Norway, Iceland, Lichtenstein to give EUR 1.8 bln grants to CEE projects

Norway, Iceland and Lichtenstein (the European Economic Area – EEA) have signed an agreement to supply EUR 1.8 billion of non-reimbursable financing to 15 states in Central and Eastern Europe which are part of the EU, Romania included. The program will cover the 2009-2014 period and the financing will come from two programs – the EEA Financial Mechanism and the Norwegian Cooperation Program. The funds will be used to support projects in the fields of environmental protection and climate change, green industry innovation, health, research and scholarship, cultural heritage, decent work and civil society, and justice and home affairs. An important new element in the agreement is the focus on decent work and tripartite dialogue. NGO, companies and the local or central administration can apply for the funds, proposing projects. A legal framework is yet to be put in place for the grants scheme, following which the EEA will start the dialogue with beneficiary states and them sign the memoranda of understanding. The EEA and Norway Grants 2009-14 come at a time when many of the beneficiary states are faced with a difficult economic situation. "The new EEA and Norway Grants give us a historic opportunity to strengthen our cooperation with the newest EU member states. Many of these countries are struggling with high unemployment and a difficult economic situation. It is in Norway's interests to promote economic and social development in these countries," said the Norwegian Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre. "The funding from Norway is targeted at areas where we can make a difference and that are in line with Norwegian and European interests," said Foreign Minister Støre, and he encouraged Norwegian actors to become involved in projects with partners in beneficiary countries. The EEA is part of the EFTA - the European Free Trade Association, whose members are Iceland, Lichtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.