EEA grants for health and research in the Czech Republic

An agreement on the use of new EEA grants in the Czech Republic has now been concluded. The environment, health, research and children are among the priority areas.

“Norway wishes to boost its cooperation with the Czech Republic by means of the EEA Financial Mechanisms. This wish is reciprocal, as is demonstrated by a number of new cooperation programmes involving Norwegian partners,” said Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre.

The agreement, which was signed in Prague today, covers the period up to 2014. In total, the contributions of the three donor countries (Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein) amount to EUR 131.8 million (just over NOK one billion), of which Norway’s contribution accounts for 97%. Norwegian and Czech partners will cooperate in areas that are of particularly importance to Norway.

The Research Council of Norway has been designated as the programme partner for research cooperation between Norway and the Czech Republic, and EUR 12.5 million will be used for this purpose. The cooperation is intended to increase scientific production and help the Czech Republic to move towards the EU goal of allocating 3% GDP to research and development.

The Norwegian Centre for International Cooperation in Higher Education in Bergen will arrange exchanges of students and employees at education institutions in the Czech Republic and the donor countries.

The environment is another priority area. The Norwegian Directorate for Nature Management has been tasked with helping the Czech Republic to conserve biological diversity in particularly important protected areas, and EUR 18.42 million will be used to this end. In addition, EUR 7 million will be earmarked for research and development in the field of carbon capture and storage.

Significant funding, amounting to EUR 19.1 million, has been dedicated to health. The Norwegian Institute of Public Health will be the programme partner at the Norwegian end. One of the specified goals is to secure equal access to health services. At least 40% of the funding is to be used for projects in the field of mental health.

High priority will be given to projects targeted at children and young people in a range of sectors. EUR 4.3 million will be used to fund a specific programme to improve quality of life for children and young adults at risk. A dedicated NGO fund will also give priority to projects that benefit children and young people. EUR 9.8 million has been set aside for this fund, making it one of the largest NGO funds under the EEA Financial Mechanisms.

The Arts Council Norway will be the Norwegian programme partner for projects aimed at fostering cultural diversity. One of the challenges is to increase awareness in the Czech Republic as regards multicultural society and integration of the Roma people. This will therefore be given particular priority in several programme areas.

Press contact: Senior Adviser Christian Grotnes Halvorsen, mobile phone +47 481 53 748