EEA and Norway Grants releases annual report on achievements in beneficiary countries

1 January 2014 marked the 20th anniversary of the European Economic Area (EEA) Agreement. Since 1994, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway have provided support to reduce social and economic disparities within the European Economic Area through the EEA and Norway Grants. The annual report provides an overview of some of Norway Grants achievements in the 16 beneficiary countries over the past year.

EEA and Norway Grants supports programmes and projects in fields that are vital to future economic growth and the environment, as well as helping beneficiary countries tackle issues that are specific to them.

This year has been about implementation, delivery and tracking results. One hundred and fifty programmes are up and running and more than 1,600 projects have been approved to date.

Project promoters, beneficiaries and donor-country partners have reported on how projects are being put into action and starting to make a real difference. There are many stories to choose from: from improving conditions for asylum-seekers in Greece, a preschool project that is giving Roma children a better start in Bulgaria and how water is being protected and made more sustainable for future generations in Lithuania.

Liechtenstein's Foreign Affairs Minister Dr Aurelia Frick told EU Reporter:  “The EEA and Norway Grants are results-driven. We are pleased with developments over the past year and are committed to building on this success.”

Co-operation between organizations in the beneficiary and donor countries is widely encouraged, strengthening bilateral co-operation and bringing valuable expertise.

Norway's EEA and EU Affairs Minister Vidar Helgesen said: “It isn’t just a one-way street, we aren’t just donors, we are constructive partners helping countries to tackle shared challenges and find joint solutions. Promoting cooperation is a central aim of the EEA and Norway Grants, over half of the programmes have partners from at least one of the donor countries.”

In the thematic section, there is an in-depth look at two important areas for the Grants – climate change, and decent work and social dialogue. “We are helping beneficiary countries to reach their climate change and binding renewable energy targets for 2020. Donor countries have a lot of expertise in developing environmentally friendly energy sources,” said Iceland's Foreign Affairs Minister Gunnar Bragi Sveinsson.

EEA and Norway Grants - you can also follow on Twitter at @EEANorwayGrants, or Facebook - EEA and Norway Grants.

EEA and Norway Grants: Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway provide €1.8 billion in funding to 16 beneficiary countries in Central and Southern Europe for the 2009 – 2014 period. Projects may be implemented until 2016. Funding is channelled through 150 programmes. Key areas of support include environmental protection and climate change, green innovation, research and education, civil society, children and health, cultural heritage, decent work and justice and home affairs.

EEA Grants:  €993.5 million (Norway 95.8%, Iceland 3.0%, Liechtenstein 1.2%)

Norway Grants: €804.6m, financed by Norway alone.

Beneficiary countries: Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Greece, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia and Spain.

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