The health department has been given a new possibility of drawing on the funds resulting from the membership of the Slovak Republic in the European Union and, consequently, in the European Economic Area, which includes the countries of the European Free Trade Area (EFTA). Under the agreement between the EU and EFTA countries, the Kingdom of Norway will provide the Slovak Republic with financial assistance amounting to EUR 37,99 million for the period 1 May 2004 - 30 April 2009 EUR (Financial Instrument of the Kingdom of Norway) and together with the Republic of Iceland and the Principality of Liechtenstein for the same period of EUR 32,34 million. EUR (EEA Financial Instrument).
The aim of this assistance is to help reduce economic and social inequalities in the European Economic Area through grants for investment and development projects in identified priority areas. One is also Health and childcare, where projects can be submitted in areas such as:
- Transforming contemporary orphanages into family-type homes,
- programmes to support children with special needs in difficult family situations,
- Development of social services for families,
- Improving the quality of social and health services in municipalities;
- Improving health care in detention centres;
- Development of national health programmes,
- Training of managers and personnel in the health sector,
- Improving the quality of maternal health care and planned parenting services
- Protection and support of victims of domestic violence such as shelters.
In addition to the area of Health and Child Welfare, health institutions will be able to submit projects to the areas of Research (research activities on one or more priority areas) and Technical assistance related to the implementation of the acquis communautaire (strengthening capacity building for the acquis communautaire at regional level).
Entities authorised to submit projects
Public sector organisations, the private sector, non-governmental organisations that are legal entities and operate in the public interest, e.g. national, regional and local authorities, educational and research institutions, environmental organisations, voluntary and community organisations, public-private partnerships.
Types of projects eligible for funding from Norwegian and EEA financial instruments
- Individual project - an economically indivisible sequence of tasks which fulfil precise technical functions and have clearly defined objectives. It may include one or more sub-projects. The minimum contribution from sources of financial instruments shall be 250 thousand. EUR.
- Programmes (project groups). Programmes may be submitted to facilitate the implementation of more comprehensive and costly strategies. They represent a portfolio of separate projects which have a sectoral, spatial or thematic common objective or are targeted at a specific national theme. They are based on the principle of partnership and multi-stakeholder agreement to achieve a common goal. and are coordinated by the intermediate body.
- Block grant funds based with a clearly defined purpose that can be provided as financial assistance to individuals, organisations or institutions. They aim to help implement projects where the final beneficiary is too small to be administered on an individual basis in terms of cost-effectiveness.
- Seed money a fund to finance advice and other assistance for project development and implementation.
Period of funding
The eligibility period during which commitments may be made in relation to the financial arrangements shall be from 1 May 2004 to 30 April 2009. However, the last request for contribution may be submitted by the Slovak Republic to the Financial Mechanism Office in Brussels by 31 January 2009 and therefore only the requests for contribution at the level of the National Contact Point (Office of the Government of the Slovak Republic) will be accepted. by 30 June 2008.
Financing of approved projects
The financing of projects from the funding of the Kingdom of Norway and the EEA will be based on the principle of reimbursement. Where justified, there will be the possibility of obtaining an advance payment. Funds provided from financial instruments The Kingdom of Norway and the EEA will form complementary sources of financing for activities under the priorities set and may not replace financial support for the area from other sources. The maximum co-financing rate for public sector projects shall not exceed 85% of total expenditure and for private sector projects 60% of total expenditure. In the case of a combination of resources from both financial mechanisms or a combination of resources from the European Communities or other sources, the total maximum co-financing rate shall not exceed 90% of the total cost. However, the co-financing rate may also be lower than the maximum limits set.
Calls for projects
Calls for proposals shall be published by the Commission. National contact point for financial mechanisms, which in Slovakia is the Office of the Government of the Slovak Republic www.eeagrants.sk
Further information will be provided by:
Project unit of foreign aid
Ministry of Health SR
Limba 2
837 52 Bratislava
02/593 73 268 (304)
zužana.sk
linda.winklerova@health.gov.sk