Basic information

Pursuant to the provisions of art. 128 of the European Economic Area Treaty, new member countries of the European Union join, upon submitting a relevant application, the European Economic Area (EEA). A relevant agreement was signed by the Polish government on 14 October 2003.

One of the elements the aforementioned agreement provides for is the award, for Poland and for other new EU members, of financial resources under the so-called EEA Financial Mechanism and the Norwegian Financial Mechanism. The resources are donated by three EFTA (European Free Trade Association) countries – Norway, Island and Liechtenstein, which form, along with the European Union, the European Economic Area. In exchange for taking advantage of the common market freedoms, the said countries undertook to provide financial assistance to the least affluent members of the European Union.

In order to make the resources available, Poland signed, with the donor countries, agreements in the form of Memoranda of Understanding – the Memorandum of Understanding on the implementation of the Norwegian Financial Mechanism was executed on 14 October 2004, while the Memorandum of Understanding on the implementation of the EEA Financial Mechanism on 28 October 2004. Poland has been awarded, under both Mechanisms, the total of 533.51 million euro for the years 2004-2009.

The resources will be used for supporting projects implemented within strictly defined priority sectors between 2004-2009. Both of the Mechanisms have been covered by the same principles and procedures, and are subject to a single system for their management and implementation in Poland. The role of a coordinating authority is performed by the Ministry of Regional Development.