Published Call for proposals of Individual Projects
In May 2004, the European Economic Area (EEA) expanded with the entry of Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia as part of the EU enlargement. The 25 EU members and the three non-EU members of the EEA - Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway –all 28 states participate in the Internal Market, characterised by the so-called ‘four freedoms’: the free movement of goods, services, capital and persons. At the same time Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway established the EEA Financial Mechanism and the Norwegian Financial Mechanism to support social and economic cohesion within the enlarged EEA. The Norwegian Financial Mechanism is open to the ten new EEA members while the EEA Financial Mechanism is open to the ten new EEA members and to Greece, Portugal and Spain.
In total, the financial mechanisms will make available 1.17 billion euros over the five-year period 2004-2009. Through the EEA Financial Mechanism, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway 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 EU members through the Norwegian Financial Mechanism.
Within both financial mechanisms, Slovenia shall be eligible in 2004-2009 period to the total of 18.594 million EUR or 4.462 billion SIT of assistance.
Within the EEA Financial Mechanism, Slovenia shall receive the total assistance of 6.120.000 EUR or 1.468 billion SIT, while within the Norwegian Financial Mechanism the assistance shall amount to the total of 12.474 million EUR, or almost 3 billion SIT.
Objectives
Through the two mechanisms, 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
Priorities
Both mechanisms will support projects in 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 Financial Mechanism 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 aquis communitaire through technical assistance
Academic research within the priority sectors of both mechanisms may also be eligible for funding.
Who can apply for a grant?
Project proposals can be submitted in a wide range of priority sectors by any public or private sector body and NGO constituted as a legal entity in the beneficiary states and operating in the public interest, such as:
- Central, regional and local authorities
- Education/research institutions
- Environmental bodies
- Voluntary and community organisations
- Public-private partnerships
Documents:
Legal framework
EEA Agreement
http://secretariat.efta.int/Web/EuropeanEconomicArea/
EEAAgreement/EEAAgreement
Protocol 38A 
Agreement between the Kingdom of Norway and the European Community on a Norwegian Financial Mechanism for the period 2004 – 2009
http://odin.dep.no/europaportalen/norsk/eos_fin/p30005883/032141-130193/dok-bn!30005883.html
Memorandum of Understanding EEA – Slovenia
Memorandum of Understanding Norway – Slovenia
Rules and procedures for the EEA Financial Mechanism
Rules and procedures for the Norwegian Financial Mechanism
Working documents
Application Form 
Application form user guide
Indicators
Guidlines
Individual projects
Block grants
Detailed eligibility provisions - expenditures
Publicity Guidelines
Open calls guide
Links:
FMO – Financial Mechanism Office
http://www.eeagrants.org
EFTA Secretariat
http://secretariat.efta.int/Web/EuropeanEconomicArea/introduction
Contact details for Focal Points in all Beneficiary States
http://www.eeagrants.org/focalpoints
Iceland
http://www.iceland.is/
Liechtenstein
http://www.liechtenstein.li
Norway
http://www.norway.info
Information on Norway’s co-operation with Europe
http://www.europaportalen.no
Contacts:
Andrej Engelman
t: + 386 1 478 2425
f: + 386 1 478 2432
e: andrej.engelman(at)gov.si
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