e-PINE

The United States considers the Nordic and Baltic nations of Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, and Sweden to be important allies in a region that is of vital interest to the United States. U.S. policy towards Northern Europe is designed to build on the remarkable successes that have been achieved in the region in recent years.

On October 15, 2003, Deputy Assistant Secretary for European and Eurasian Affairs Heather Conley introduced a new policy framework for the region, known as the Enhanced Partnership in Northern Europe, or e-PINE. E-PINE serves as a sign of the United States' continuing commitment to Northern Europe in a changing world.

E-PINE is the successor to the Northern Europe Initiative (NEI), which had been launched by the Department of State in September 1997. Where one of NEI's primary goals was to assist the integration of the Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania into European democratic structures, the launching of e-PINE recognizes the Baltic states as full partners in this community of democracies. The offers of membership in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and the European Union that Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania received are confirmation of this new reality.

E-PINE consists of three main areas of partnership that are designed to face new challenges both in the region and in the world: cooperative security; healthy societies; and vibrant economies. More information on e-PINE's mission and these areas of cooperation is available at the links below.

e-PINE website

e-PINE mission statement

Testimony by Deputy Assistant Secretary for European and Eurasian Affairs Heather Conley on "e-PINE" initiative (April 21, 2004)

Speech by Deputy Assistant Secretary for European and Eurasian Affairs Heather Conley on the roll-out of e-PINE

NEI-funded projects in Estonia