News archive

The EEA and Norway Grants status report 2009 highlights the major achievements of the social and economic development projects that Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway support in Central and Southern Europe.

Foreword to the Report by the Financial Mechanism Office (FMO) on the EEA Grants and the Norway Grants 2004 – 2009

The Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) and SINTEF have initiated a project to promote better coordination and organising of research within the field of carbon capture and storage (CCS). The response to the initiative has so far been good, both from the European Commission and from potential partners.

Nobel Laureate Al Gore and Norwegian Minister of Foreign Affairs Jonas Gahr Støre will host a conference on melting ice in Tromsø. The aim is to produce a joint statement that can provide input for the climate conference in Copenhagen.

The EU is close to adopting a trade ban on seal products that may be incompatible with international trade rules. The European Parliament will vote on the proposed trade ban during the plenary session in Strasbourg from 4 to 7 May. Norwegian Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre believes the proposed ban could affect Norway unfairly.

The Norwegian Government has decided to send a new Nansen-Class Frigate to the EU anti-piracy naval operation ATALANTA outside Somalia. Planning and preparation will now start with a view to deploy from Norway in August this year.

HRH Crown Prince Haakon of Norway officialy inaugurated the newly renovated Norway House and met with President José Manuel Barroso of the European Commission and President Hans Gert Pöttering of the European Parliament.

The key to sustainable development of the Arctic is enhanced, broadened and effective international cooperation and coordination, said State Secretary of Foreign Affairs Elisabeth Walaas at an Arctic policy briefing recently held in Brussels.

Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg and six members of the Norwegian Government visited Brussels this week, and met both with the Commission and some MEPs. Questions on climate- and energy , the northern areas, the international financial crisis and the cooperation with Russia were on the agenda.

Morten Loktu from Trondheim, Norway, has been appointed as a member of the board of the EU’s new institute of innovation and technology, EIT. The Senior Vice President, Research and Development at StatoilHydro ASA, is the only board member from a non-member country.