In the period to 2014, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway make available €1.79 billion to development and cooperation programmes benefiting NGOs, research and academic institutions, and the public and private sectors in the beneficiary states.
Project support will be available to applicants in 15 European countries: Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Greece, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia and Spain.
Agreeing national priorities
The EEA and Norway Grants have established a list of 32 programme areas for the funding period 2009-2014. Negotiations are ongoing with individual beneficiary states to select a number of priority areas from this programme menu. The agreed priorities will be set out in country-specific Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs). The negotiations with all 15 beneficiary states are to be finalised during 2011, with most agreements expected to be signed before summer.
MoUs have so far been agreed with Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia.
Open calls for proposals
Following MoU-agreements, the agreed programmes will be established at national level. Grants will be awarded to projects following calls for proposals that will be organised by the respective programme operators in the beneficiary states, most likely starting in 2012. All open calls for proposals will be published on this website. Projects can be awarded support until 30 april 2014 and be implemented until 2016. See timeline
Who can apply for funding?
Eligible applicants for project support include any applicants, public or private, commercial or non-commercial, and non-governmental organisations, established as a legal entity in the respective beneficiary state, as well as international organisations operating in the beneficiary state.
To ensure targeted implementation, a programme operator may be granted the right to limit the pool of eligible applicants. Scholarships and grants for cultural exchanges will be open for individuals.
Partnerships with entities in Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway
Partnerships between entities in the beneficiary states and the three donor states are encouraged and measures will be introduced alongside the launch of the programmes to facilitate these.
