Northern Dimension to include Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland, the importance of the Northern Dimension has increased considerably: eight EU Member States (Denmark, Germany, Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Finland, and Sweden) surround the Baltic Sea, and the EU’s shared border with Russia has lengthened. Recent years have seen far-reaching changes in the geopolitical map of northern Europe. The Baltic States regained their independence in 1991. Finland and Sweden joined the EU in 1995, and Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland in 2004. These events greatly increased the Northern and Baltic “presence” of the EU, and substantially lengthened the common border shared by the
Visa history of Russia the establishment of local border traffic zones within , and in exceptional cases , from the border. Russia has signed such agreements with Latvia, Poland, and Norway. The agreement between Russia and Poland was suspended indefinitely from 4 July 2016. Latvia. On 6 June 2013, such a local border zone agreement took effect. Residents of border areas must obtain a special permit. The total period of stay in the border area of the state can not exceed 90 days within any 6-month period. Poland. An agreement was signed on 14 December 2011, and took effect on 27 July 2012. It