EEA and Norway Grants Goals, Challenges & Results

Gry Tina TindeBrussels, 18 August 2016

History

• The Agreement on the European Economic Area (EEA) entered into force on 1 January 1994.

• Brings together the 28 EU Member States and the three EEA EFTA States — Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway — in a single market, referred to as the "internal market"

Enlargement

• An enlargement of the EU also entails an enlargement of the EEA.

• Trick(y) question: What about reduction of the EU? (Brexit). This poses a new challenge to European cooperation mechanisms.

Will Great Britain apply tobecome an EFTA and EEA member?

UK Prime Minister Theresa May has said she willnot invoke Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty this year.

Goal

• Reducing disparities in Europe is a core aim of the EEA and Norway Grants.

• While there have been some positive developments during 2015 with a return to growth in the EU, long-term challenges in many of the beneficiary countries remain significant.

• In total, 32 programme areas within different sectors support the goal for the grants.

Funding periods

• Five-year funding schemes • The Financial Mechanism 1994-1998 covered

Greece, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Portugal and Spain.

• €500 million in project support for environmental protection, education and training, and transport.

• In addition, loans worth €1.5 billion with interest rebates in the European Investment Bank (EIB)

Funding periods

• The Financial Mechanism 1999-2003 also covered Greece, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Portugal and Spain.

• €120 million in project support for environmental protection, education and training, and transport.

• About 93% of the funding was spent on projects related to environmental protection.

Funding periods

• The EEA Grants and the Norway Grants 2004-09 were established in connection with the enlargement of the European Union in 2004.

• Ten new EU member states plus Bulgaria and Romania in 2007 – all joined EEA as well.

• The allocation in this five-year period increased to €1.3 billion.

Funding periods

• The EEA Grants and the Norway Grants 2009-14 provided funding to 16 beneficiary countries.

• Croatia joined the EU and EEA in 2013• €1.8 billion in funding• 150 programmes may be implemented until

2016-2017 • Most of the new member states were

considerably below the EU average level of social and economic development

Funding shares and periods

• Norway currently contributes 95.8%, Iceland 3.0% and Liechtenstein 1.2%.

• A total contribution of €2.8 billion has been agreed for 2014-2021.

Rights and cooperation areas

• All EEA countries have the same rights and obligations when it comes to trade and investment, banking and insurance, and buying and selling services.

• All their citizens have the right to work, live and study in any EEA member country.

• The Agreement also covers cooperation in other important areas such as research and innovation, culture, education and the environment.

Eligibility

• Eligibility for the Grants mirrors criteria set for the EU Cohesion Fund aimed at member countries where the Gross National Income per inhabitant is less than 90% of the EU average.

Percentage of Gross NationalIncome per capita of EU average

Areas of support in € million

Annual Report 2015

• Provides an overview of the aims and achievements of the funding provided by Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway in the beneficiary countries in 2015-16.

• The 150-page report highlights migration and research & education.

EEA Norway Grants partners

While Switzerland is a member of EFTA, the country is not part of the EEA Agreement and therefore finances bilateral funding schemes in Europe.

Activities measured

Engaging socially

Engaging socially

Supporting Greece

Supporting Greece

Supporting Poland

Supporting research

Supporting education

Fighting xenophobia, supporting border management

Grant management

Three donor countries

It’s about the people