norther Dimension Region on Health Based on and reinforcing WHO, ILO and EU Strategies on Workers’ Health Based on the Political Declaration on the Northern Dimension Policy and the Northern Dimension Framework Document Recommendations included in the Strategy Development of national (occupational) health programmes and policies Concrete actions, such as health audits or identification of national top priorities Information and experience sharing, etc.

Examples of achievements in 2007 (3) NDPHS Database Project delivers concrete results New NDPHS website: • front page news • e-newsletter • e-news • many documents and information materials • calendar of events • links to many external websites (www.ndphs.org) Database: • a unique single access point to and a repository of information and data on (i) ongoing and implemented projects, (ii) organisations and (iii) persons (project leaders, experts, etc) • offers a comprehensive overview of relevant projects in the ND area • multiple data sources: (i) relevant external databases (incl. those of NDPHS Partners), (ii) NDPHS Project Pipeline and (iii) manual input • a monitoring and coordinating tool • a pool for project ideas and information about organizations and persons working in the ND area Project Pipeline: • a multi-donor on-line project funding coordination tool • designed to help in proceeding from a project idea through project application to project financing • a tool for donors to benefit from coordinated project appraising by the NDPHS Expert Groups

Examples of achievements in 2007 (4) Partnership Annual Conference (PAC) at a ministerial level Hosted by Lithuania as the culmination of its Chairmanship of the NDPHS NDPHS Forum "Healthy Life - Healthy Work" organized before PAC Progress Report for 2007 approved Work Plan for 2008 adopted Project Pipeline and the Database publically lunched. Finland offered to channel through the Pipeline EUR 1.5 million for projects in N-W Russia NDPHS Strategy Healthy Life – Healthy Work adopted Norway and the Russian Federation elected as the NDPHS Chair and Co-Chair, respectively

Future plans of the Partnership An ambitious Work Plan for 2008 adopted by the PAC NDPHS Database Project Financing NDPHS’ and other parties’ undertakings NDPHS Expert Groups work plans included Ensuring coordination of regional efforts to fight trafficking in human beings Engaging non-Partner Countries and Organizations First NDPHS Expert Group Publications: Thematic Reports Thematic reports on selected areas of health: a series of publications will be developed by the EGs in their areas of expertise, in which health and geographical areas will be further analysed resulting in a set of recommendations to national and international bodies

We have tool and opportunity to put this initative into practice

NDPHS – common project with common responsibility achieving tangible results Thank you