Norwegian Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre informed his Greek counterpart Stavros Lambrinidis of the donor states’ decision during a meeting in Oslo 8 August.
- The measures taken by the Greek authorities make it possible to resume payments, said Gahr Støre.
Payments were suspended due to lack of Greek co-funding to projects and lack of documentation on payments already made. Greece has now reorganised and improved its payment system, and the donors hope that the projects financed under the EEA Grants 2004-09 can be completed in a satisfactory manner.
The donors and Greece also agree in principle on priorities and implementing structures for the EEA Grants 2009-14 and a formal agreement could be signed in the near future. Greece has been allocated €63.4 million in EEA Grants for the five-year period, and key areas of funding will be asylum and migration, environment and civil society.
Photo: Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs