Norway signs agreement with Croatia on EEA and Norway Grants

Press release | Date: 23/09/2025 | Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Norway signed an agreement in Croatia today on a new funding period for the EEA and Norway Grants.

Under the EEA and Norway Grants, Norway and Croatia will be cooperating in a range of areas including the green transition, local development, education and the justice sector. The agreement also encompasses cooperation on energy issues and business development.

'The EEA and Norway Grants help to strengthen cooperation between Norway and a number of European countries, and I am pleased that we have now signed a new agreement with Croatia on funding under the Grants scheme. Our joint efforts to promote the green transition, the rule of law and sustainable industries make Europe stronger,' said Minister of Foreign Affairs Espen Barth Eide.

Approximately NOK 1.6 billion (EUR 133 million) has been allocated to Croatia for the current period. Norway will provide around 94 % of that amount. The remainder will be provided by Iceland and Liechtenstein. The funding period formally ends in 2028, but project funds may be disbursed up to the end of April 2031.

A number of Norwegian partners will be involved in implementing the programmes in Croatia, including Innovation Norway, the Directorate for Higher Education and Skills, the Norwegian Courts Administration, the Norwegian Correctional Service and the Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Directorate.

The aim of Norway's funding under the EEA and Norway Grants scheme is to reduce social and economic disparities in Europe. In addition, the scheme helps to enhance cooperation between Norway and the beneficiary states. Fifteen countries qualify to receive funding under the EEA and Norway Grants scheme.

Agreements are drawn up for each beneficiary country that set out a portfolio of programmes to be implemented and specify the partners that will cooperate on programme implementation. The agreement with Croatia is the fifth agreement for the current funding period to be signed with a beneficiary country.

Norwegian Ambassador to Croatia Arne Bjørnstad signed the agreement on behalf of Norway. Minister of Regional Development and European Union Funds Nataša Mikuš Žigman signed on behalf of Croatia.

Support for civil society

In addition to the individual agreements with each beneficiary state, a separate fund has been set up to support civil society in the beneficiary states. This funding is administered independently of the authorities in each individual country.