Bilateral partnerships
The EEA Grants and Norway Grants provide opportunities for strengthening bilateral cooperation between the three donor states – Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway – and the 15 beneficiary states in Central and Southern Europe.
An important aspect of the 2009-14 funding round is the many opportunities afforded under the Grants for strengthening bilateral cooperation. To enhance partnership and exchange, many programmes now involve cooperation between public authorities in the donor and beneficiary states at the programme level. Bilateral partnerships continue to be encouraged at project level.
| The agreements between Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway and the EU on the EEA and Norway Grants 2009-14 make the objective of 'strengthening bilateral relations' between the donor states and the 15 beneficiary state equal to that of reducing disparities. 'Strengthened bilateral relations' is defined as: Cooperation, joint results and increased mutual knowledge and understanding between donor and beneficiary states as a function of the EEA and Norway Grants. |
Bilateral partnerships at both programme and project levels:
• Programme partnerships
More than 70 programmes of the estimated 135 programmes will be carried out in partnership between a donor-state entity and a programme operator in the beneficiary state.
In these, the national operators of the programmes in the beneficiary state cooperate with one or several public entities from Iceland, Liechtenstein or Norway in programme development and implementation. The programme partner plays an advisory role and helps facilitate bilateral partnership projects.
• Project partnerships and bilateral funds
Bilateral partnership projects are encouraged within all programmes. Entities from Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway may participate as partners in a project managed by a lead applicant from one of the beneficiary states.
Funding will be made available both at the national level and in all programmes in order to support networking and stimulate partnerships in projects.
