“The new EEA financial mechanisms 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,” says the Norwegian Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre. You may see here the press release by the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Now, individual negotiations between Norway and all the beneficiary states will follow regarding the priority areas to be covered in the respective countries. Once agreement has been reached with each individual beneficiary state, the programmes will be officially launched. Thus, calls for proposals and programme plans are expected to be issued by the beginning in 2011 in all beneficiary states, including Romania. Out of the three EEA/EFTA donor states however, it is only Norway that has a second bilateral financial scheme – Norway Grants - for each of the beneficiary states, in addition to the EEA Grants as such.
The funds will be used to support projects in priority fields that are in line with Norwegian and European interests such as: 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.
Agreement has also been reached with the EU on further improving market access for fish in the period 2009–2014. A separate agreement is signed this week.
More information about the EEA and Norway Grants can be found at: www.europaportalen.no, www.mfa.no, www.eeagrants.org and www.norwaygrants.org.