1
2 European Economic Area (EEA) = EU + Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein
3 EEA Grants: For whom? Project financing –funded by Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein –for new EU/EEA members from 2004: Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Czech Rep., Slovakia, Slovenia, Hungary, Cyprus, Malta from 2007: Bulgaria, Romania –and for Spain, Greece, Portugal
4 Two mechanisms; function as one Norwegian Fin. Mechanism: Donor: Norway EEA Fin. Mechanism: Donors: Norway (95%), Iceland, Liechtenstein Total (2011): € 1.3 billion
5 Distribution Romania94 Bulgaria39.5 € mill. Poland533.5Greece32.5 Hungary129Estonia31 Czech Rep.106Portugal30 Slovakia67Slovenia18 Lithuania64Cyprus4.5 Latvia51.5Malta3.5 Spain44
6 Objectives Help reduce social and economic disparities in Europe Support new EU member states in their efforts to become fully integrated in the enlarged EU/EEA Strengthen bilateral ties
7 General framework Beneficiary states set priorities Applicants from beneficiary states propose and implement projects May involve project partners from other countries Required co-financing if from public- sector budget: ≥15 per cent
8 LATVIA: Ind. Projects priorities Environment – €4.4m Sustainable development – €4.6m Cultural heritage – €2.8m Human resources development incl. education, civil society, society integration – €12.9m Health; children with special needs – €5.6m Justice & home affairs incl. prisons, courts – €9m Regional policy, devpt. of economic activity – €6.2m Cross-border co-operation – €2.3m Academic research – €450th Technical ass’ce for acquis implementation – €470th
9 Alternative formats Individual Project: grant ≥ € 250,000 Programme (group of projects): co- ordinated portfolio of separate projects, common objective Fund: for smaller grants
10 LATVIA: programmes and block grants Environmental Policy Integration Programme Promotion of Development of PPP in Latvia Cross-border Cooperation Programme NGO Fund Society Integration Block Grant Short Term Expert Fund Academic Research Block Grant Scholarship Block Grant
11 Post ? 2 nd round for EEA/ Norway Grants Ongoing negotiations between Norway and EC Negotiations to be concluded during autumn 2009 Bilateral negotiations to follow
12 Achieving objectives Greater proportion of programmes in certain priorities with a clearly defined objective Lesser proportion of Individual Projects
13 Allotment There will be an increase compared to the existing financial mechanisms
14 Priorities Less priorities Norway suggests: environment climate research health cultural heritage civil society justice human resources
15 Application processing Individual Projects Financial Mechanism Office, Brussels Steering Cttee Project applicant National Focal Point (Min. of Finance) European Commission N. MFA / Fin. Mech. Cttee Experts
16 Application processing within a Fund Experts Applicant Fund Manager Steering Committee
17 Information: Ministry of Finance: Financial Mechanism Office, Brussels: Embassy of Norway: Linda Ozola: Tel.: +371 – (dir.: 06)