The Implementation of the Norwegian Financial Mechanism and the EEA Financial Mechanism in the Slovak Republic

The EEA Financial Mechanism and the Norwegian Financial Mechanism KEY DOCUMENTS Memorandum of Understanding... referring to the Norwegian Financial Mechanism - 11 January 2005 Memorandum of Understanding... referring to the EEA Financial Mechanism – 23February 2005 oDefines the relevant institutions in the system on the national and supranational level oRoughly delimits the duties of the relevant institutions oDelimits the priority areas of support and the financial allocations oSets up specific Funds

The EEA Financial Mechanism and the Norwegian Financial Mechanism THE PRIORITY AREAS OF SUPPORT 1. Protection of the environment 2. Support of the sustainable development 3. Conservation of European cultural heritage 4. Human resources development 5. Health and childcare 6. Research 1. Protection of the environment 2. Support of the sustainable development 3. Conservation of European cultural heritage 4. Human resources development 5. Health and childcare 6. Research 7. Implementation of Schenghen acquis and strengthening the judiciary 8. Regional policy and cross-border activities 9. Technical assistance for implementation of acquis communautaire NFM EEA FM

The EEA Financial Mechanism and the Norwegian Financial Mechanism BASIC PRINCIPLES Reduction of regional disparities within the European Economic Area Ensuring sustainability Projects shall be operational at least 5 years after their completion Acceptance of horizontal policies Compliance with the EU law

The EEA Financial Mechanism and the Norwegian Financial Mechanism AUTHORITIES RESPONSIBLE FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION 1)On Supranational Level Financial Mechanism Office in Brussels The EEA Financial Mechanism Committee The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the NK Control Offices of the NK and EFTA Board of Auditors

The EEA Financial Mechanism and the Norwegian Financial Mechanism 2) On the level of the Slovak Republic Government Office of the Slovak Republic (National Focal Point) National Monitoring Committee (NMC) Ministry of Finance (Paying Authority) Supreme Audit Office

The EEA Financial Mechanism and the Norwegian Financial Mechanism DUTIES OF THE OFFICE OF THE GOVERNMENT OF THE SLOVAK REPUBLIC Contact Point between the Financial Mechanism Office and the final beneficiaries/intermediaries Overall responsibility for programming, implementation, monitoring, financial administration and provision of control and audit execution Provides the administration of the NMC secretariat

The EEA Financial Mechanism and the Norwegian Financial Mechanism FINANCIAL ALLOCATIONS FOR THE SR

The EEA Financial Mechanism and the Norwegian Financial Mechanism Types of project assistance Individual projects Block grants

The EEA Financial Mechanism and the Norwegian Financial Mechanism Individual Projects o grant > EUR o applicant = final beneficiary Block Grants o fund of means o clearly defined purpose o x of small final beneficiaries o applicant = intermediary for block grant

The EEA Financial Mechanism and the Norwegian Financial Mechanism INDIVIDUAL PROJECT BLOCK GRANT Financial Mechanism Office Government Office of the SR Applicant Final Beneficiary (FB ) Financial Mechanism Office Government Office of the SR Applicant Intermediary FB

The EEA Financial Mechanism and the Norwegian Financial Mechanism WHO can APPLY for a GRANT State organizations Public organizations on national/regional/ local level Non-profit NGOs Private companies (SME) Individuals – via intermediaries

The EEA Financial Mechanism and the Norwegian Financial Mechanism EVALUATION AND PROJECT SELECTION Evaluation and approval of the applications on the national level oOffice of the Government of the SR oAssessment Commissions oNational Monitoring Committee Evaluation and approval of the applications on the supranational level oThe EAA Financial Mechanism Committee oMinistry of Foreign Affairs of the NK

The EEA Financial Mechanism and the Norwegian Financial Mechanism REALIZATION OF THE PROJECT Contracting oGrant Agreement oNon-repayable financial contribution contract Project realization o Monitoring (quarterly, annual, final) o Interim On-the-spot monitoring Completion of projects o project evaluation up to 6th month after the completion of project realization

The EEA Financial Mechanism and the Norwegian Financial Mechanism FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT Rate of Grant Assistance public and third sector 85 % resources of the EAA or NK + 15 % state budget 90 % resources of the EAA and NK + 10 % state budget private sector – state aid schemes 60 % resources of the EAA and/or NK + 40 % own resources

The EEA Financial Mechanism and the Norwegian Financial Mechanism FUNDS NGO Fund – New calls for proposals!!! Fund for support of co-operation among schools/scholarships Research Fund (SAS) Seed Money Fund (NFP)

The EEA Financial Mechanism and the Norwegian Financial Mechanism -Block grants in the framework of the NGO Fund: -AREAS: Sustainable development (Ekopolis) Human rights (OSF) Social affairs (Socia) -Block grant in the framework of the Fund for Support of Cooperation among Schools/Scholarships (SAIA) -AREAS: mobility of high school and university students and lecturers -Block grant in the framework of the Research Fund (SAS) - AREAS :nanotechnologies, biotechnologies and food, sustainable development, renewable sources

The EEA Financial Mechanism and the Norwegian Financial Mechanism Individual Projects  Call for proposal for individual projects – small and medium enterprises (SME) -Deadline for the submission of applications – 21 January 2007  Call for proposal for individual projects – public and third sector -Announcement of the call - spring 2007

The EEA Financial Mechanism and the Norwegian Financial Mechanism Information Documents: MoU, guidelines (new guideline for the FB/AB/INT), the respective gov. resolution, Calls: all calls for proposals within the EEA/Norwegian FM in Slovakia Open calls calendar Projects: List of successful projects, link for the general project list Contacts for search of project partners etc.

The Implementation of the EEA Financial Mechanism and the Norwegian Financial Mechanism THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION !!! Lajos Szabó