Lichtenstein, Norway and Iceland will grant a EUR 306 million non-reimbursable financing package for Romania, part of a plan to reduce social and economic discrepancies among countries in the European Economic Area (EEA). Romania will get EUR 190 million from the EES Financial Mechanism from 2014 to 2010, and EUR 115 million through the Norwegian Financial Mechanism. Financing memorandums were signed on Wednesday ( March 21 ) in Bucharest, by European Affairs Minister Leonard Orban (in picture, center) and representatives of the financing countries.

The amounts were established in 2010. Money will go to 23 areas, such as climate change, renewable energy, green industry innovation and in promoting the concept of decent work. A major part of the funding - EUR 133.2 million - will be invested in the areas of environment and climate change. Romania's European Affairs Ministry will create detailed check lists for each of the funding areas, with beneficiaries, value of projects, eligible projects and work procedures. After the check lists are approved, the state will open the funding lines. Information will be published here. More about EEA's programs in Romania here. 

Romania received EUR 98.5 million in EEA and Norwegian Grants between 2004 and 2009. “Romania is the second poorest among the beneficiary states. At the same time, it is one of the more populous and receives significant shares of the overall EEA and Norway Grants”, according to EAA. Money went to health and childcare, environment protection and protection of biodiversity in vulnerable natural areas.

editor@romania-insider.com