EEA and Norway Grants 2004-09

“We must continue to ensure the promotion of good projects that effectively contribute to reducing social and economic disparities in Europe,” said Norwegian State Secretary Erik Lahnstein during a seminar on the EEA and Norway Grants held recently in Brussels.

On 6 October, the Malta Environment and Planning Authority (MEPA) approved a master plan for restoring the Cittadella in Gozo. The development of the plan was funded by a grant from Iceland, Lichtenstein and Norway.

With funding worth almost €560 million (just over 40% of the total of the Grants), Poland was by far the largest beneficiary of the EEA and Norway Grants 2004-2009. Five years of successful implementation were rounded off with a closing conference held in the Warsaw on 21 September.

A team of painters and prison inmates have jointly restored a 170 year old chapel that had been hidden for over 50 years in the Balassagyarmat prison. The unique Norway Grants project is presented in the newly launched book “Fresco Feather of the Goldenbird”.

Slovenia received €18.6 million through the EEA Grants and Norway Grants in the period 2004 to 2009. Five years of successful implementation were rounded off with a closing event held in the capital, Ljubljana, on 19 September.

With the help of the EEA Grants, the vision of a Norwegian princess living in Spain in the Middle Ages has finally become reality. St. Olav's chapel opened in Covarrubias this Sunday.

Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway have decided to resume payments of EEA Grants to Greece. Disbursements were temporarily suspended 19 May this year.

The Norwegian Minister of the Environment and International Development Erik Solheim has visited projects in the Tri-City area, Poland, where increased use of renewable energy and measures to improve energy efficiency have led to reduced CO2-emissions and better air quality.

The Norwegian Minister of Health and Care Services, Mrs. Anne-Grete Strøm-Erichsen, visited Romania on 28 and 29 June to see three projects funded through the EEA and Norway Grants.

Hungary has received €135 million through the EEA and Norway Grants in the period from 2004 to 2009. Five years of successful implementation were marked by a closing conference and a brand new booklet in June 2011.

Today’s opening of Sofia Arsenal – Museum of Contemporary Art (SAMCA) marks the completion of one of the largest EEA Grants-financed projects in Bulgaria.

Successful closure of the first round of the EEA and Norway Grants in Lithuania paves the way for enhanced cooperation in new funding period.

The EEA and Norway Grants were visible in the Polish capital on Sunday 29 May. Close to 250 people found their way to the old town square to participate in the Nordic walking event "Walk the grants".

EEA and Norway Grants successes in Bulgaria pave way for strengthened cooperation in new funding period. A photo exhibition featuring some of the 66 financed projects and funds will travel across Bulgaria over the next two months.

On 30 April 2011, the implementation deadline of the previous round of EEA and Norway Grants, 90% of the funded projects had been completed. 100 projects have been given extensions.

Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway have decided to suspend payments of EEA Grants to Greece. The decision is based on Greece's lack in fulfilling necessary obligations.

Our guest writer, Yiannis Papadakis from the University of Cyprus, presents the situation in Cyprus and how initiatives such as the Home for Cooperation are needed to overcome distrust and help towards creating a dialogue among opposing historical narratives between the two communities in Cyprus.

PhD students, young researchers and representatives of educational institutions in Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Poland may now apply for funding for study visits.

A unique centre for inter-communal dialogue and cooperation in the buffer-zone of Nicosia, Cyprus was inaugurated today in the presence of the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot leaders. The Home for Cooperation has been co-funded by Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway.

A total €1.1 million is now available for entities from Warminsko-Mazurskie or Podlaskie regions for bilateral and multilateral projects in the Euroregion Niemen, comprising the border areas of Belarus, Lithuania, Poland and Russia (Kaliningrad). The application deadline is 24 June.

The Czech Civil Society Development Foundation held a conference on 19 April in Prague. This marked the closure of the EEA and Norway Grants-supported Czech NGO Fund 2004-2009, where projects were in implementation until April 2011.

In the sea beds off the coasts of Gdánsk and Avaldsnes two sunken shipwrecks and a medieval rubbish site tell the tales of pirate attacks, wars and trade, linking Norwegian and Polish history in the Middle Ages.

Estonia has applied the EEA and Norway Grants to turn 9 old manor houses into modern educational and cultural centres as part of a national strategy to preserve these historic buildings and use them to revitalise the local communities.

A recently published review of the support for regional policy and cross-border projects finds that although the smaller-scale grants fill a funding gap for local and regional entities, the sector would benefit from a more strategic approach at national level.

Lithuania's leading cardiac hospital has partnered with Norway to provide quality health services to children suffering from congenital heart diseases. On 8 March, the Norwegian Foreign Minister visited Vilinus University Hospital.

The destroyed historic bells of the Matthias Church in Budapest have been replaced with Norwegian financial support and were installed in Buda Castle this month.

Drug use is one of the major causes of health problems and death among young people in Europe. To combat this, the EEA and Norway Grants have awarded more than €4.1 million to projects working to treat and prevent substance abuse.

The 27 projects financed by the Short Term Expert Fund of the Norway Grants have now been completed. The fund has aimed to raise the level of knowledge and develop professional skills in the Latvian public sector.

A Czech-Norwegian project aimed at increasing cultural and civil dialogue between the two countries culminated with the publication of a book that was launched at seminars in Prague and Oslo in December 2010.

€150,000 in grants are offered under the Czech research fund for researcher and expert exchanges between the Czech Republic, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway.

The National Museum in Cracow has developed a film showing the renovation and modernisation of the Sukiennice Gallery, located in the heart of of Cracow's UNESCO-listed Old Town.

In November 2010, 17 young, Hungarian researchers were offered EEA and Norway Grants scholarships to pursue their scientific careers in Hungary.

Projects financed under the EEA and Norway Grants are just over five months away from the implementation deadline. 140 projects are completed and more than half of the available funding has been paid out.

EEA and Norway Grants 2004-09 have strengthened ties between researchers, universities and research institutions across Europe.

Thanks to almost €2.7 million in support from the Norway Grants, talented, young Roma will soon receive free musical education at the newly established European Special College for Roma Music Education in the Hungarian town of Felsoörs.

On 17 October, a new centre for environmental education was officially opened in Salamiou Village in Cyprus. The centre has been financed by the Norway Grants.

The conclusion of the NGO Fund in Cyprus was marked with a ceremony on 15 October in Nicosia. The NGO fund has supported 33 civil society projects.

Integrating Roma communities into society is an important element in the reduction of social and economic disparities in Europe. For this reason, several of the projects financed by the EEA Grants supported Romanian NGO fund target the Roma population.

With the support of EEA and Norway Grants, a new centre for social integration has been opened in Chorzów in Poland, offering the local residents social activities and support.

The EEA and Norway Grants’ support to civil society in Central and Southern Europe is an important contribution to social equality and involvement concludes three new evaluations.

On 1 October, a waste management programme financed by the Norway Grants was launched at the Tokaji Ferenc Secondary Grammar and Vocational School in Hungary.

With support from the Norway Grants, a new regional culture and education centre has been opened in Békéscsaba in south-eastern Hungary.

The EEA and Norway Grants have provided essential support to the non-governmental sector in Romania at a time when other funding sources were less readily available, concludes a new report by the Civil Society Development Foundation.

The EEA and Norway Grants' support to environmental NGOs in Slovakia has been a "resource of crucial and strategic importance", says new report.

The Cultural Exchange Fund of the EEA and Norway Grants supports artist exchanges between Poland and Norway. With funds from Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway, a contemporary sculpture exhibition consisting of works from Norwegian and Polish artists was recently opened in Oroñsko, Poland.

The EEA and Norway Grants support various initiatives to integrate Roma populations in their communities, most notably within the fields of health, education and training.

The EEA and Norway Grants support a domestic violence support and advocacy project in Latvia. Latvian NGO Marta provides free legal counselling to 200 women each year.

The NGO funds of the EEA and Norway Grants 2004-09 have secured vital support to civil society in Central and Southern Europe, particularly in areas such as advocacy and social inclusion, shows new report.

In Poland, the City of Malbork work with German, French, Lithuanian and Swedish partners to promote entrepreneurship, local culture, cuisine and tourist products.

Poles are now the largest immigrant group in Norway. Norwegian and Polish archive institutions have jointly documented the last 300 years of Polish immigration to Norway.

With support from the EEA Grants, archaeologists in Bulgaria have discovered what is believed to be relics of St. John the Baptist.

On 24 July, the renovated 13th century Cloth Hall at the main square of Krakow's UNESCO-listed old town was officially unveiled.

Czech and Norwegian scientists are cooperating on a major research project charting possible sites for future CO2 capture and geological storage in the Czech Republic.

5 years into the implementation of the EEA and Norway Grants 2004-09, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway have taken stock of achieved results and efforts of the 1250 project portfolio. The 2010 Status Report highlights the cooperation taking place at project level between entities in the donor states and the 15 beneficiary states.

Curbing climate change and ensuring a sustainable use of natural resources demands a concerted international effort. Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway and the 15 beneficiary states have devoted one quarter of the EEA and Norway Grants to environmental projects.

The EEA and Norway Grants contribute substantially to sustainable development and environmental protection in four countries bordering the Baltic Sea.

Social inclusion, human rights and civil political participation are best ensured by engaging and promoting an active civil society. Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway support close to 500 NGO projects promoting democracy building, protection of human rights and anti-discrimination initiatives.

Lithuania is stepping up efforts to prevent and diagnose cancer at early stages. Patients will receive better care with a €7.1 million boost from Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway for vital equipment, new diagnostic and treatment methods, and research on anti-cancer drugs.

Students, teachers and researchers from 69 Czech and Slovak schools and higher education institutions have participated in exchanges or cooperation projects with 85 similar institutions in Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway

Nearly 430 000 people across Europe will benefit from training and capacity building initiatives supported by Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway. In Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, the EEA and Norway Grants support 225 smaller development projects through 5 funds for capacity building in the public sector.

The Polish-Norwegian Civil Society Forum was held on 16 June 2010 in Warsaw. Representatives from more than 150 non-governmental organisations (NGOs) from all over Poland attended.

On 3 June, an EEA and Norway Grants supported local history education and preservation project was concluded in Onga, Hungary.

On 26 May, a brand new Norway Grants supported lung screening bus was inaugurated in Hungary.

In the period between 5 May and 24 June, 9 EEA and Norway Grants supported adult education learning centres will open in Hungary.

Art galleries from across Europe will participate in an Icelandic art festival this July with support from the Polish Cultural Exchange Fund.

On the International Children’s Day, June 1st, SOS Children’s Village Association in Estonia celebrated the opening of their second children’s village. With support from the Norway Grants, three new family houses have been built. Each house will become a home for a mother, a father and six children who have been deprived of parental care.

On 28 April, a seminar on the Latvian NGO Funds was held in Riga to allow Latvian NGOs to discuss lessons learned in the 2004-2009 grants period and the role of the NGO Funds in the development of Latvian civil society in the future.

On 28 April, a seminar on the Latvian NGO Funds was held in Riga to allow Latvian NGOs to discuss lessons learned in the 2004-2009 grants period and the role of the NGO Funds in the development of Latvian civil society in the future.

The EEA and Norway Grants support the establishment of a bi-communal "Home for Cooperation" in the buffer zone in Nicosia, Cyprus. A new video from the project has been released, focusing on history teaching in divided societies.

A seminar on environment and sustainability was recently held in Brussels, focusing on lessons learned in the 2004-2009 grants period and perspectives for the future.

A review of EEA and Norway Grants support to greenhouse gases reduction projects concludes that the projects are cost efficient and that the support is well targeted and filling a funding gap.

A new review states that all EEA and Norway Grants supported biodiversity projects are very relevant to the achievement of national and international biodiversity obligations, and calls for more attention to biodiversity issues within public authorities and among the public.

On 16-17 April, the Baltic Sea NGO Forum 2010 was held in Vilnius in Lithuania. Norway`s Ambassador to Lithuania reiterated Norway`s commitment to continued support to the NGO sector in Central and Southern Europe, as well as in the Baltic Sea Region.

The Czech Ministry of Finance has developed an interactive overview of all EEA and Norway Grants projects in the Czech Republic.

The EEA Grants have supported the renovation of the 850 year old Velehrad Basilica, which forms part of a large baroque monastery that is one of the most significant places of pilgrimage in the Czech Republic. The completion ceremony was held on 21 April 2010.

On 9 March, an EEA and Norway Grants supported conference on fighting trafficking in women and children was held in Budapest, Hungary.

On 24 March, an EEA Grants supported reconstructed sesuscitation and intensive care unit for children with highly contagious diseases was opened at the Thomayer University Hospital in Prague, the Czech Republic.

In Pacanów in Poland a European Tale Centre was opened on 4 March. The centre aims to promote literature, tales and reading among children.

To reduce European disparities and strengthen democracies, civil society needs to be onboard. The EEA and Norway Grants support NGO projects in 12 countries, underpinned by a belief that social inclusion, human rights and political participation are best ensured by engaging and promoting an active civil society.

With support from the Hungarian NGO fund of the EEA and Norway Grants, Transparency International Hungary involves volunteers to build awareness and capacity to fight corruption.

With support from the EEA and Norway Grants, the Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights in Poland monitors and protects the freedom of media all over the country.

The Latvian Fund for ethnic minority NGOs provides €650,000 to integration initiatives that increases understanding and cooperation between the country's ethnic and religious communities.

EEA and Norway Grants supported renovation works have recently started on the bi-communal Home for Cooperation Centre in the UN controlled buffer zone in Nicosia, Cyprus. Click here to watch a presentation video of the project.

A new educational centre for cultural heritage preservation was opened on 18 February in Budapest, Hungary. Thanks to €16 000 in support from the Hungarian NGO Fund of the EEA and Norway Grants, 160 teachers and professionals have been trained in preserving traditional Hungarian architecture. The new centre will be one of few offering courses in these subjects in Hungary.

The Romanian scholarship fund of the EEA Grants has launched its second open call. A total of €1 100 000 is made available for student and teacher mobility. The application deadline is 31 March 2010.

The Polish Cultural Exchange Fund of the EEA and Norway Grants is announcing its fifth open call. A total of €1 651 000 is made available to projects carried out in cooperation with entities from the donor states Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway. The application deadline is 30 April.

On 20 February, the "Vale costruir o futuro" ("Worth building a future") project was presented in a ceremony attended by the Portuguese Minister of Environment in Vale da Amoreira, Moita. The project is part of the Critical Urban Areas programme; an urban regeneration scheme supported with close to €9 million from the EEA Grants.

On 20 February, the "Vale costruir o futuro" ("Worth building a future") project was presented in a ceremony attended by the Portuguese Minister of Environment in Vale da Amoreira, Moita. The project is part of the Critical Urban Areas programme; an urban regeneration scheme supported with close to €9 million from the EEA Grants.

On 20 February, the "Vale costruir o futuro" ("Worth building a future") project was presented in a ceremony attended by the Portuguese Minister of Environment in Vale da Amoreira, Moita. The project is part of the Critical Urban Areas programme; an urban regeneration scheme supported with close to €9 million from the EEA Grants.

On 1 February, the inauguration of the first regional Service Centre in Slovakia took place in Detva.

On 3 February, a workshop on the role of women in rural development was held in Castro Verde, Portugal. The seminar is part of the "Rural Value" initiative, an EEA Grants supported project focusing on developing sustainable farming systems in the Castro Verde Special Protection Area for Birds.

Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway contribute close to €9 million to an urban regeneration scheme in Portugal. The EEA Grants contribution helps to improve living conditions, combat social segregation and empower local residents in 3 disadvantaged neighbourhoods in Lisbon and Porto.

Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway contribute close to €9 million to an urban regeneration scheme in Portugal. The EEA Grants contribution helps to improve living conditions, combat social segregation and empower local residents in 3 disadvantaged neighbourhoods in Lisbon and Porto.

Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway contribute close to €9 million to an urban regeneration scheme in Portugal. The EEA Grants contribution helps to improve living conditions, combat social segregation and empower local residents in 3 disadvantaged neighbourhoods in Lisbon and Porto.

On 20 January, a project to provide healthcare and rehabilitation treatment for young and homeless drug addicts was launched in Hungary. Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway support the project with close to €1 million.

The EEA and Norway Grants contribute €136 million to sustainable development and environmental protection projects in 4 countries bordering the Baltic Sea.

A total of HUF 584 723 700 is made available for removing obstacles for disabled people in the Danube-Mecsek region in Hungary. The application deadline is 15 April 2010.

The Bulgarian Scholarship Fund of the EEA Grants is announcing a €603 400 open call for grants to students, teachers, researchers and staff from higher education institutions in Bulgaria. The deadline for individual applicants is 15 April.

The EEA and Norway Grants support a new bi-communal centre focused on education and intercultural dialogue in the UN protected area in Nicosia.

A report on the Norway Grants support to Schengen and the judiciary projects has been published. Significant areas of support are law enforcement activities in Poland and improved conditions for prison inmates in Latvia and Lithuania.

A total of €1 200 520 is made available to high schools, doctoral students, young researchers and individuals representing educational institutions.

On 6 January, the Czech Police launched a new Norway Grants financed database of stolen art artefacts and antiques. The new database facilitates cooperation and exchange of information with foreign police services, and is expected to contribute to a higher detection rate.

Today is the official opening of the UN International Year of Biodiversity 2010. Through the EEA and Norway Grants, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway provide important support to protecting biodiversity in Europe.

The children and staff at the Children’s house foster home in Košická Nová Ves, Slovakia, have had a memorable holiday season. Next Christmas, several of the children will have moved out from their dormitories and into family-style residential houses, thanks to €400 000 from the EEA and Norway Grants.

In cooperation with the Norwegian Defence University College, 4000 Hungarian ex-soldiers will undergo a comprehensive job training programme to provide them with skills needed for reintegration into the civilian labour market. The completion of the first part of the project, training the trainers, was celebrated at a diploma award ceremony in Budapest on 11 December.

Thanks to support from the EEA and Norway Grants, a nationwide database to ensure blood supply traceability will be launched within the next few months in Hungary. An increase in blood supply traceability will help combat diseases such as aids, hepatitis and syphilis.

The "Home for Cooperation" in the UN-controlled buffer zone in Nicosia arranged an inter-communal music, poetry and film jam on 19-20 December 2009.

An overall amount of nearly €700 000 is made available to bilateral and multilateral cross-border cooperation projects in Poland.

Christmas preparations are well underway for the children at the municipal nursery school in Idrija, Slovenia.

The Czech Technical Assistance Fund of the EEA and Norway Grants has launched an open call for grants up to €100 000.

Christmas is a special time of the year for the children at the Disabled Children’s Centre in Zamosc, Poland, which has undergone an extensive renovation thanks to support from Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway.

Media and civil society representatives from Hungary and Norway were gathered at an EEA and Norway Grants supported anti-corruption workshop in Budapest on the International Day against corruption on 9 December.

On 21 October, the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Ljubljana organised an informational excursion on the EEA and Norway Grants for Slovenia-based ambassadors from the Western Balkans and the 27 EU member states.

Several EEA and Norway Grants funded environmental projects were presented at the POLEKO 2009 International Trade Fair in Environmental Protection in Poznan, Poland, on 24-27 November.

Cultural heritage preservation and cultural exchange projects provide new meeting places and play an important role in urban renewal and economic development by attracting tourists and investment, as well as forming a basis for local identity.

6 Czech and Norwegian universities cooperate on teaching the Czech public about Sami language and culture. The project is supported by the Czech scholarship fund.

Zywiec municipality in Poland has restored its 15th century old castle and the adjacent Habsburg Park in collaboration with the Norwegian Institute of Cultural Heritage Research, forming the basis for a new cultural tourism product and providing local residents with a new meeting place.

The Polish Cultural Exchange Fund of the EEA and Norway Grants has financed a Polish-Norwegian artistic exchange to make the works of Henrik Ibsen available to a wider audience.

The Bente Kahan Foundation and the Wrocław Center for Jewish Culture and Education have been awarded a grant to organise a series of concerts and cultural events to spread information to the Norwegian and Polish public about Jewish culture and traditions.

During the last year, the 18th century Koigi Manor School in Estonia has been comprehensively renovated to offer better working conditions for pupils and teachers and a new exhibition space for the village`s cultural and social events.

Thanks to more than €1,3 million in support from the EEA and Norway Grants, the Lake Balaton resort area has undergone a remarkable change over the last couple of years. Parks have been renovated, new equipment has been bought and environment friendly waste management techniques have been introduced.

On 6 November 2009, more than 150 representatives of small and medium sized enterprises participated in the annual meeting of the Clean Business Clubs in Niepolomice, Poland. 5 businesses received awards for improved environmental and economic performance.

On 30 October, 60 Hungarian mayors attended the very first weekend training session of the "Mayors' Academy", an EEA Grants supported capacity building project focused on good governance and increasing transparency in local government.

On 5 November 2009, Kunda Nordic Tsement officially opened a new phase in the factory's development towards a more environment friendly industry. With support from the EEA Grants, the factory has installed new feeding lines to their rotary kilns that allow for burning waste materials instead of highly polluting oil-shale.

On 9 November 1989, civil action by non-violent demonstrators led to the fall of the Berlin Wall, leading to democracy and the reunification of Europe. Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway acknowledge the importance of NGOs in promoting democratic societies and have placed funding for civil society at the core of the EEA and Norway Grants.

The Slovakian cross-border cooperation and regional development fund, "Opening doors to new arenas of cooperation", has launched an open call for grants up to €150 000.

The EEA and Norway Grants bring together stakeholders in impoverished border regions in Central Europe for joint projects to spur economic growth and sustainable social development. An important component in these projects is to establish institutional and personal networks involving partners from neighbouring countries bordering the European Economic Area.

One in five supported projects is carried out in cooperation between entities in the 15 beneficiary states and partners in Iceland, Liechtenstein or Norway. Portugal and Poland take the lead.

In addition to a mutually beneficial exchange of know-how and resources, partnership projects contribute to building down barriers and drawing people together across borders.

The Financial Mechanism Office is looking for trainees to join our team for 5 months, starting in March 2010. The application deadline is 15 November.

Situated at the crossroads between abundantly wealthy and very poor nations, Poland is a transit country as well as a country of origin and destination for trafficking in girls and women. The EEA and Norway Grants support La Strada, Poland's only dedicated non-governmental organisation (NGO) fighting trafficking and providing assistance to trafficking victims.

Through the Hungarian cross-border fund of the EEA and Norway Grants, grants are made available to partnership projects carried out between the Szabolcs-Szatmár-Bereg County in Hungary and the Sub-Carpathian County in Ukraine.

With support from the EEA and Norway Grants, 18 secondary schools and universities in Slovakia are carrying out collaboration projects with partner institutions in Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway.

With support from the EEA and Norway Grants, a conference on the European Charter for Equality of Women and Men in Local Life was held in Prague on September 24.

The 6th Mazovia NGO Initiatives Forum was held in Warsaw on 25 September. The forum gathered representatives of NGOs and local governments, and is part of a project to strengthen civil society in the Mazovia region. The project is supported by the Polish NGO fund for democracy and civil society.

Two events to assist Greek project promoters and Norwegian partners in the implementation process were held in Athens from 24-25 September.

Over the next few months, several projects financed by the EEA and Norway Grants will be featured on Programme 3 of the Polish Radio. One of them concerns the revitalization of the old castle and Habsburg park complex in Żywiec, as pictured.

Over the next few months, several projects financed by the EEA and Norway Grants will be featured on Programme 3 of the Polish Radio. One of them concerns the revitalization of the old castle and Habsburg park complex in Żywiec, as pictured.

Over the next few months, several projects financed by the EEA and Norway Grants will be featured on Programme 3 of the Polish Radio. One of them concerns the revitalization of the old castle and Habsburg park complex in Żywiec, as pictured.

Over the next few months, several projects financed by the EEA and Norway Grants will be featured on Programme 3 of the Polish Radio. One of them concerns the revitalization of the old castle and Habsburg park complex in Żywiec, as pictured.

Over the next few months, several projects financed by the EEA and Norway Grants will be featured on Programme 3 of the Polish Radio. One of them concerns the revitalization of the old castle and Habsburg park complex in Żywiec, as pictured.

Over the next few months, several projects financed by the EEA and Norway Grants will be featured on Programme 3 of the Polish Radio. One of them concerns the revitalization of the old castle and Habsburg park complex in Żywiec, as pictured.

Over the next few months, several projects financed by the EEA and Norway Grants will be featured on Programme 3 of the Polish Radio. One of them concerns the revitalization of the old castle and Habsburg park complex in Żywiec, as pictured.

Regional development, cross-border cooperation and public sector capacity building were the themes of the day at this week's presentation of the EEA and Norway Grants at the Open Days in Brussels.

Norway provides more than €120 million to assist the newly joined Schengen members with implementing the Schengen acquis, strengthening the judiciary and improving prison infrastructure.

Half a million euro was made available today for Slovenian students, university staff and researchers for studies or work stays in Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway.

Several international police projects are funded by the Norway Grants. This cooperation benefits both Norway and the beneficiary states, says the Norwegian National Police Directorate.

HRH Crown Prince Haakon of Norway opened a seminar on the EEA and Norway Grants in Budapest, which was organised in order to draw some lessons so far and prepare common ground for a successful implementation of projects.

Public entities in the Lubelskie region can now apply for grants for cooperation projects with partners from the Euroregion Bug, covering the border-sharing areas of Belarus, Poland and Ukraine.

The EEA Grants have expanded and strengthened the good relations between Norway and Portugal, said State Secretary Elisabeth Walaas from the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs at a conference on the EEA Grants in Lisbon on September 7.

Senior police officers are trained in identifying and combating discriminatory attitudes and practices in the Polish police force.

Today the Polish Cultural Exchange Fund launched a €2.9 million open call for cultural exchanges and projects between entities in Poland and Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway.

Several hundred students have benefited from scholarships to study in Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway. In addition, 230 partnership projects between educational institutions in the EEA EFFTA states and the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia have received support.

Teachers in Szolnok County can apply for grants for training courses on environment education.

The knowledge-based economy is upon us. Governments have to invest in research and development - but first and foremost in people. 10% of the EEA and Norway Grants is spent on human resource development in Central and Southern Europe.

Grants are now available for students, researchers and university staff at Bulgarian higher educational institutions for studies or teaching periods in Iceland, Liechtenstein or Norway next spring semester.

Through regional and cross-border cooperation projects under the EEA and Norway Grants, actors from 15 European countries are brought together, realising mutual benefits by transferring resources, knowledge and experience between regions.

Through nine cross-border and regional funds and programmes, nearly €22 million are put to use to increase cooperation and development across European borders and regions.

Dedication to increasing and promoting partnerships across Europe is a central pillar of the EEA and Norway Grants as a whole and nowhere is this more pronounced than in the regional and cross-border priority sector. Not only are Norwegian partners heavily invested in projects within a range of fields, partners in the neighbouring countries of the beneficiaries also play a vital part.

The Financial Mechanism Office (FMO) carried out a monitoring visit to Poland from 21 to 25 June, as part of its work to ensure that projects supported by the EEA and Norway Grants achieve what they set out to do.

Civil society organisations can submit their applications until 15 September deadline.

Hungarian elementary schools introduce folklore into teaching of minority children to increase their familiarity with both Hungarian and minority cultures.

In south-western Norway, students from the Tokai region in Hungary are learning to make apple cider from scratch.

Portuguese researchers in the fields of biological, ocean, environment and health sciences now have the opportunity to apply for funding to spend a period working in a host institution in one of the EEA EFTA states.

On 30 June, Michna Palace in Prague hosted the signing ceremony of grant agreements with representatives of civil society organisations who have been selected for support in the third round of open calls under the Czech NGO Fund. 44 projects were supported within this call.

Portuguese and Norwegian researchers, culture workers and coastal population gather this week in Tromsø for a seminar to exchange experience and views on coastal culture. The seminar is part of an EEA Grants supported project that aims to promote coastal culture as a factor of local development.

On 22 June, the Faculty Hospital in Brno opened the first and only gait laboratory in the Czech Republic. Gait analysis records muscle activity during walking and enables doctors to make confident recommendations for surgical treatments for children with cerebral spastic palsy.

In a festive ceremony in the Polish Senate, 15 cities and municipalities were recently given awards for great improvements in their services to citizens. The awards were part of an EEA and Norway Grants project to share best practices among hundreds of Polish local and regional authorities.

Restoration works begin on the interior of the Virgin Mary Church in Luže, Czech Republic. The inside walls have not been painted for more than 100 years.

Lithuanian civil society activity has received a major boost thanks to support from the EEA and Norway Grants. More than 100 projects are supported through the NGO Fund, including a help line for young people with psychological problems.

A project aiming to create a greener city is underway in the city of Koszalin in Poland, with support from the Polish NGO fund. This short film shows how the project contributes to achieving a more environmentally friendly city and more healthy citizens.

NGO fund managers from 12 beneficiary states gathered in Oslo on 16 and 17 of June to discuss experiences and the way forward. The conference was organised by the Norwegian Helsinki Committee and the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Non-governmental organisations are engines of change and development in modern society. Funding more than 1 000 NGO projects, the EEA and Norway Grants are today primary supporters of civil society in Central and Southern Europe.

With support from the EEA and Norway Grants, the Hungarian NGO fund is blowing new life into the country`s civil society sector. One of the initiatives supported by the fund is a project to protect women from trafficking and prostitution.

The signing ceremony of grant agreements with non-governmental organisations awarded funding under the third call for proposals for the Czech NGO fund took place in Prague on 30 June.

Tactile stimulation, taught by an NGO supported by the EEA and Norway Grants, brings Latvian parents closer to connecting with their disabled children.

As a celebration of Norwegian-Polish solidarity, the Norwegian folk music group Streif performed between 7 and 13 June at Polish cultural heritage sites renovated by the EEA and Norway Grants.

The Norway Grants have partnered with SOS Children`s Villages to help orphaned and abandoned children find a new family and home in southern Estonia. On 15 June, construction works began on 3 new family homes in Põltsamaa.

The Slovenian scholarship, research and expert exchange fund has announced an open call for proposals for mobility projects, making available some €1.2 million euros in funding.

More than €3.2 million in grants for regional policy projects is now available for local, regional and national authorities in Lithuania.

More than €3.2 million in grants for regional policy projects is now available for local, regional and national authorities in Lithuania.

Many European countries battle stagnating student mobility. But while overall numbers may drop, the EEA and Norway Grants give important stimulus to student exchanges from Central and Southern Europe to Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway.

The suspensions of payments to Bulgarian projects supported by the EEA Grants have been lifted following the replacement of an implementation agency.

Earmarked funds for cultural cooperation projects between Poland and the EEA EFTA states are now available in Poland.

A nationwide campaign to encourage Polish citizens to cast their vote in the European Parliament elections has named the Polish municipality Podkowa Leśna "the Heart of Europe" after recording Poland's highest voter turnout at 50.8 percent.

International cooperation within the field of academic research is particularly important for long-term social and economic progress. New insight is produced by sharing resources, ideas, knowledge and experience.

Eight academic research funds have been established under the EEA and Norway Grants. The funds support a broad spectrum of research activities, with a special focus on environment, sustainable development and health.

Norway has announced that it will allocate €140 million to carbon capture and storage projects in selected beneficiary states under the next round of EEA and Norway Grants.

The EEA and Norway Grants status report 2009 highlights the major achievements of the social and economic development projects that Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway support in Central and Southern Europe.

Nine projects have been approved under the Polish Cultural Exchange Fund after its second call for proposals. 18 Norwegian and Icelandic entities are now set to engage in cooperation projects with Polish cultural institutions.

Several hundred children turned out at the newly renovated sport facilities of the Estonian coastal town of Haapsalu on 7 May for a relay bringing together Estonian and Norwegian aspiring athletes.

The Zoltan Magyary Postdoctoral Fellowship has now announced its second open call for proposals, making available some €390,000 for young researchers with international experience.

An additional €16 million have been distributed to 10 funds under the EEA and Norway Grants, enabling them to support additional projects.

The EEA and Norway Grants were thoroughly represented at the Forum of European Funds in Warsaw on 7-8 May 2009.

1250 projects, programmes and funds of a total value of €1.230 billion are now set to benefit from financial support through the EEA and Norway Grants. Environmental protection and efforts to preserve our common cultural heritage make up the largest groups of beneficiaries.

More than 1 in 5 projects are implemented in collaboration with partners from Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway. Entities from the donor states are involved in some 300 partnership projects accross Central and Southern Europe.

April 2009 saw the approval of the first EEA Grants projects in Bulgaria, Greece, and Romania*. In total, 140 Bulgarian, Greek and Romanian projects have been approved, making up some €100 million in project support.

5,000 seedlings and an EEA and Norway Grants project put the environment into the limelight in Warsaw's city park.

Today, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway committed the remaining funding of the EEA and Norway Grants 2004-2009. 1249 projects, programmes and funds in the 15 beneficiary states are supported to reduce economic and social disparities in Europe.

The Financial Mechanism Committee has resumed approval of Bulgarian applications, on the condition that the Central Finance and Contracts Unit (CFCU) will be replaced by another implementing agency for the EEA Grants.

The NGO Fund in Romania has launched its second open call for project proposals, making available nearly €3 million to civil society organisations in the country.

Today, vast amounts of food is lost to spoilage and waste in Europe. In a bid to tackle this problem, the Polish NGO fund is supporting a campaign to raise awareness of the environmental, financial and social impacts of food waste.

Through the EEA and Norway Grants close to 200 cultural heritage projects receive support from Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway. The support goes to renovation of historical monuments, arts and documents, making these available to the public and future generations.

Many pieces of cultural heritage in the Czech Republic would have been subject to complete deterioration without the EEA and Norway Grants. The review finds the support from Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway to have a significant and positive impact on the preservation of European cultural heritage in the Czech Republic.

Through 19 NGO funds supported by the EEA and Norway Grants, smaller and easily-accessible grants are made available to non-governmental organisations. Support to a fragile civil society is one of the cornerstones of the EEA and Norway Grants.

The initial chapter of the EEA and Norway Grants closes in end-April when the approval of projects comes to an end. At the same time, we flip to a new chapter with more than 1100 projects in implementation.

Women in Warsaw struggling to find work are offered a chance to improve their skills and self-esteem in a project supported by the Polish NGO fund under the EEA and Norway Grants.

Polish and Norwegian artists are sharing ideas on constructing tailored spaces of living for artists in residencies at institutions, with support from the Cultural Exchange Fund under the EEA and Norway Grants.

Through the EEA and Norway grants, 160 health and childcare projects in Central and Southern Europe are receiving grant support from Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway.

The Polish NGO fund has released its last open call for projects in the area of Democracy and Civil Society. Applications can be submitted until 29 April 2009.

The Financial Mechanism Office (FMO), the secretariat of the EEA and Norway Grants, is announcing a tender for monitoring agents.

Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway contribute to Poland`s environmental efforts through the EEA and Norway Grants. The support to energy renovate public buildings cuts energy consumption and CO2 emissions.

The largest fund financed by the EEA and Norway Grants is the Polish NGO fund. For the time being it has ongoing calls for projects concerning environmental protection and sustainable development, as well as equal opportunities and social integration. In the future, we might also see funds specifically targeting social dialogue.

The largest fund financed by the EEA and Norway Grants is the Polish NGO fund. For the time being it has ongoing calls for projects concerning environmental protection and sustainable development, as well as equal opportunities and social integration. In the future, we might also see funds specifically targeting social dialogue.

The largest fund financed by the EEA and Norway Grants is the Polish NGO fund. For the time being it has ongoing calls for projects concerning environmental protection and sustainable development, as well as equal opportunities and social integration. In the future, we might also see funds specifically targeting social dialogue.

The final report outlining the impact of the Financial Mechanism 1994-1998 has now been launched.

Lithuania and Poland has chosen to use parts of the EEA and Norway Grants on preventing cancer and raising quality of life for cancer patients.

The FMO has now launched fact sheets on all priority sectors under the EEA and Norway Grants, outlining the impact of the €1.3 billion grant support from Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway.

Through the EEA and Norway Grants, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway are supporting more than 200 environmental projects in Central and Southern Europe. Support to energy efficiency and renewable energy make up the most significant contribution.

The Lithuanian fund for local and regional development has announced an open call for proposals. The fund will strengthen ties between Lithuania and Norway.

On 6 January 2009, the Cultural Exchange Fund in Poland released its second open call for projects by cultural operators in Poland and the EEA EFTA states.

Demonstrating an impressive knowledge of Norwegian Christmas traditions, children from more than 120 Polish schools submitted art works to a Christmas competition arranged by the Polish Scholarship and Training Fund. On 18 December, four winners received their awards at the Norwegian Embassy in Warsaw.

The Czech NGO fund has launched a new website in order to provide a better overview of the fund's efforts to support civil society in the Czech Republic.

The newly established Cypriot NGO Fund was officially launched in Nicosia on 9 December. "We hope the fund will encourage long-term co-operation and understanding between the two communities in Cyprus," said Norwegian political advisor Gry Larsen, speaking at the event.

The Czech NGO fund has launched its third and last call for proposals, making available €1.9 million to civil society organisations in the Czech Republic.

A large conference was held in Warsaw on 3 December, summing up some of the results so far from the implementation of the EEA and Norway Grants in Poland. The Norwegian Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Elisabeth Walaas, characterised the development of relations between the two countries as a "silent revolution".

On 1 December 2008, a €1.5 million NGO fund was established in Cyprus under the EEA and Norway Grants.

The FMO launches a series of new fact sheets to highlight the impact of the project support provided by Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway.

Closing in on five years with the EEA and Norway Grants, Poland has more than 320 projects in implementation. This week, a conference is due to sum up the initial results of the project support from Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway.

Greece increases national co-financing of all projects to 50 %, making it possible to support 50 projects under the EEA Grants.

A €2.3 million fund has been set up in Slovakia under the EEA and Norway Grants to boost civil society participation in tackling challenges related to sustainable development. The third round of grants for Slovak NGOs and other civil society entities opened on 19 November.

On 12 September 2008, the Slovene town of Tržič inaugurated its new cultural centre. The centre is a part of the Lively Old Town project, which seeks to bring life back to the towns of the Gorenjska region.

On 12 September 2008, the Slovene town of Tržic saw the inauguration of its new cultural centre. The centre is a part of the Lively Old Town project, which seeks to bring life back to the towns of the Gorenjska region.

Some of the 200 Czech students and teachers who have studied or worked in Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway under the Czech scholarship fund are sharing their experiences in a new publication.

The Czech NGO fund supports two projects to encourage intercultural communication and understanding in the Eastern Czech Republic.

On 25 September, a joint Czech-Norwegian conference in Prague enabled universities to pool experiences on the topic of disabled students.

The €13.4 million Polish Scholarship and Training Fund, jointly set up by Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Poland to enhance educational cooperation and boost student exchanges, opens a second round of grants on 1 October.

More than 630 students and staff from Poland, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway are set to benefit from the €13.3 million Polish scholarship fund this autumn.

The Slovak NGO fund for human rights launched its second call for NGO grants on 16 September, making over €900,000 in project support available for Slovak NGOs.

Poland’s €1.2 million HOMING programme supports 47 projects that aim to encourage young Polish scientists to return to Poland after an extended research stay abroad.

Through the €2.8 million Czech schools and scholarship fund, 21 cooperation programmes between Czech schools and partners in Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway are now underway.

Estonia's efforts to combat communicable diseases such as HIV and AIDS are supported through the Norway Grants. This week Norway's Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre visited one of the four Estonian projects targeting communicable diseases.

The number of students from Central and Eastern Europe in Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway has increased significantly with the €21 million scholarship funds under the EEA and Norway Grants.

The Slovene town Jesenice has applied a €1.2 million grant from Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway to renovate its old town square and turn it into a local social venue.

As heavy rains caused floods in Slovakia in late July and early August, the northeastern village Nižný Slavkov avoided damage thanks to funding for flood protection from Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway.

A €5 million NGO Fund is now in place under the EEA Grants in Romania to help scale up the response by civil society organisations to European disparities. The fund`s first call for proposals was opened on 31 July.

Tábor Botanical Garden has renewed 500 metres of pathway, created aviaries for handicapped birds, and planted 1300 trees and plants with support from the EEA and Norway Grants.

The Polish €41.5 million NGO fund, supported by a €37.5 million grant from Norway, Liechtenstein and Iceland, has released a short film to showcase its progress made in promoting democracy and civil society in Poland.

A Polish-Norwegian project to spur organic farming and eco-tourism is now up and running between the rivers Bug and Narew, east of Warsaw.

Czech farmers are keen to swap to sustainable farming methods, and the Czech NGO Bioinstitut has been awarded a €45,000 grant under the Czech NGO fund to ease the farmers' transition.

The NGO Podané ruce has received close to €50,000 under the Czech NGO fund to fund their current work with disadvantaged youth in Olomouc in eastern Czech Republic.

A €2.3 million NGO fund was launched at a conference in Tallinn on 22 November, along with the fund’s first call for project proposals from NGOs and social partners.

A conference on the priority sector regional policy in Malbork and Gdañsk on 18 and 19 October put the shotlight on the important role of both the EU structural funds and the the EEA Grants in promoting regional growth in Poland.

The €1.2 million Polish HOMING Programme, set up to avoid Polish brain-drain, concluded its second award round on 9 October with a ceremony at Warsaw University that saw 16 young scholars living and working abroad receiving grants that will enable them to return to Poland.

With the first of 38 project agreements signed on 20 September 2007 for the approved projects under the Latvian NGO Fund, the fund's manager is now busy concluding the remaining agreements from the first call for proposals and preparing a second call for NGO projects.

On 13 June, 79 Czech non-governmental organisations signed contracts with the Civil Society Development Foundation (NROS), the manager of the NGO fund supported by the EEA Grants in the Czech Republic, marking the completion of the evaluation of applications from the fund's highly popular first call for proposals this spring.

Through the EEA Grants, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Latvia provide Latvian civil society organisations with a versatile €5.85 million NGO fund, including the first substantial source of grants to cover their core activities.