On Thursday, October 9, the State Secretary of the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Maria Varteressian and the Minister of Finance Arvils Ašeradens signed the Memorandums of understanding on the Implementation of the European Economic Area (EEA) and Norway grants period until year 2031. In this new grant period, Latvia will have access to EUR 109.5 million in grant support.
“For Norway, the EEA and Norway Grants are among our most important contributions to a strong, secure and united Europe. They are a cornerstone of our close and trusted partnership with Latvia – a partnership built on solidarity, mutual respect and shared values. Today, we take another step forward together. By deepening and expanding our cooperation, we are investing in the resilience of our societies and in the democratic values that unite us. At a time when democracy and human rights are under increasing pressure, standing shoulder to shoulder in defense of our common European project has never been more important,” states State Secretary of the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Maria Varteressian.
"At a time of complex challenges and geopolitical uncertainty, Latvia remains a close friend and ally in Europe. The EEA Grants have strengthened our mutually beneficial cooperation, and Iceland looks forward to continuing this partnership to support development, resilience, and closer ties between our countries," notes Harald Aspelund Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Iceland to Latvia.
“Today’s signing marks an important continuation of Latvia’s long-standing partnership with Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein. The EEA and Norway Grants have consistently provided vital support for Latvia’s economic and social development – from strengthening business development, education, and research to promoting green innovation and social inclusion. In this new period, the funding will directly contribute to Latvia’s key national priorities – security, sustainability, and support for families,” emphasizes Minister of Finance of the Republic of Latvia Arvils Ašeradens.
Part of the donor funding is intended for projects that address the consequences of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which directly corresponds with the Government’s priorities in next year’s budget – defence, security, and family support. At the same time, the grant support will help reduce state budget expenditure and ensure the necessary funding for strategically important areas in Latvia.
In the new EEA and Norway Grants period, support is planned to be provided in three priority areas. A total of EUR 43 million will be invested in strengthening local development and resilience. This support is aimed at implementing the Government’s key priority of “National Security” by financing civil protection infrastructure for the creation of new shelters and the adaptation and equipping of existing premises. It will also cover the purchase and installation of generators to ensure uninterrupted electricity supply for the provision of critical services in medical institutions and state social care centres.
EUR 27.5 million will be invested in green innovation, providing support for entrepreneurship and the remediation of polluted sites, while EUR 15 million will be allocated to the correctional services programme – the construction of a women’s prison, strengthening correctional services, and rehabilitation services for children with substance addictions.
As in the previous period, targeted support will be provided for Latvian non-governmental organisations (NGOs), with total funding of around EUR 10 million earmarked for the Civil Society Fund (previously the Active Citizens Fund). As in the previous grant period, the fund’s implementation will be fully managed by the Financial Mechanism Office established by the donor states in Brussels (without the involvement of Latvian institutions) – including the selection of the fund operator and the planning of specific support measures. Part of the funding will also be allocated to ensuring risk-based investment management by donor and national authorities.
The fund will be managed by fund operators selected by the donor states from Latvia’s NGO sector, under the direct supervision of the donor states. The deadline for submitting proposals for the NGO Fund operator was 8 April 2025, but the specific operator has not yet been announced.
The Memoranda of Understanding include information on the planned financial allocations, setting out the principles of multiannual programme development as well as management and control structures. Following the signing of the Memoranda of Understanding, the responsible line ministries, in cooperation with national sectoral partners – planned project implementers, the NGO sector, as well as donor state programme partners – must develop programme concepts for submission to the donor states within three months. During the development of programme concepts, targeted discussions and consultations with partners and NGOs may refine the detailed implementation proposals of programmes and planned projects to ensure more effective achievement of objectives.
Following the signing of the Memorandums of Understanding, the responsible sectoral ministries, in cooperation with the NGO sector and donor states’ programme partners, will develop programme Concept Notes for submission to the donorstates within three months. The donor states will evaluate the submitted programme Concept Notes within two months and within the next four months, the donor states will draft the respective programme agreements. The Agreements will be signed bilaterally between Latvia and the donor states, thereby formally launching the programme implementation phase provisionally at the end of 2026 / in 2027. In parallel, the Ministry of Finance is working on establishing the horizontal national regulatory framework.
Latvia and the donor states will also continue to implement national bilateral cooperation initiatives to strengthen ties between the countries in priority areas of mutual interest, with practical discussions and agreements to take place with the donor states during the subsequent years of implementation.
The EEA and Norway Grants represent support provided by Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway with the aim of promoting a more equal Europe both socially and economically, as well as strengthening cooperation between Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and the beneficiary state – Latvia.
