Impact of the EEA and Norway Grants 2004-09

The end-review of the EEA and Norway Grants 2004-2009 was undertaken at the end of 2011.

 

NCG reviewed more than 700 projects funded by the EEA ("EØS") Financial Mechanism Office (FMO) in Brussels.The review looked at the results of 672 projects in the Czech Republic, Latvia, Poland and Romania, within three sectors: cultural heritage, environment, and health and childcare. The team consisted of  Tore Laugerud (Team Leader), Mari Brekke Mogen (Consultant) Mike Fergus (Quality Assurance) and Zozan Kaya (Consultant).

Key findings

The completion of all projects was very high, at 97%.The completion rate refers to projects that completed successfully by reaching at least 90% of the planned indicators used to measure the success of the projects. 

The funding has had a successful impact within the prioritised areas. It has in particular been visible in sectors where EU funding is limited and where the focus has been greater. The dedicated funding for civil society, in particular, was highlighted in this context.

Projects have contributed to reducing specific, local disparities. 

One third of the funding was targeted at disadvantaged regions and/or vulnerable groups. In Romania, this figure was 71%.

A majority of the project promoters with partnership arrangements considered the partnerships with donor state institutions to be important.  

However, given the comparatively small size of the Grants (the total allocation is equivalent to 2% of the EU funds in the four countries),the review emphasized that it is difficult to draw any conclusions in terms of the contribution towards the overall development trends in the countries.

More info and the full report can be viewed at the EEA homepage:http://www.eeagrants.org/id/3127.0