FMO |
The European Economic Area Enlargement Agreement, applicable since 1 May 2004, stipulates that when becoming members of the European Union, the 10 accession countries joining the EU in 2004 (Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia) and two additional countries joining in 2007 (Bulgaria and Romania) would also become parties of the EEA Agreement.
By signing the EEA Enlargement Agreement, the EEA EFTA States - Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway- agreed to continue their efforts to enhance cohesion within the European Economic Area and to focus their efforts on the new member states. As a further step they established the EEA Financial Mechanism and the Norwegian Financial Mechanism. The Norwegian Financial Mechanism is open to the twelve new EEA members while the EEA Financial Mechanism is open to the twelve new EEA members and to Greece, Portugal and Spain.
The twelve new member states will be eligible for assistance from both Mechanisms. The EEA Financial Mechanism will also grant assistance to Spain, Portugal and Greece.
The Financial Mechanism Office has announced its commitment from 2005 up to 2009. The total amount of financial assistance is in the range of € 1.3 billion.
The Swiss Centre for International Health has been appointed by the FMO as appraisal and monitoring agent in charge of reviewing proposals submitted to the EEA Financial Mechanism.