2010

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.

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