The agreements were signed between Urmo Merila, Head of the National Focal Point, Ambassador of Norway Marius Dirdal and Ambassador of Iceland Harald Aspelund.
“EEA and Norway Grants programmes are our contribution to build Estonia more resilient to the turbulences of our era – on security landscape, health sector, and the climate crises. This is also a good framework for stronger cooperation and exchange of knowledge between the experts in our countries, the donor programme partners – the Norwegian Directorate for Civil Protection, the Norwegian Directorate of Health and Innovation Norway work closely with their Estonian colleagues,” assured Ambassador of Norway Marius Dirdal.
Strengthening cooperation across programme areas
Together with Green ICT that had its Programme Agreement signed earlier this spring, the four programmes will support the cooperation in a number of different areas.
The signing of the remaining agreements ensures that all programme areas for the period 2021–2028 are now fully operational in Estonia. With this step completed, programme operators can move from preparation into implementation, translating strategic objectives into concrete actions. Close cooperation remains at the core of the EEA and Norway Grants. Exchange of expertise, joint initiatives and institutional partnerships help ensure that best practices are shared and adapted.
“Our cooperation shows that when shared values guide our work, we can deliver effective EEA and Norway Grants programmes with real impact. Through the cooperation between Estonia, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein, we are not only implementing programmes, we are also strengthening our long-term collaboration.” highlighted Urmo Merila.
Programme highlights
Green Transition Programme will contribute to four areas. It will enhance biodiversity and strengthen ecosystems, also innovation and public sector capacity in our local governments. Two new vessels will be contributing to emission-free marine transport. Besides that, programme improves awareness, attitudes and behaviours of youth around environmental sustainability. A comprehensive study of important fish species in the Baltic Sea with high conservation needs will also be carried out, including genetic mapping of Baltic herring subpopulations and research on the marine survival and genetic origin of Atlantic salmon.
Public Health Programme focuses on evidence-based prevention interventions, health and social system integration and enhancing the development of genetic medicine and treatments. Additionally, special attention is laid on domestic and gender-based violence prevention. In 2027, two open calls for proposals are planned to be launched on prevention of risk behaviours including domestic and gender-based violence.
Addressing emerging challenges
Crisis response and preparedness is a new area of cooperation under the Crisis Preparedness Programme. It covers information security, cybersecurity, social inclusion, and strengthening democratic institutions. The protection and preservation of cultural heritage is also included as a dedicated programme area.
Green ICT programme targets innovation-oriented Estonian enterprises to support and accelerate Estonia’s transition towards a climate-resilient economy on a low-carbon, circular model. This is done by focusing on development of new or improved green technologies, products, services and processes based on business-oriented collaboration between Estonian and Norwegian enterprises and research institutions. The first open call for preparatory activities will be launched in autumn of 2026.
EEA and Norway Grants support activities that respond to the challenges resulting from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine; in Estonia €3.6 million has been earmarked for this.
The coming years will see a wide range of initiatives launched, supporting sustainable development, societal resilience and innovation across the country. The aim of the programmes is delivering tangible benefits for people across Estonia and strengthen cooperation and trust between Estonia, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein in the future.
