Bulgaria has signed the Memoranda of Understanding on the Implementation of the Financial Mechanism of the European Economic Area and the Norwegian Financial Mechanism for the period 2014 – 2021. Based on the agreements, Bulgaria will receive financial support for projects on social and territorial development as well as cohesion amounting to 210,1 mln. euro through grants provided by the Kingdom of Norway, the Republic of Iceland and the Principality of Liechtenstein.
The Programmes under both mechanisms play a key role for Bulgaria as they complement measures that fall within the priority policies of the country and are not covered or are partially covered by the Operational Programmes, said the Deputy Prime Minister for EU Funds and Economic Policy Mr. Tomislav Donchev who signed the Memoranda for Bulgaria. “The support from the Kingdom of Norway provides Bulgaria with the opportunity to achieve maximum efficiency on important policies. I am happy that Bulgaria is among the first of a total of 15 countries to sign the Memoranda of Understanding, said H.E. Ms. Tove Westberg, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Norway to Romania, Bulgaria and Moldova.
Through the EEA Financial Mechanism, with resources of 115 mln. euro, projects for local development and poverty reduction, energy efficiency and security, environmental protection and cultural entrepreneurship development will be funded. In addition, the Kingdom of Norway provides 95.1 mln. euro for projects aimed at business development, innovation and SMEs, justice and home affairs, which will be implemented in our country through the Norwegian Financial Mechanism. Civil society will receive support to the amount of 15.5 mln. euro for monitoring and evaluation of the administration’s policies and activities. 951 000 euro have been allocated for projects to enhance social dialogue and ensure decent working conditions.
During the following six months, the designated ministries and stakeholders from Bulgaria and the donor countries should prepare preliminary concepts about each of the approved programmes. The first projects could start at the end of the following year and the deadline for the implementation of all activities is 30.04.2024.