Mission
Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway share a mutual interest and responsibility with other European countries in promoting security, equality of opportunity, environmental sustainability and a decent standard of living for all in the European Economic Area.
Through the EEA and Norway Grants, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway contribute to reducing disparities in Europe and to strengthening bilateral relations with 15 EU countries in Central and Southern Europe.
The Grants are targeted at areas where there are demonstrable needs in the beneficiary countries, and that are in line with wider European shared interests and goals.
Key areas of support are environmental protection and climate change, research and scholarships, civil society, health and children, gender equality, justice and cultural heritage.
For the period 2009-14, the EEA Grants and Norway Grants amount to €1.79 billion. Norway contributes around 97% of the total funding.
Grants are available for NGOs, research and academic institutions, and the public and private sectors in the 12 newest EU member states, Greece, Portugal and Spain.
Reduce social and economic disparities
Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway cooperate closely with the EU through the Agreement on the European Economic Area (EEA). Through this agreement, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway participate in an internal market together with the 27 EU member states. The agreement also covers cooperation in areas such as research and development, education, social policy, the environment, consumer protection, tourism and culture.
However, there are significant disparities between European countries in terms of social and economic development. The EEA Agreement includes a goal to reduce social and economic disparities in the European Economic Area. The EEA EFTA States have contributed to European cohesion efforts ever since the EEA Agreement entered into force in 1994.
Strengthen cooperation in Europe: mutual benefits
Strengthening bilateral relations between the beneficiary countries and the donor states is an overarching objective of the EEA Grants and Norway Grants – equal to the goal of reducing social and economic disparities.
The benfits of the grants extend both ways. Both the donor and beneficary states gain from increased cooperation under the partnership dimension. Partnership projects between entities in the donor states and the beneficiary states are encouraged. In addition, donor programme partners enable long-term strategic cooperation between public entities in the beneficiary states and their counterparts in the donor states.
