Hungary is expected to get EUR 150m in project funding from the Norwegian Financing Mechanism scheme in 2010-2014, Norway’s ambassador to Hungary Siri Ellen Sletner told MTI on Thursday.
Talks on the continuation of the financing mechanism with the European Commission and the countries for which the fund was established have been completed, Sletner said. Hungary and Norway could sign a bilateral agreement on the fund in late summer or early autumn, she added.
The Norway fund awarded grants of more than EUR 135m to 101 projects in Hungary in 2004-2009. The funding went to 28 local councils, 26 civil organisations and 22 budget-funded institutions.
Hungary was the recipient of the second largest amount from the fund after Poland.
Norway, as a member of the European Economic Area but not a member of the European Union, earlier decided to make funding available to all of the new EU member states.