2008

The Regional Development fund in Estonia launched a €1.9 million call for proposals today. Grants will be awarded to projects that will develop public services, increase cooperation among regional stakeholders and improve the economic sustainability of Estonian regions.

On 15 December, €800,000 in project funding was made available to Slovak NGOs working within the field of social inclusion.

The Estonian NGO fund launches fourth call for projects by non governmental organisations.

The EEA and Norway Grants supported NGO fund in Estonia concludes third application round and awards €400,000 in grants to 28 projects.

Polish non-profit organisations can now apply for grants to implement partnership projects with entities in the EEA EFTA states, Baltic Sea countries, and countries neighbouring Poland to the east.

By the end of the commitment period in April 2009, approximately 1200 grants will have been provided through the EEA and Norway Grants to projects across Central and Southern Europe. Given the large number of grants, measures have been established in close cooperation between the donor states and the 15 beneficiary states to oversee both the implementation of the projects and programmes as well as the disbursement of grants.

Estonia`s €3.8 million fund for regional development has concluded its first open call. Grants have been awarded to 22 projects seeking to increase the attractiveness and competitiveness of Estonian regions and local authorities.

The NGO funds in Bulgaria and Romania closed their first calls for proposals in October, and the fund managers are now busy evaluating the close to 700 submitted applications.

The second and final tranche of funding under the €1.8 million NGO Fund in Slovenia was made available on 11 July to Slovene NGO applicants.

Estonia's €2.3 million NGO Fund concluded its second call for NGO projects in July, awarding €400,000 in grants to 31 NGO projects.

On 21 July 2008, Bulgaria launched its first open call under the €2 million NGO Fund supported by Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway.

On 7 July Slovak environmental NGOs received a second tranche of €0.7 million in support for their sustainable development projects.

On 1 July, Bulgaria became the eleventh country to launch a fund for non-governmental organisations (NGOs) with support from Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein.

On 9 June, the €6.5 million Hungarian NGO fund closed its first open call for NGO projects.

Estonia's second call for projects this spring will be rounded off in July, when grants amounting to approximately €400,000 will be committed to NGO projects across the country.

The preliminary results of the Bulgaria's €17 million open call for projects this spring was concluded with a press conference on 28 May. Bulgarian Minister of Finance Plamen Oresharski expressed belief that the projects to be supported under the EEA Grants would contribute to strengthening Bulgaria's capacity in Europe.

Slovakia launched its third and final call for individual project proposals on 5 May 2008, making €27 million available for Slovak public sector and non governmental organisations (NGOs).

The evaluation of the projects submitted in response to the first open call under the €2.3 million Estonian NGO Fund has been completed, and grants will be awarded to 27 projects from all across Estonia.

On 10 April a €6.5 million NGO Fund established to support Hungarian civil society was launched in Budapest.

On 15 April, €1.3 million was made available through the Polish cultural exchange fund to support cultural cooperation between Poland and the EEA EFTA states.

The €1.1 million Portuguese NGO fund to promote environmental protection and sustainable development launched its open call for proposals on 15 April 2008.

On 3 April the €1.2 million NGO Fund in Portugal aimed at gender equality and active citizenship held a seminar for NGOs eager to apply for grants.

The €1.6 million Hungarian fund established to protect the environment surrounding Lake Balaton, Central-Europe's largest fresh water lake, launched its call for NGO projects on 2 April 2008.

The first call for applications under Lithuania's NGO Fund was launched on 15 March and project proposals can be submitted until 15 May.

The second tranche of a €2.3 million NGO Fund to strengthen Estonian civil society was launched on 22 February. Estonian NGOs and social partners can apply for grant support until 22 April.

Supporting technical assistance and academic research are the overarching goals of two newly launched funds in the Czech Republic. Both the €2.1 million Technical Assistance Fund and the €4.8 million Research Support Fund are now announcing their open calls for proposals.

A €1 million NGO Fund in Portugal that aims to promote gender equality and help the young to become active citizens launched its first call on 25 February 2008.

Poland launched its third and final call for individual project proposals on 1 February 2008, making €60.6 million available to Polish NGOs, public and private sector bodies.

Over €17 million in funding for individual projects was made available on 23 January 2008 to Bulgarian NGOs, public and private sector bodies. The call is also open for partnership projects with institutions from Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway.

An information meeting on the EEA Grants will be held in Prague on 8-9 January to present possibilities for grant support under the ongoing €19.4 million third and final call for individual project proposals.