Helping young Europeans find work

'Youth unemployment is one of the biggest challenges we are facing in Europe. I am pleased that we can provide young people in a number of European countries with opportunities they would not have had without this fund,' Minister of Foreign Affairs Ina Eriksen Søreide said.

The EAA and Norway Grants Fund for Youth Employment was launched on 26 April 2017, and 27 projects with partners from 25 European countries have now been selected to receive funding totalling about NOK 510 million. In addition to the 15 beneficiary countries under the grants scheme, Ireland, Italy and Spain are also participating in some of these projects, because of the high rate of youth unemployment in these countries.

Motivating young people to engage in entrepreneurship, start-ups and innovation is a key focus for several of the projects. New jobs will be created in the fields of alternative tourism, green food production and opportunities in local communities.

The primary target group is long-term unemployed in the 22-29 age group, including vulnerable groups such as young mothers, young people with health problems and disabilities, and young people from ethnic minorities and rural areas.

The projects are expected to start in autumn 2018. You will find more information about the projects  here.

Facts about the EEA and Norway Grants

• Norway is part of the European internal market through the EEA Agreement.
• The aim of the EEA and Norway Grants is to reduce social and economic disparities in Europe and strengthen cooperation between Norway and the beneficiary countries.
• For the period 2014-2021, EUR 2.8 billion has been set aside under the EEA and Norway Grants for distribution among 15 beneficiary countries.
• Norway provides about 98 % of the EEA and Norway Grants. Iceland and Liechtenstein provide the rest.