1. 1

2. 2 European Economic Area (EEA) = EU + Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein

3. 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. 4 Two mechanisms; function as one Norwegian Fin. Mechanism: Donor: Norway EEA Fin. Mechanism: Donors: Norway (95%), Iceland, Liechtenstein Total 2004-2009(2011): € 1.3 billion

5. 5 Distribution Romania94 Bulgaria39.5 € mill. Poland533.5Greece32.5 Hungary129Estonia31 Czech Rep.106Portugal30 Slovakia67Slovenia18 Lithuania64Cyprus4.5 Latvia51.5Malta3.5 Spain44

6. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 11 Post 2009 - ? 2 nd round for EEA/ Norway Grants 2009-2014 Ongoing negotiations between Norway and EC Negotiations to be concluded during autumn 2009 Bilateral negotiations to follow

12. 12 Achieving objectives Greater proportion of programmes in certain priorities with a clearly defined objective Lesser proportion of Individual Projects

13. 13 Allotment 2009-2014 There will be an increase compared to the existing financial mechanisms

14. 14 Priorities 2009-2014 Less priorities Norway suggests: environment climate research health cultural heritage civil society justice human resources

15. 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. 16 Application processing within a Fund Experts Applicant Fund Manager Steering Committee

17. 17 Information: Ministry of Finance: www.eeagrants.lv Financial Mechanism Office, Brussels: www.eeagrants.org Embassy of Norway: www.norway.info Linda Ozola: lle@mfa.no Tel.: +371 – 67 81 41 00 (dir.: 06)