In the funding period of seven years now closing, more than 800 million euros have been invested in 13 programmes in Poland, covering a wide range of areas. Environment, Energy and Climate Change was the largest programme with a total budget of 171,7 million euros.
Director Maciej Aulak from the Ministry of Development Funds and Regional Policy (Photo Kinga Liwak)
Director Maciej Aulak from the Ministry of Development Funds and Regional Policy, set the tone at the conference by summarising the impactful results of the EEA and Norway Grants, bringing some figures to the audience:
- 1789 projects carried out in Poland, 25% of projects implemented with EU funds.
- 9,500 applications submitted – 5 times more than could be supported.
- 386 young scientists received funding.
- 179 new products and technologies developed.
- 90,000 children were educated on healthy lifestyles.
- 9 immigrant centers received support for children and families.
- 37,000 people at risk of domestic violence received support.
- 200 educational events for 10,000 people.
Konrad Wojnarowski, Deputy Minister of Development Funds and Regional Policy (Photo: Kinga Liwak)
Konrad Wojnarowski, Deputy Minister of Development Funds and Regional Policy took the stage at the conference to pay tribute to the Grants:
“These mechanisms have allowed us not only to reduce socio-economic disparities, but also to build unique relationships with Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein. We are like a matching puzzle - each element of our cooperation creates a coherent and effective whole”, he said.
Wojnarowski went on to highlight the importance of partnership:
“Partnerships between Poland and donor countries go beyond financial support. The cooperation enabled partners from different countries to work together to meet the challenges. From improving energy efficiency and investing in renewables to sustainability, reducing social inequalities in health, and tackling cybercrime, the collaboration has produced results that benefit all parties involved”
State Secretary Maria Varteressian from the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs also took the stage:
“The Grants have transformed lives and communities, and today we celebrate those accomplishments. It is rewarding and impressive to see the positive results and impacts of the Grants here in Poland. The success of the Grants in Poland could not have been achieved without the commitment of individuals on the ground”.
State Secretary Maria Varteressian from the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the stage in Warsaw. (Photo: Konrad Konieczny)
“The cooperation has contributed to building capacities and to fostering Polish-Norwegian relations, partnerships and friendships on many levels. I know that the benefits of mutual exchange for the Norwegian-Norwegian grants are considerable”, she said.
The Grants are not merely a financial mechanism. They are an important framework for the protection and promotion of our shared values. Maria Varteressian, State Secretary, the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs
State Secretary Varteressian highlighted in her speech some of the achievements of the Grants over the past years; Polish and Icelandic artists cooperated in organising exhibitions, concerts and workshops, promoting mutual understanding and preserving our cultural heritage. Thanks to the EEA Grants, historical buildings and theatres have been renovated, showcasing our shared commitment to culture and history. Additionally, Iceland and Poland joined forces on environmental protection and ecosystem conservation projects together with Polish research institutions. The geothermal energy development has been advanced, a testament to Poland's rich natural resources and the countries’ joint dedication to sustainability. Educational exchange programmes for teachers, students and scientists also formed a vital part of the collaboration. These programmes introduced innovative teaching methods, including those focusing on ecology and emerging technologies. Moreover, support was provided to non-governmental organisations, striving to strengthen democracy and uphold the principles of inclusive and civil society, one that impresses everyone.
Photo: ProCompex
The donor country Liechtenstein was represented by Alina Brunhart, First Secretary, Representation of Liechtenstein in Brussels in Warsaw to take part in the celebration:
“Our unity is exemplified by the strong and excellent cooperation within the EEA Grants. The EEA Grants is also an excellent tool to build bilateral relationships and to further strengthen our ties. Liechtenstein played a great role in the education and culture in the last period of the EEA Grants and some wonderful projects were successfully implemented. Well-educated citizens are the backbone of our democratic society and a key component of our resilience in defending the values we fight for all the time”, Ms Brunhart said.
Friðrik Jónsson, the Icelandic Ambassador to Poland was also present to take part in the event:
“Together, today, with our partners and friends, we can proudly say that we have achieved extraordinary success. During this grand period, we collaborated on programmes such as Energy and Climate, Local Development, Business and Innovation, and Culture. Each programme not only met its stated objectives, but also delivered tangible outcomes that have significantly improved the quality of life of many people. The upcoming Funding period promises to set new records in terms of financial resources, enabling us to act even more effectively and forge even more lasting bonds. I am immensely proud that Iceland is a part of this outstanding initiative and that every project, every collaboration and every programme serves a powerful tool for deepening the ties between our nations.”
Photo: Konrad Konieczny
Partners from the donor countries had also flown in to be part of this week’s celebration, also highlighting the importance of cooperating across borders to face today’s major challenges. One of them was Elita Cakule, Head of Internation Projects, the Norwegian Association of Local and Regional Authorities (KS), a Donor Programme Partner with the EEA and Norway Grants.
“Local government in Norway and Poland face major challenges in the years ahead. These challenges require major and rapid changes and clearer political prioritisation on the European level, nationally, regionally and locally. When the challenges are so great, political prioritisation becomes more difficult and more important. Scarce resources must be managed so that future generations also have access to both welfare benefits and to clean environment on our planet.”
“In response to fundamental geopolitical changes and increasing climate change, the EEA and Norway Grants should support building community preparedness and resilience to different types of hazards. We believe, that through strong decentralised bilateral cooperation, we can support European resilience for the next decade of a rapidly changing world”, Ms Cakule said.
Photo: ProCompex
Innovation Norway is both a Donor Programme Partner and a Fund Operator with the Grants. Magnar Ødelien, Programme Director, EEA and Norway Grants at Innovation Norway had this to say about the partnership:
“Innovation Norway has worked with the EEA and Norway Grants and the business and innovation programme in Poland for 10 years now. Together with the programme operator PARP, we have facilitated cooperation and created arenas where Norwegian and Polish companies can meet, exchange knowledge and ideas, and build partnerships. We have witnessed many great Polish-Norwegian partnerships and projects”, Ødelien said.
Toril Tandberg, specialist director at the Norwegian Directorate for Civil Protection (DSB) was also present at the conference in Warsaw. DSB has been a Donor Programme Partner in the Polish Home Affairs Programme, responsible for work related to disaster prevention and preparedness.
"Disaster prevention and preparedness, as well as the protection of the population, are high on the agenda in all European countries. We, therefore, look forward to continued cooperation with Poland in the upcoming period for the EEA and Norway Grants", Tandberg said.
Ragna Fidjestøl, Managing Director at the EEA and Norway Grants, at the conference in Poland. (Photo Kinga Liwak)
Ragna Fidjestøl, Managing Director at the EEA and Norway Grants, was happy to be in Warsaw and take part in the conference and the celebration:
“Today was a special day as we celebrated the excellent work done by Poland under the EEA and Norway Grants since 2017 when the current cooperation agreements were signed. We celebrated our long-standing cooperation with our friends in Poland where partners in thirteen programmes came together to mark the end of an era. We are impressed with the ambitious results achieved in spite of challenging times. We have explored new ways of working in research by piloting IdeaLabs, promoting interdisciplinary cooperation. We have worked together in polar research, building long lasting ties between colleagues in Poland and Norway. We have tested new technologies, including on carbon capture and storage, and we have helped women researchers and women entrepreneurs take the next step in their careers. We have also reached more than 5.000 people with activities hosted by the Polin museum, emphasizing inclusion and the importance of our shared history.
Our cooperation has been strong on the local level, both in helping municipalities adapt to climate change, and in strengthening municipalities’ governance structure, promoting democracy on local level. We have also worked closely with civil society, helping more than 3000 persons get access to their human rights and supporting those most in need. We are also proud that our partners could support Ukrainian refugees, by working with Ukrainian researchers in research projects, by cooperating with municipalities across the Polish border, and by supporting those fleeing war with humanitarian assistance”, she said.
We have so much to build on to expand and deepen our cooperation as we start a new funding period. The Grants have supported more than 1,789 projects over the last years, contributing towards an inclusive, sustainable and resilient society in Poland. Ragna Fidjestøl, Managing Director, EEA and Norway Grants
Find out more about the Grants in Poland here: https://www.eog.gov.pl/en