EUR 1.1 million allocated for cooperation projects between Croatian and Norwegian institutions

On 20 March 2023, 12 contracts worth EUR 1.1 million were awarded as part of the Bilateral Relations Fund, which will finance professional cooperation between Croatian and Norwegian partners. The contracts were awarded to the beneficiaries by the Minister of Regional Development and EU Funds Šime Erlić and the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Norway to the Republic of Croatia H.E. Haakon Blankenborg.

At the beginning of the award ceremony, the Minister and the Ambassador addressed the introductory speech and both emphasized the valuable contribution of the Financial Mechanism of the European Economic Area and the Norwegian Financial Mechanism in reducing social and economic inequality in Europe, but also in strengthening bilateral cooperation between the Kingdom of Norway and the Republic of Croatia. In particular, they emphasized the importance of the Bilateral Relations Fund, within which the call "Strengthening bilateral cooperation with Norway in the field of green transition" was implemented.

The funds allocated thanks to this call will finance projects related to energy efficiency, green aquaculture, smart systems in urban areas, biodiversity conservation, energy transition and green transition of the economy and society in general.

12 bilateral initiatives were selected by the decision of the Joint Committee on Bilateral Funds, which consists of representatives of donor countries – Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein, and our Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs and the Ministry of Regional Development and EU Funds.

These projects involve 18 Croatian and 13 partner institutions from the Kingdom of Norway, and include universities, faculties, ministries, representatives of regional and local self-government, as well as associations and non-profit organizations.

Minister Erlić pointed out that of the 25 billion euros that Croatia has at its disposal in the coming period, a large part is directed towards the implementation of green policies, both through investments of the public sector and private sector.

We are already seeing the positive effects on our economy that these investments will have, and every euro invested that has a green component in it will pay off in the short term.