13.11.2017
The Norwegian state holds a high appreciation for the results of Bulgaria within the context of the bilateral cooperation programs, as well as its constructive approach to the negotiations on the future framework for the financial mechanism for the European Economic Area and the Norwegian Financial Mechanism. This was said by the Minister for EEA and European Affairs of the Kingdom of Norway Ms. Marit Rosland, who is in Bulgaria on invitation by Deputy Prime Minister Tomislav Dontchev. At the meeting today, the two discussed the upcoming Bulgarian Presidency of the Council of the EU, Brexit and its impact on the EU, the development of the bilateral relations between Bulgaria and the Kingdom of Norway, as well as the new programming period for the bilateral financial instruments (2014-2021). Deputy Prime Minister Tomislav Dontchev underlined that for Bulgaria it is important that the already achieved good results at the level of institutional connectivity be built upon with initiatives for business partnership, based on the good cooperation between the two countries.
“The negotiations with Bulgaria on the Financial Mechanism for the EEA and the Norwegian Financial Mechanism 2014-2021 were extremely fruitful and structured, thanks to that your country is the third one with which we have achieved agreement,” said Minister Rosland. Bulgaria comes forth in respect to the volume of negotiated funds and by the end of 2021 will have access to 210,1 million Euro for funding projects in a number of key programming areas – local development, improved inclusion of vulnerable groups, energy efficiency, environmental protection and climate change, cultural entrepreneurship, justice and home affairs, business development, innovation and small and medium enterprises. For the first time, Bulgaria and Norway will cooperate on programs related to refugees and migration issues, whereby the Norwegian partner for these programs will be the Norwegian Migration Service.
Within the framework of her working visit to Bulgaria, Minister Marit Rosland met with the Minister for the Bulgarian Presidency of the Council of the EU Lilyana Pavlova. He program for the visit also includes meetings with deputy ministers from the ministries of foreign affairs, education and science, energy, culture, environment and water, interior, and justice.
