EEA
Between 2009 and 2014 Norway will contribute €347 million (around NOK 3 billion) to social and economic equality measures and cooperation in Europe.
The transfers will be made under the provisions of two different agreements: a European Economic Area (EEA) financing scheme of which all three EFTA nations are members and an exclusively Norwegian scheme.
The recipient countries are Estonia, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, the Czech Republic and Hungary. Bulgaria and Romania joined the scheme in 2007. In addition to all of the most recent members of the EU, Greece, Portugal and Spain are also part of the scheme.
The recipient countries are responsible for planning, implementing and following up projects and programmes. For more information about EEA schemes in general, please visit the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' Europe Gateway on the internet.
The Fund
Some of the EEA financing is earmarked for specific funds, each of which has a national fund manager. Such funds may be for NGOs, fellowships and training, for cultural purposes or for technical or professional assistance.
Individuals and institutions in recipient countries may apply for support from the fund, but in many cases a Norwegian or EFTA partner is also required. Norwegian participants can thus also benefit from the fund through partnerships with other institutions, even though they cannot apply directly themselves.
SIU is the national point of contact for the fellowship and training fund, and we collaborate with the fund managers in the other countries in providing information and guidance, which SIU also offers to Norwegian participants.
You can find out more about the fellowships and training fund by following these links: