What are the objectives of the Grants?
The EEA and Norway Grants are financial mechanisms established by Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein.
The Donor States are not members of the European Union, but are members of the European Economic Area (EEA). Therefore they do not contribute financially to the common policies of the EU, but thinking in terms of solidarity they help reducing the differences between the countries of the European Economic Area with these separate Grants. The overall objectives of the EEA and Norway Grants are reduction of economic and social disparities and strengthening bilateral relations between the Donor States and the beneficiary states, including Hungary. The beneficiary states of the Norway Grants are the 12 states that joined the European Union since 2004; the EEA Grants additionally gives support to Greece, Spain and Portugal.
What are the differences between the EEA and Norway Grants?
Norway Grants is a fund established by Norway; EEA Grants is a fund established by Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein. In the framework of EEA Grants it is cooperation, exchange of knowledge and know-how with Norwegian, Icelandic and Liechtensteiner organisations that might contribute to strengthening bilateral relations. In the framework of Norwegian Grants partnerships might materialize in common initiatives with Norwegian institutions and organisations.
How does financing work?
The above mentioned funds are also called EEA and Norwegian Financial Mechanisms. Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein signed the Memoranda of Understanding with Hungary on 12 and 14 October 2011 that make 153 million EUR available.
Which areas are supported by the Grants?
Hungary and the Donor States jointly selected 12 areas to the development of which the Donor States are willing to contribute. These are called Programme Areas for which the responsible Programme Operators were also designated in the Memoranda of Understanding
Which are the Programme Areas?
The 7 Programme Areas supported by the EEA Grants are the following: Energy efficiency, Renewable energy, Adaptation to climate change, Civil society – NGO Fund, Children and youth at risk, Conservation of cultural and natural heritage, Scholarships. The 5 Programme Areas supported by the Norway Grants are the following: Green industry innovation, Decent work and tripartite dialogue, Bilateral research cooperation, Capacity-building and institutional cooperation, Public health. Further information on each Programme Area can be found within the menu Programme Areas. Three of the above mentioned programmes are implemented outside the institutional set-up covered by this website, with contribution of the Fund Operators designated directly by the Donor States. These areas of the EEA Grants are Civil Society – NGO Fund, which is also called ‘Norvég Civil Alap' (www.norvegcivilalap.hu), Adaptation to climate change (www.rec.org); and within the Norway Grants Decent work and tripartite dialogue (www.decentwork.no). Further information is available directly on the Fund Operators' websites.
Who can apply?
The circle of eligible applicants is always determined in the given calls. Expectedly there will be calls to which only municipalities, or non-profit organisations, companies, or in certain cases individuals can apply
Who manages the calls for application?
The International Development and Fund Coordination Agency, which operates as the Implementing Agency, manages launching and handling calls, and keeps contact with the applicants of the nine Programme Areas for which Hungary is responsible. To each Programme Area a ‘Programme Operator' is appointed who determines the Programme's objectives and the content of the calls, takes decisions on the granting of financial assistance, and monitors the technical implementationTovábbi információ:
Further information: www.norvegalap.hu
Available Founds
For the 2009-2014 financial programming period in total approximately 153 million euros (approximately 40 billion Hungarian Forints) are allocated to Hungary.
