Introduction

The pre-defined project titled „Improving Integrity of Public Administration in the Slovak Republic“ benefits from a EUR 1,275 mil grant from Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway through the EEA Grants and Norway Grants. The project has been co-financed from the State Budget of the Slovak Republic in the amount of 225000 EUR.

The EEA and Norway Grants represent the contribution of lceland, Liechtenstein and Norway towards a green, competitive and inclusive Europe.

There are two overal! objectives: reduction of economic and social disparities in Europe, and to strengthen bilateral relations between the donor countries and 15 EU countries in Central and Southern Europe and the Baltics.

The three donor countries cooperate closely with the EU through the Agreement on the European Economic Area (EEA). The donors have provided €3.3 billion through consecutive grant schemes between 1994 and 2014. For the period 2014-2021, the EEA and Norway Grants amount to €2.8 billion.

The priorities for this period are as follows:

1. lnnovation, Research, Education and Competitiveness
2. Social lnclusion, Youth Employment and Poverty Reduction
3. Environment, Energy, Climate Change and Low Carbon Economy
4. Culture, Civil Society, Good Governance and Fundamental Rights
5. Justice and Horne Affairs

Eligibility for the Grants mirror the criteria set for the EU Cohesion Fund aimed at member countries where the Gross National lncome (GNI) per inhabitant is less than 90% of the EU average.

The EEA and Norway Grants scheme consists of two financial mechanisms. The EEA Grants are jointly financed by lceland, Liechtenstein and Norway, whose contributions are based on their GDP. Norway Grants are financed solely by Norway.

AII projects are co-financed by the State Budget of the Slovak Republic in the amount of 15%.

If you want to know more about programmes and projects financed by the EEA an Norway Grants in Slovakia, visit www.eeagrants.sk or www.norwaygrants.sk.