Norway signs agreement with Lithuania on EEA and Norway Grants

The cooperation will also contribute to strengthening an independent and accountable judicial system, including cooperation on correctional services and efforts to promote information security.

In addition, cooperation will continue on preventing and combating gender-based violence and violence in close relationships, as well as efforts to combat serious and organised crime, including drug-related crime.

'Lithuania is a close friend and partner in Nordic-Baltic cooperation, and in today's geopolitical situation, contact between our two countries is becoming ever closer. Today we are opening a new chapter in our cooperation, based on trust, solidarity and shared values, said Minister of Foreign Affairs Espen Barth Eide.

State secretary Joakim Øren in the Ministry of Justice and Public Security signed the agreement on behalf of Norway in Vilnius. Minister of Finance Kristupas Vaitiekūnas signed for Lithuania.

Approximately NOK 1,4 billion (EUR 117.9 million) has been allocated to Lithuania for the current period. Norway will provide around 97 % 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.

The funds are distributed across two thematic programmes, both within the justice sector. Around NOK 70 million (EUR 5.9 million) has been earmarked for measures in Lithuania to deal with the consequences of Russia's war in Ukraine.

The Norwegian Directorate for Civil Protection, the Norwegian Directorate of Health, the Norwegian Courts Administration and the Norwegian Correctional Service are participating as programme partners on the Norwegian side, further strengthening the bilateral cooperation between Norway and Lithuania.

Reducing social and economic disparities

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.

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.