📣 The EEA & Norway grants are coming back with the new 2021-2028 funding period.

Latest highlights: 

- 30 October 2024 - the Memorandum regarding the initiation of negotiations for future non-reimbursable assistance programs related to the European Economic Area (EEA) and Norwegian Financial Mechanisms for the period 2021-2028. 

By approving this regulatory act, the government greenlights the start of negotiations to finalize memorandums of understanding between Romania and the donor states from the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), which will allow Romania to continue accessing non-reimbursable funding through the financial mechanisms of the European Economic Area (EEA) and the Norwegian mechanism for a new programming period of 2021-2028. 

According to the official statement, Romania will receive a gross allocation of €596.25 million (€291.61 million through the Norwegian Financial Mechanism and €304.64 million through the EEA Financial Mechanism) - the second largest allocation after Poland. 

-  13 September 2024 - the public Consultation (Blue Book) has been launched to collect ideas from all stakeholders in the ecosystem. Read more details below.

- 12 September 2024 - The Donor States (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway), and the European Union have signed an agreement on the new funding period for the EEA and Norway Grants. 

Back in Spring 2024, the Commission and EEA EFTA States (Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway) reached an agreement at negotiators' level on the EEA Financial Mechanism 2021-2028. Thus, the Commission and the EEA EFTA states agreed that Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein would contribute with a total of 3.268 billion euro to reduce social and economic disparities and increase cooperation in Europe for the period 2021-2028. 

The three priority areas that have been designated are: 

• European green transition 
• Democracy, rule of law and human rights 
• Social inclusion and resilience 

To support these priorities, 15 programme areas and three dedicated funds have been established.  

These programme areas and funds aim to address common European challenges, foster innovation, and support impactful projects. Notably, this funding period includes a €183 million contribution for projects addressing challenges arising from the Russian invasion of Ukraine. 

Furthermore, the EEA and Norway Grants provide a unique opportunity for partnerships between entities from the Beneficiary States and their counterparts in Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway addressing common European challenges. They enhance international experience and networks, support access to new knowledge, expertise, and facilities, foster innovation, and create forums for developing cooperation to be supported with other funding sources. 

On 13 September 2024 the EEA & Norway grants have launched the Public Consultation on this new funding period (Blue Book).

The draft ‘Blue Book’ outlines the objectives and approaches for each programme area and fund, specifying the areas eligible for support. The beneficiaries of the grants, the funding managers and other stakeholders could have valuable input to the ‘Blue Book’. This consultation therefore offers an opportunity for stakeholders to take account of the current draft of the ‘Blue Book’ and provide input on elements prior to its final publication. 

A participant can be any private person or organisation that have experience with or interest in the EEA and Norway Grants and their objectives. Participants can be situated in beneficiary, donor or third countries, or they can work transnationally across borders.  The consultation process is straightforward and open to all interested parties until October 18, 2024. More info here. 

Innovation Norway will continue the work on the existing programmes and all the bilateral activities planned for 2024. Seeing the results from this period, it is estimated that financing will be available for businesses contributions to the green transition in the future as well.