In the years ahead, important areas of cooperation will be business and innovation and climate change. Funding will also be used to develop cross-border cooperation between Slovakia and Ukraine.
Slovakia MoU EEA Grants 2014-2021 (in force as of 29 November 2016)
Slovakia MoU Norway Grants 2014-2021 (in force as of 29 November 2016)
“As a result of the EEA and Norway Grants, there has been an upswing in cooperation between Norway and Slovakia. We will build on what has been achieved so far, and will promote cooperation in new areas,” says Norwegian Minister of EEA and EU Affairs Elisabeth Vik Aspaker.
The representatives of the three donor countries and Slovakia’s Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, Miroslav Lajčák, signed the MoUs on the EEA and Norway Grants in Bratislava today.
More than EUR 113 million has been allocated to a total of nine funds and programmes in Slovakia. In line with the donor countries’ priorities, business development and innovation, as well as climate change mitigation and adaptation are priority sectors of cooperation. Other programmes will include combating domestic and gender-based violence, culture and improving the situation of the Roma population. The civil society will continue to receive substantial funding in the funding period.
Strengthening bilateral relations
The donor countries’ work to develop cross-border cooperation between Slovakia and Ukraine will also be continued under the agreements. The Norwegian Barents Secretariat will continue to be a donor partner in this cooperation.
Altogether, 10 public agencies and institutions from the donor countries will be involved in the implementation of the programmes, and will be responsible for recruiting donor country partners to projects.
“The agreements with Slovakia provide an excellent opportunity for Norwegian actors that would like to participate in creating a green, competitive and inclusive Europe,” says Minister Aspaker.
Overview of programmes
Programme Partner(s) Allocation (EUR million) Business Development, Innovation and SMEsInnovation Norway (Fund Operator)
Norwegian Centre for International Cooperation in Education (SIU)
National Agency of International Education Affairs (AIBA)
20.0 Social Dialogue – Decent Work Innovation Norway (Fund Operator) 0.58 Local Development, Poverty Reduction and Roma Inclusion 15.0 Climate Change Mitigation and AdaptationThe Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Directorate (NVE)
Norwegian Directorate for Civil Protection and Emergency Planning (DSB)
Norwegian Environment Agency (NEA)
16.0 Cultural Entrepreneurship, Cultural Heritage and Cultural CooperationDirectorate of Cultural Heritage (RA)
Arts Council of Norway (ACN)
17.5 Civil Society 9.0 Good Governance, Accountable Institutions, Transparency and Cross-border Cooperation Norwegian Barents Secretariat 8.5 Domestic and Gender-based Violence Norwegian Directorate of Health 9.0 Bilateral Fund 2.26 Reserve 5.08About the EEA and Norway Grants
Through the European Economic Area (EEA) Agreement, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway are partners in the European internal market. The EEA Agreement sets out the common goal of working together to reduce social and economic disparities in Europe and strengthen cooperation between European countries. Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway contribute to this through the EEA and Norway Grants.
Keep an eye on the website for updates on the EEA and Norway Grants 2014-2021.
Read the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ press release on the signing with Slovakia