THE EEA GRANTS

The Financial Mechanisms aim to reduce social and economic disparities within the European Economic Area (EEA), and to enable all EEA countries to participate fully in the Internal Market.

Through the EEA Financial Mechanism, the three EEA-EFTA states Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway will make a total €600 million available to the 10 countries that joined the EU and the EEA in May 2004, as well as to Greece, Portugal and Spain. Through the Norwegian Financial Mechanism, Norway will make an additional €567 million available to the 10 countries that joined the EU and the EEA in 2004. Both mechanisms run over a five-year period until 2009. Norway, as the largest of the three donors, will contribute with close to €1.14 billion. The EEA Financial Mechanism will also make available €72 million to Bulgaria and Romania, which joined the EEA in 2007, over a two-year period until 2009, while Norway will contribute an additional €68 million to the two new EEA members over the same period through bilateral cooperation programmes.

Quick facts about the EEA GRANTS in Slovakia

Total allocation from the EEA Grants: €32.3 million
Total allocation from the Norway Grants: €37.9 million
Total allocation: €70.2 million
Priority Sectors: Environment, Sustainable development, Cultural heritage, Human resources, Health and childcare, Schengen acquis, Cross-border activities, Acquis Communautaire, Academic research

EEA Financial Mechanism Memorandum of Understanding signed: March 2005
Norwegian Financial Mechanism Memorandum of Understanding signed: January 2005
National Focal Point = Government Office of the Slovak Republic