21 March 2019
General information
In order to continue a close co-operation between European countries in trade area the European Economic Area (EEA) was established. The EEA Agreement entered into force on 1 January 1994. The EEA comprises of 25 EU Member States and three EEA European Free Trade Association (EFTA) States: Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway.
The ten new Member States were eligible for assistance from new EEA Financial Mechanism and Norwegian Financial Mechanism (Financial Mechanisms). The EEA Financial Mechanism’s assistance was also granted to Spain, Portugal and Greece. The objective of the assistance was to contribute to the reduction of social and economic disparities within the EEA, and to support the new European Union Member States in their efforts to participate fully in the enlarged internal market. The Financial Mechanisms’ commitment period was 5 years - from 1 May 2004 to 30 April 2009, but the project implementation period - till 30 April 2011. The EEA Financial Mechanism’s assistance was provided by Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein. The Norwegian Financial Mechanism’s assistance was provided by Norway.
In order to ensure the implementation of the Norwegian Financial Mechanism and the EEA Financial Mechanism two Memorandums of Understanding - between the Kingdom of Norway and the Republic of Latvia (on the subject of the Norwegian Financial Mechanism) and between the Republic of Iceland, the Principality of Liechtenstein, the Kingdom of Norway and the Republic of Latvia (on the subject of the EEA Financial Mechanism) have been signed in December 2004.
Publication "Investing in people. EEA and Norway grants projects in Latvia 2004-2009"
Donorstates’ Status Report (2011) regarding achieved results in the implementation of the Norwegian Financial Mechanism and the EEA Financial Mechanism in Beneficiary States.
Priority sectors
Latvian EEA Financial Mechanism's priorities are set in the Annex B of the EEA Financial Mechanism's Memorandum of Understanding and the Norwegian Financial Mechanism's priorities - in the Annex B of the Norwegian Financial Mechanism's Memorandum of Understanding. The specific forms of grant assistance are mentioned in Annex C of Memorandums of Understanding (see Documents).
Financing
19 740 000 Euro from EEA Financial Mechanism was allocated for Latvia in period of time 2004 till 2009, from which 4% was deducted for the management costs of the donor states, and then 1,5% was deducted for the approval, monitoring and post - evaluation carried out by donor states.
34 020 000 Euro was available from the Norwegian Financial Mechanism, from which 4% was deducted for the management costs of the donor states, and then 1,5% was deducted for the approval, monitoring and post - evaluation carried out by donor states.
Wherewith 18 666 144 Euro from EEA Financial Mechanism was available for implementation of individual projects, programmes and block grants, but 31 834 215 Euro from Norwegian Financial Mechanism, and 50 500 359 Euro in total from both mechanisms.
Allocation (EUR)
| EEA Financial Mechanism | Norwegian Financial Mechanism | Total | |
| Total allocation | 19 740 000 | 34 020 000 | 53 760 000 |
| Management costs of the donor states (NOR-5 %; EEA-4%) | 789 600 | 1 701 000 | 2 490 600 |
| Costs of appraisal, monitoring, ex-post evaluations carried out by donor states (1.5%) | 284 256 | 484 785 | 769 041 |
| Total available financing for implementation of individual projects, programmes and block grants | 18 666 144 | 31 834 215 | 50 500 359 |
Specific forms of Grant assistance (MoUs Annex C)
| Title | EEA Financial Mechanism | Norwegian Financial Mechanism | Total, EUR |
| Available amount, EUR | Available amount, EUR | ||
| NGO block grant | 2 517 145 | 2 510 106 | 5 027 251 |
| Scholarship grant scheme | 745 811 | 745 812 | 1 491 623 |
| Technical assistance fund | 580 998 | 580 997 | 1 161 995 |
| Seed money fund | 227 985 | 227 985 | 455 970 |
| Short term expert fund | - | 1 097 230 | 1 097 230 |
| Specific forms of Grant assistance, Total | 4 071 939 | 5 162 130 | 9 234 069 |
Individual projects (MoUs Annex B)
| Title | EEA Financial Mechanism | Norwegian Financial Mechanism | Total, EUR | From both Financial Mechanisms, % |
| Available amount, EUR | Available amount, EUR | |||
| Protection of environment | 1 778 858 | 1 147 702 | 2 926 560 | 8,99 |
| Sustainable development | 1 625 546 | 769 304 | 2 394 850 | 7,36 |
| Conservation of European heritage | 2 027 327 | 782 421 | 2 809 748 | 8,63 |
| Health | 2 415 559 | 1 657 197 | 4 072 756 | 12,51 |
| Children with special need | 1 049 091 | 489 093 | 1 538 184 | 4,72 |
| Human resources development and education | 1 116 096 | 2 621 690 | 3 737 786 | 11,48 |
| Schengen | - | 2 881 158 | 2 881 158 | 8,85 |
| Judiciary | - | 6 651 429 | 6 651 429 | 20,43 |
| Regional policy and development of economic activity | - | 5 547 011 | 5 547 011 | 17,03 |
| All priorities, Total | 10 012 477 | 22 547 005 | 32 559 482 | 100,00 |
Programmes and Block Grants (MoUs Annex B)
| Title | EEA Financial Mechanism | Norwegian Financial Mechanism | Total, EUR |
| Available amount, EUR | Available amount, EUR | ||
| Academic Research | 450 254 | - | 450 254 |
| Cross-border cooperation | - | 2 329 890 | 2 329 890 |
| Strengthening civil society and promotion of the integration of society | 650 000 | - | 650 000 |
| Environmental policy integration programme in Latvia | 3 481 412 | - | 3 481 412 |
| Promotion of development of public or private partnership in Latvia | - | 1 795 068 | 1 795 068 |
| Programmes and Block Grants, Total | 4 581 666 | 4 124 958 | 8 706 624 |
Last changes:
10 July 2012
© Ministry of Finance. Info: grants@fm.gov.lv