Norway signs agreement with Estonia on EEA and Norway Grants

The funding Norway provides to Estonia under the Grants scheme is intended to support social and economic development in Estonia and to strengthen cooperation between Norway and Estonia. The agreement was signed in Tallinn. 

A total of EUR 71.8 million has been allocated to Estonia in the coming period. Norway will provide around 97 % of that amount. The remainder will be provided by Iceland and Liechtenstein.

‘Estonia is an increasingly close friend and ally in Europe at a time when we are contending with complex challenges and geopolitical upheaval. This agreement will further strengthen the ties between our two countries in a number of important areas,’ said Minister of Foreign Affairs Espen Barth Eide.

Under the agreement with Estonia, the green transition, crisis prevention and preparedness, health, and business development are identified as priority areas. Among other things, the EEA and Norway Grants are intended to support the development of physical and digital infrastructure to protect and preserve Estonia’s cultural heritage in times of crisis.

Three Norwegian agencies are involved as partners in implementing the programmes: the Directorate for Civil Protection, the Directorate of Health, and Innovation Norway. These agencies are tasked with strengthening cooperation with Estonia in areas such as civil protection, energy efficiency and the circular economy, genetic medicine and sustainable fisheries management.

The agreement with Estonia is the second agreement for the new funding period to be signed with a beneficiary country. The agreement with Poland was entered into in April. Estonian Minister of Finance Jürgen Ligi signed on behalf of Estonia. Iceland and Liechtenstein also signed the agreement.

‘I am pleased that the agreement with Estonia is in place, and we look forward to continuing our close cooperation with Estonia under the EEA and Norway Grants,’ said Mr Eide.

Seeking to reduce social and economic disparities

The aim of Norway’s funding under the EEA and Norway Grants scheme is to reduce social and economic disparities in Europe. In addition, the scheme helps to enhance cooperation between Norway and the beneficiary states. Fifteen countries qualify to receive funding under the EEA and Norway Grants scheme. 

Agreements are drawn up for each beneficiary country that set out a portfolio of programmes to be implemented and specify the partners that will cooperate on programme implementation.

In addition to the individual agreements with each beneficiary state, a separate fund has been set up to support civil society in the beneficiary states. This funding is administered independently of the authorities in each individual country.

• About the EEA and Norway Grants to Estonia