Malta
has received 1.7 Million Euros from
Norway
after the two countries today signed a Memorandum of Understanding on
the Implementation of the Norwegian Financial Mechanism under the
European Economic Area (EEA) Enlargement Agreement.
The European Economic Area (EEA) was
created by means of an agreement negotiated between the EU and seven
member countries of EFTA and signed in May 1992. At present, only
Norway
,
Iceland
and
Liechtenstein
maintain their participation in the EEA. The three EEA EFTA states, as
a result of the Agreement share in the four freedoms associated with
the EU but must also satisfy certain conditions, including that of
contributing to the funding of projects. These contributions from the
EEA EFTA states shall between 2004 and 2008 be used to alleviate
social and economic disparities in the ten new member states and, to a
limited extent, in
Portugal
,
Spain
and
Greece
. Through the financial mechanisms, 233.4 million euro will be made
available annually – primarily from
Norway
– for projects in these countries.
The EEA Enlargement Agreement includes
two new financing instruments valid between2004 and 2009: the EEA Financial Instrument with a total of Euros 120 million and the Norwegian
Financial Instrument which totals Euros 113.4 million. The aim of
these financial instruments is to contribute to the reduction of
economic disparities in
Europe
. The EEA financial instrument will have the following priority areas:
protection of the environment; sustainable development; European
cultural heritage; human resources; health and child care (children at
risk); academic research in the priority areas. The beneficiary states
are 10 new member countries plus
Greece
,
Portugal
and
Spain
. On 28 April 2005, Malta, together with the
other beneficiaries, signed the EEA financial mechanism agreement.
Malta
is eligible for 1.92 Million Euros under the EEA Fund (384,000 EUR per
year) and 1.701 Million EUR
from the Norwegian fund (340,200 EUR per year). The total of both
funds amounts to 3.621 Million EUR over five years. As a requirement
of the fund there will be one main contact point in the recipient
state. In
Malta
’s case it has been decided that the main contact point is thePlanning and Priorities Co-ordination
Directorate (PPCD) at the Office
of the Prime Minister.
During a signing
ceremony held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Minister
Michael Frendo expressed his satisfaction on the signing of the
Memorandum of Understanding on the Implementation of the Norwegian
Financial Mechanism.
The Norwegian
Financial Mechanism shall be implemented by means of the Memorandum of
Understanding signed by the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs Ms. Cecilia Attard Pirotta and Ms. Oda Helen Sletnes, Director
General, European Department of the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign
Affairs.
The priorities targeted by the
Memorandum of Understanding are the following:
Priority
area
Focus
areas
1
Conservation
of European cultural heritage, including public transport, and
urban renewal
·Revitalisation, conservation, renovation, modernisation and adaptation
of historical objects, which have European significance
·Condition monitoring and preventive maintenance routines for historical
objects and complexes; and propose remedies
2
Implementation
of Schengen Acquis
·Support of National Schengen Action Plans
·Strengthening police-cooperation in order to prepare for membership in
the Schengen information system
3
Strengthening
the judiciary
·Improved standard of prison buildings and training of personnel
·Educational programmes in prisons
·Improved health care and health information for prison inmates
·Preventive action to reduce youth criminality
·Improved competence programmes and physical conditions for asylum
seekers and illegal immigrants
