About

EEA and Norway Grants

The EEA and Norway Grants are Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway's contribution to reducing economic and social disparities in the European Economic Area and to the strengthening of bilateral relations between the donor states and the 15 beneficiary states in Central and Southern Europe. Norway provides around 97% of the total funding.

Background

The Agreement on the European Economic Area allows the EEA EFTA States (Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway) to participate in the Internal Market and includes a goal to reduce social and economic disparities in the enlarged European Economic Area (EEA).

Ever since the EEA Agreement entered into force in 1994, the EEA EFTA States have contributed to social and economic cohesion in the least prosperous countries in the EEA through various financial mechanisms (the Financial Mechanism (1994-1998), the Financial Instrument (1999-2003), and the EEA and Norway Grants 2004-2009).

The enlargements of the EU and the EEA in 2004 and 2007 required a substantial increase in the contribution towards European cohesion. The 10 new members from 2004, as well as Bulgaria and Romania who joined in 2007, had a GDP level below the EU average. The contribution increased 10-fold.

EEA and Norway Grants 04-09

In the period 2004-2009, €1.3 billion was made available to 15 beneficiary states; the 12 newest EU member states, Greece, Portugal and Spain. Country allocations were based on population size and GDP per capita, making Poland the largest beneficiary state, followed by Hungary, Romania and the Czech Republic.

Following open calls in the beneficiary states, grants were awarded to 1250 projects, programmes funds managed by central and local governments, research and academic institutions, non-governmental organisations and businesses. 

• Project portal: summaries of all supported projects, videos and picture galleries
• Status Report 2010: highlights the cooperation taking place at project level between entities in the donor states and the 15 beneficiary states.

EEA and Norway Grants 09-14

Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway and the European Union have agreed that €1.79 billion in new financial contributions will be made available in the period 2009-14, within areas such as environmental protection, climate change and renewable energy, research and education, justice and home affairs, civil society, and promotion of decent work and tripartite dialogue.

Frequently Asked Questions about the EEA and Norway Grants 09-14.