The European Economic Area (EEA) was created by means of an agreement negotiated between the EU and seven member countries of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) and signed in May 1992. At present, only Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein maintain their participation in the EEA.
As a result of the Agreement, the three EEA EFTA states share in the four freedoms associated with the EU but must also satisfy certain conditions, including that of contributing to the funding of projects. Through the EEA Enlargement Agreement, two new financing instruments were established - the EEA and the Norway Grants.
Through the EEA Grants, the three EEA EFTA states have made €600 million available for projects in the 10 new EU members, and to Greece, Portugal and Spain. Additionally Norway has made €567 million available to projects in the 10 new member states through the Norway Grants. Thus, a total of € 1.17 billion have been made available for projects in the priority sectors of the Grants for the period 2004-2009.
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Objectives
Through the Grants, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway contribute towards:
Solidarity, by reducing the social and economic disparities in the newly enlarged EEA;
Opportunity, by helping new EEA members become fully integrated in the Internal Market;
Cooperation, by bringing old and new EEA members together and opening new arenas for political and economic relations.
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Principles, Rules and Regulations
The beneficiary states set priorities and propose, develop and implement projects. In order to ensure the effective implementation of the Grants, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) is concluded between the EFTA states and each Beneficiary state. There is one MoU for each of the Grants.
The EEA and Norway Grants have a no-tolerance policy on corruption and/or mis-management of funds. This is line with good governance and the principles of openness, transparency and accountability. Furher information is available through this
link.
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The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU )
Specifies the target areas to which particular attention is to be paid;
Establishes the specific form of grant assistance;
Outlines the arrangements for managing the projects;
Establishes a framework for co-operation;
Institutes a National Focal Point (NFP) that will co-ordinate all applications and follow up all projects within each beneficiary state. The NFP also ensures that information about the available funds and grants is made public in the beneficiary state;
Recommends adherence to EEA legislation. The rules on public procurement, state aid and competition are particularly relevant.
In order to be eligible, the recipient must provide a share of the total financing from other sources (15% in the case of public-sector projects and 40% in the case of private-sector projects).
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Priorities
The Grants support projects implemented in the various Beneficiary States which target a wide range of priority sectors:
Protection of the environment
Sustainable development
Conservation of European cultural heritage
Development of human resources
Health and childcare
The Norwegian Grants will also make funding available for:
Implementation of legislation in the field of internal security and border control, such as support for 'Schengen' action plans
Regional policy and cross-border activities
Implementation of acquis communitaire through technical assistance
Academic research within the priority sectors of the Grants may also be eligible for funding.
Within these sectors, each Beneficiary State decides its own priorities, thus it may not necessarily receive funding in all priority sectors. The chosen priority sectors for Malta are:
EEA Grants |
PRIORITY AREA |
FOCUS AREAS |
1 |
Protection of the environment, including the human environment |
Integrated pollution prevention and control; fuel reduction
Promotion of renewable energy |
2 |
Conservation of European cultural heritage, including public transport, and urban renewal |
Revitalisation, conservation, renovation, modernization and adaptation of historical objects, which have European significance
Condition monitoring and preventive maintenance routines for historical objects and complexes: and purpose remedies |
3 |
Health and Childcare |
Modernisation and equipping crèches, nursery schools, schools, special school-educational centres, orphanages
Scholarship programmes
Promoting gender equality |
4 |
Academic Research |
Fields of intervention as outlines in 1 - 3 above |
NORWAY Grants |
PRIORITY AREA |
FOCUS AREA |
1 |
Conservation of European cultural heritage, including public transport, and urban renewal |
Revitalization, conservation, renovation, modernization and adaptation of historical objects, which have European significance
Condition monitoring and preventive maintenance routines for historical objects and complexes: and purpose remedies |
2 |
Implementation of the Schengen Acquis |
Support of National Schengen Action Plans
Strengthening police-cooperation in order to prepare for membership in the Schengen information system |
3 |
Strengthening the judiciary |
Improved standard of prison buildings and training of personnel
Educational programmes in prisons
Improved health care and health information for prison inmates
Preventive action to reduce youth criminality
Improved competence programmes and physical conditions for asylum seekers and illegal immigrants |
4 |
Academic research |
Fields of intervention as outlined in 1-3 above |
A call for proposals was issued by the Maltese NFP on 25 August 2005 making available available €1,741,824 through the EEA Grants and €1,527,073 through the Norway Grants. All public or private sector bodies and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) were targeted as potential applicants. Applicants were also expected to constitute a legal entity and be registered in Malta. The subject of the application was also expected to be an activity in the public interest and performed in Malta.
A total of 41 projects were submitted from several organisations ranging from national and local authorities to voluntary and community organisations and from education institutions to environmental bodies. The number of non-governmental and private organisations applying for EEA funds was considerable.
Following a rigid Project Selection procedure, the hereunder 8 projects were selected for implementation under the EEA and Norway Grants. Further information on each project is available through this
link.
CODE MT |
Project Title |
EEA/ NORWAY GRANTS € |
PP CO-FIN € |
Tot Value € |
GRANTS |
Beneficiary |
Status |
|
MasterPlan for the Cittadella - the old fortified city of the Island of Gozo |
229,075 |
40,425 |
269,500 |
EEA |
MGOZ |
Concluded |
0006 |
Implementation of Schengen Acquis requirements at MIA by April 2007 |
517,863 |
528,959 |
1,046,822 |
NORWAY |
Malta Int'l Aiport Plc. |
Concluded |
0008 |
Procurement and Installation of Security/Safety Equipment for Building Sites housing SIS equipment |
246,656 |
43,528 |
290,184 |
NORWAY |
Malta Police Force |
Concluded |
0010 |
Setting up an Oil Spill Response Capability for the Protection of our seas |
800,000 |
200,000 |
1,000,000 |
EEA |
Transport Malta |
Concluded |
0011 |
Xrobb l-Ghagin Nature Park and Sustainable Development Centre |
635,725 |
88,916 |
724,641 |
EEA/ NORWAY |
Nature Trust (Malta) |
Concluded |
|
Consolidation of Terrain and Historic Ramparts Underlying Council Square, Mdina |
562,488 |
99,262 |
661,750 |
EEA/ NORWAY |
MRRA (Restoration Unit, Works Division) |
Concluded |
0013 |
Technical Assistance Fund for Malta |
73,288 |
12,933 |
86,220 |
EEA/ NORWAY |
OPM (PPCD) |
Concluded |
|
Conservation of Hal Saflieni Hypogeum - World Heritage Site |
324,863 |
57,329 |
382,192 |
NORWAY |
Heritage Malta |
Concluded |
Manual of Procedures
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Guidelines
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Legal Documents
Memorandum of Understanding on the Implementation of:
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Annual Reports
For the EEA Grants in Malta
For the Norway Grants in Malta
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Minutes of Annual Meetings held
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Presentations delivered during the Monitoring Committees for the EEA FM and the Norwegian FM
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Information
Booklet showcasing the interventions of the Financial Mechanisms in Malta and Gozo (2004 - 2009)
Artistic works portraying the projects co-funded (2004 - 2009) by secondary school students.
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Press Releases and Photos:
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Other Links
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