[EEA & Norwegian Mechanisims 2009 - 2014]
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 Norwegian Financial Mechanisms.
Through the EEA Financial Mechanism, 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 Norwegian Financial Mechanism. Thus, a total of € 1.17 billion have been made available for projects in the priority sectors of the financial mechanisms for the period 2004-2009.
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.
Principles, Rules and Regulations
The beneficiary states set priorities and propose, develop and implement projects. In order to ensure the effective implementation of the mechanisms, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) is concluded between the EFTA states and each Beneficiary state. There is one MoU for each mechanism.
In the case of Malta, the MoU for the EEA Financial Mechanism was signed on 28 April 2005 granting Malta €1.92 million. On the other hand, the MoU for the Norwegian Financial Mechanism, granting Malta €1.701 million, was signed on 27 June 2005.
The EEA and Norway Financial Mechanisms 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.
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 National Focal Point 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).
Priorities
The financial mechanisms 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 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 acquis communitaire through technical assistance
Academic research within the priority sectors of both mechanisms 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 FM | 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
|
NORWEGIAN FM | 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 25th August 2005 making available available €1,741,824 through the EEA Financial Mechanism and €1,527,073 through the Norwegian Financial Mechanism. 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 Norwegian Financial Mechanisms. Further information on each project is available through this link.
CODE MT | PROJECT TITLE | EEA/NFM GRANT € | PP CO-FIN € | TOTAL VALUE € | FM | BENEFICIARY | STATUS |
0005 | Master Plan 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 | NFM | 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 | NFM | 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/NFM | Nature Trust (Malta) | Ongoing |
0012 | Consolidation of Terrain and Historic Ramparts Underlying Council Square, Mdina | 562,488 | 99,262 | 661,750 | EEA/NFM | MRRA (Restoration Unit, Works Division) | Concluded |
0013 | Technical Assistance Fund for Malta | 73,288 | 12,933 | 86,220 | EEA/NFM | OPM (PPCD) | Ongoing |
0014 | Conservation of Hal Saflieni Hypogeum – World Heritage Site | 324,863 | 57,329 | 382,192 | NFM | Heritage Malta | Ongoing |
Manual of Procedures
Guidelines
Legal Documents
Annual Reports
for the EEA Financial Mechanism Malta
for the Norwegian Financial Mechanism
Minutes of Annual Meetings held
Presentations delivered during the Monitoring Committees for the EEA, FM and the Norwegian FM
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.
Press Releases and Photos:
Other Links
For more information
The Maltese National Focal Point
Planning and Priorities Co-ordination Department
Office of the Prime Minister
12 St. Paul Street
Valletta VLT1210
Malta
Tel. No.: 356 2200 1164/1860
Fax No.: 356 2200 1141
Email