News in English     | 09.03.2018. 14:46 |

Norway to increase its financial support to Western Balkans countries

FENA Sanda Hrkić

SARAJEVO, March 9 (FENA) - Norway is almost doubling its development assistance to the Western Balkans, with an increase from NOK 175 million in 2017 to NOK 319 million in 2018.

In the white paper on the course for Norwegian foreign and security policy published last year, the Government announced that it would be increasing its support for promoting stability, democracy and development in neighboring areas.

The EU and a number of individual European countries are also focusing more strongly on the Western Balkans at present. All the recipient countries in the region are seeking EU membership. On 6 February, the European Commission presented an ambitious strategy for enlarging the EU to include the Western Balkans.

Norway’s support is intended to promote cooperation and reconciliation in the region, economic growth and job creation, good governance and anti-corruption, the protection of minorities and a stronger civil society. Priorities will vary from country to country, depending on their needs and the priorities of other donor countries and the EU.

Norway’s support is based on the recipient countries’ own priorities, and will be harmonized with the contributions of other donor countries and the EU. Some of the funding will be allocated to programs that are jointly financed by other donors, including the EU.

The BiH Ambassador to Norway Nedim Makarević said in a statement to FENA that the priorities in BiH are projects related to peace and reconciliation, economic growth, innovation and job creation, strengthening the legal system through strengthening the capacity of courts, prison system and fight against organized crime and corruption.

He pointed out that about NOK 60 million are intended for projects in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

He explained that the deadline for submitting applications is April 17 this year, and the budget of certain projects is not strictly defined. More detailed information and project applications are available on: projects.sarajevo@mfa.no.

Norwegian funding is available for Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia. Some of the funding will be allocated to regional projects that include two or more countries, stated the Embassy of the Kingdom of Norway in Sarajevo.

(FENA) S. R.

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