Historic Agreement Signed for Bulgarian Development
Bulgaria has formally entered into Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) with Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway, securing a total of EUR 260 million in financial mechanisms. The agreements, signed on Wednesday, November 19, 2025, are designed to address and reduce socio-economic disparities within Bulgaria through the European Economic Area (EEA) Financial Mechanism and the Norwegian Financial Mechanism 2021-2028.
The Ministry of Innovation and Growth announced the agreement, which positions Bulgaria as the third-largest beneficiary of these grants, following Poland and Romania. A total of 15 EU countries will collectively access EUR 2.8 billion under this framework agreement.
Key Areas of Investment and Cooperation
The newly agreed funds will support a wide array of programs aimed at fostering sustainable development and improving living standards in Bulgaria. Key areas of focus include:
- Energy security
- Sustainability of water resources
- Green business innovation
- Sustainable local development
- Rule of law
- National asylum and migration system
- Cultural heritage
Prior to the signing, Bulgarian Foreign Minister Georg Georgiev met with Norwegian Ambassador Hilde Lunde. Their discussions highlighted the mechanisms as a 'solid basis for deepening bilateral cooperation' in areas such as green transition, democracy, human rights, social inclusion, and sustainability.
Long-Term Impact and Previous Successes
The implementation of these programs is set to continue until April 30, 2031, indicating a long-term commitment to Bulgaria's development. This latest funding cycle builds upon previous successful collaborations; during the last funding period, more than 300 projects were successfully implemented. Another report indicates that 569 projects with a total value of EUR 210 million were supported by the EEA and Norway Grants in Bulgaria during the 2014-2021 period, with 244 partnerships involving entities from the donor states.
The EEA and Norway Grants represent the financial contributions of Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway to reduce economic and social disparities in Europe and strengthen cooperation with beneficiary countries. These three countries are integral to the European internal market through the EEA Agreement.
6 Comments
Africa
Thrilled to see Bulgaria becoming a key beneficiary. Great potential here!
Habibi
The support for the rule of law is vital, but simply providing funds doesn't guarantee judicial independence or effective governance without strong internal reforms.
Muchacho
It's encouraging to see a long-term commitment until 2031, but previous funding cycles haven't fully closed the disparity gap, suggesting more than just money is needed.
Coccinella
Excellent example of European solidarity and cooperation. Win-win!
Bella Ciao
Focusing on energy security and water resources is smart, yet I hope there's also a strong emphasis on immediate social programs that directly benefit vulnerable communities.
Mariposa
It's positive that cultural heritage is included, but with so many critical development areas, I wonder if this funding will be spread too thin to make a significant impact everywhere.