Norway will contribute NOK 50 million in total financial assistance to Macedonia in 2008. The main purpose of the assistance is to support consolidation of peace and stability, reconciliation and Macedonian integration into the Euro-Atlantic structures.
Norway will contribute 50 million in total assistance to Macedonia in 2008. A substantial part of the support is channelled through a bilateral co-operation programme with Macedonian authorities that was initiated in 2004. The bilateral programme is coordinated by the Secretariat for European Affairs (SEA) on the Macedonian side and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Oslo. The remaining assistance in administered by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Oslo, except for NOK 1,0 million which is set aside for the Norwegian Embassy in Skopje for small projects. Details about applications for this small projects' programme are given on a separate web page.
The main purpose of the Norwegian assistance is to support consolidation of peace and stability, reconciliation and integration of Macedonia into the Euro-Atlantic structures. Full implementation of the provisions of the Ohrid agreement is an important instrument to achieve this. The Norwegian assistance is centred on ethnic balance, inter-ethnic cooperation and fair geographical distribution. Among the focus areas are support to the decentralization process, institution and capacity building, democratization and respect for human rights, fight against corruption and organised crime, including combating trafficking in human beings. The programme includes also business sector development and rehabilitation of schools and hospitals.
Instructions on how to apply for Norwegian assistance to be found here.