Zusammenfassung:
The paper argues, firstly, that it is in the interest of the Nordic countries to focus increasingly at the EU new Eastern Neighbourhood and make their policies in the region more active. The region is gaining importance for Europe for various reasons, one of which is that the success or failure of the transformation here will seriously affect the future of Russia. Secondly, the European Neighbourhood will have a better chance to succeed if promoted by a group of member states that are capable simultaneously to make it an EU priority and to work with the recipients of the policy. The paper argues that the Nordic countries are the best to fulfil this task.