Malta gets €1.7m from Norway

Malta yesterday got another taste of what it means to be in the EU when, through signing an agreement with a country that is not an EU member, it was given €1.7 million.

The funds were made available after Malta and Norway signed a memorandum of understanding on the implementation of the Norwegian Financial Mechanism under the European Economic Area (EEA) Enlargement Agreement.

Norway is in the European Economic Area, along with Iceland and Liechtenstein, and has to contribute to EU states with the aim of reducing the social and economic disparities in Europe and also supporting the new EU member states in their efforts to fully participate in the enlarged internal market.

The memorandum establishes a framework for implementation of the mechanisms, including managerial set-ups, focus areas and specific forms of grant assistance.

A number of public authorities, institutions, organisations and businesses in Malta are eligible for funding under the financial mechanisms. An invitation for proposals will be issued by the national focal point for these grants, which is the Planning and Priorities Co-ordination Directorate within the Office of the Prime Minister.

Further information about the financial mechanisms may be obtained from the Financial Mechanisms Office in Brussels (fmo@efta.int), which is the joint secretariat for both financial mechanisms and is in fact responsible for the day-to-day administration.

The Norwegian Director General for European Affairs Oda Sletnes, and Cecilia Attard Pirotta, the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, signed the agreement in the presence of the Norwegian Ambassador Eva Bugge and Foreign Minister Michael Frendo.