EEA and Norway Grants Launched for 2014-2021

Sofia, February 10 (BTA) - Bulgarian and foreign institutions and organizations from Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein launched the implementation in Bulgaria of the Economic European Area Financial Mechanism (EEA) and the Norwegian Financial Mechanism (NFM) in the 2014-2021 period, the government information service said.

The event was opened by Caretaker Deputy Prime Minister in charge of EU funds and Kare Eltervag, EEA and NFM counsellor at the Norwegian Embassy in Bucharest for Romania, Bulgaria and Moldova.

Under the two mechanisms Bulgaria will tap 210.1 million euro for funding of projects in a number of key areas for the country.

Krumova said that during the last year Bulgaria had agreed the national priorities and the managing national authorities by signing the memorandums of understanding. She added that now the concepts for each of the approved areas will be prepared.

Krumova also said that the thorough implementation of the financial mechanisms will depend on the work in the coming months. The main goal during the preparation of the programmes is to define the measures which in the most efficient ways will contribute to reducing social and economic disparities across the European Economic Area and will advance bilateral relations between Bulgaria and the donor countries.

The EEA Mechanisms will make available 115 million euro to fund projects for local development and poverty reduction, energy efficiency and security, environmental protection and cultural entrepreneurship. Under the Norwegian Financial Mechanism 95.2 million euro will be channeled into business development, innovations and small and medium sized business, justice and home affairs. In addition, 15.5 million euro will be set aside to find civil society projects and nearly 1 million euro will be donated to initiatives for tripartite cooperation and dignified working conditions.