Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters between the European Community and the Kingdom of Norway concerning a Cooperation Programme for Economic Growth and Sustainable Development in Bulgaria
Date: 2007-07-25
Institutions: European Community, Norway
Subjects: Bulgaria, European Economic Area, Norway, Romania, economic cooperation, economic growth, environmental cooperation, exchange of information, sustainable development

L 221/46

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

25.8.2007

AGREEMENT

in the form of an Exchange of Letters between the European Community and the Kingdom of
Norway concerning a Cooperation Programme for Economic Growth and Sustainable Development
in Bulgaria

A.

Letter from the European Community

Sir,

I have the honour to refer to the negotiations which have taken place between the European Community and
the Kingdom of Norway (Norway) in the context of Bulgaria becoming a contracting party to the EEA
Agreement and the establishment of a Cooperation Programme for promoting economic growth and
sustainable development in Bulgaria.

The results of the negotiations are as follows:

1.

2.

A Cooperation Programme for promoting social and economic development in Bulgaria through
bilateral projects is to be established between Norway and Bulgaria, in accordance with a bilateral
agreement between the two States. The text of the bilateral agreement is annexed as an integral part of
this Exchange of Letters.

For the purpose of the Programme, Norway shall make available a total amount of EUR 20 million, for
commitment in a single tranche in 2007. This amount shall be made available from the date of entry into
force of the Agreement on the Participation of the Republic of Bulgaria and Romania in the European
Economic Area or an agreement to apply that Agreement provisionally, to 30 April 2009.

3.

This Exchange of Letters:

(a)

(b)

is to be ratified or approved by the European Community and Norway in accordance with their
respective procedures. The instruments of ratification or approval are to be deposited with the
General Secretariat of the Council of the European Union.

it shall enter into force on the day following the deposit of the last instrument of ratification or
the following related
approval provided that the instruments of ratification or approval of
agreements have been deposited as well:

(i) Agreement on the Participation of the Republic of Bulgaria and Romania in the European

Economic Area;

(ii) Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters between the European Community and
Norway concerning a Cooperation Programme for Economic Growth and Sustainable
Development in Romania;

(iii) additional Protocol to the Agreement between the European Economic Community and
Iceland consequent on the accession of the Republic of Bulgaria and Romania to the European
Union; and

(iv)

additional Protocol to the Agreement between the European Economic Community and the
Kingdom of Norway consequent on the accession of the Republic of Bulgaria and Romania to
the European Union.

I should be obliged if you would confirm your agreement to the contents of this letter.

Please accept, Sir, the assurance of my highest consideration.

25.8.2007

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 221/47

Съставено в Брюксел на
Hecho en Bruselas, el
V Bruselu dne
Udfærdiget i Bruxelles, den
Geschehen zu Brüssel am
Brüssel,
Έγινε στις Βρυξέλλες, στις
Done at Brussels,
Fait à Bruxelles, le
Fatto a Bruxelles, addì
Briselē,
Priimta Briuselyje
Kelt Brüsszelben,
Magħmul fi Brussell,
Gedaan te Brussel,
Sporządzono w Brukseli dnia
Feito em Bruxelas,
Adoptat la Bruxelles,
V Bruseli
V Bruslju,
Tehty Brysselissä
Utfärdat i Bryssel den

За Европейската общност
Por la Comunidad Europea
Za Evropské společenství
For Det Europæiske Fællesskab
Für die Europäische Gemeinschaft
Euroopa Ühenduse nimel
Για την Ευρωπαϊκή Κοινότητα
For the European Community
Pour la Communauté européenne
Per la Comunità europea
Eiropas Kopienas vārdā
Europos bendrijos vardu
Az Európai Közösség részéről
Għall-Komunità Ewropea
Voor de Europese Gemeenschap
W imieniu Wspólnoty Europejskiej
Pela Comunidade Europeia
Pentru Comunitatea Europeană
Za Európske spoločenstvo
Za Evropsko skupnost
Euroopan yhteisön puolesta
För Europeiska gemenskapen

L 221/48

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

25.8.2007

ANNEX

AGREEMENT

on a Norwegian Cooperation Programme for Economic Growth and Sustainable Development in Bulgaria
between
the Kingdom of Norway
and
the Republic of Bulgaria

hereinafter referred to as ‘the Parties’

Article 1

Objective

A Norwegian Cooperation Programme shall be established for promoting social and economic development in Bulgaria
through bilateral cooperation projects between the Parties within the sectors referred to in Article 4.

Article 2

Financial scope

For the purpose of the Norwegian Cooperation Programme for the Republic of Bulgaria, the Kingdom of Norway shall
make available a total amount of EUR 20 million, for commitment in a single tranche in 2007.

Article 3

Duration

The amount referred to in Article 2 shall be made available from the date of entry into force of the Agreement on the
Participation of the Republic of Bulgaria and Romania in the European Economic Area, or as from the date of entry into
force of an agreement to apply the Agreement provisionally, to 30 April 2009.

Article 4

Priority sectors

The Norwegian Cooperation Programme for Bulgaria shall be available for bilateral cooperation projects between eligible
applicants from the Parties to promote social and economic development in the Republic of Bulgaria within the following
priority sectors:

— reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, including Joint Implementation projects under the Kyoto Protocol, and other

emissions in air and water,

— energy efficiency and renewable energy,

— facilitating sustainable production, including certification and verification,

— implementation of Schengen acquis, support of National Schengen Plans as well as strengthening the judiciary.

Possible activities are,
transfer, and research and development.

inter alia,

innovation, human resource-development, networking, capacity-building, technology

Article 5

Co-financing ceilings

The Norwegian contribution in the form of grants shall not exceed 60 % of the project cost except for projects otherwise
financed by central, regional or local government budget allocations, where the contribution may not exceed 85 % of
project cost. Community ceilings for co-financing shall not be exceeded in any case. Contributions to non-governmental
organisations and social partners may be up to 90 % of project costs.

25.8.2007

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 221/49

Article 6

Management

The Norwegian Cooperation Programme for Bulgaria shall be managed by the Norwegian Government or an entity
appointed by it. The Management Entity shall consult with the Focal Point to be appointed by the Government of the
Republic of Bulgaria. The Commission may screen the projects (1).

Further provisions for the implementation of this Agreement will be issued by the Norwegian Government as necessary.

The management costs of the Norwegian Cooperation Programme shall be covered by the amount referred to in Article 2.

Article 7

Entry into force

This Agreement shall be ratified by the Kingdom of Norway and the Republic of Bulgaria according to their national
procedures. It shall enter into force 30 days after the date on which the last Party has deposited its instrument of ratification
with the Norwegian Ministry for Foreign Affairs, but not earlier than the entry into force of the Agreement on the
Participation of the Republic of Bulgaria and Romania in the European Economic Area, or as from the date of entry into
force of an agreement to apply the latter agreement provisionally.

Done at Brussels, ………2007,

For the Kingdom of Norway

For the Republic of Bulgaria

(1) The provisions laid down in the last sentence of Article 6, first paragraph, shall also apply as an adjustment to Article 4(3) of the
Agreement between the Kingdom of Norway and the European Community on a Norwegian Financial Mechanism for the period
2004-2009 (OJ L 130, 29.4.2004, p. 81).

L 221/50

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

25.8.2007

B.

Letter from the Kingdom of Norway

Sir,

I have the honour to acknowledge receipt of your letter of today's date, which reads as follows:

‘I have the honour to refer to the negotiations which have taken place between the European Community
and the Kingdom of Norway (Norway) in the context of Bulgaria becoming a contracting party to the
EEA Agreement and the establishment of a Cooperation Programme for promoting economic growth
and sustainable development in Bulgaria.

The results of the negotiations are as follows:

1.

2.

A Cooperation Programme for promoting social and economic development in Bulgaria through
bilateral projects is to be established between Norway and Bulgaria, in accordance with a bilateral
agreement between the two States. The text of the bilateral agreement is annexed as an integral part
of this Exchange of Letters.

For the purpose of the Programme, Norway shall make available a total amount of EUR 20 million,
for commitment in a single tranche in 2007. This amount shall be made available from the date of
entry into force of the Agreement on the Participation of the Republic of Bulgaria and Romania in
the European Economic Area or an agreement to apply that Agreement provisionally, to 30 April
2009.

3.

This Exchange of Letters:

(a)

(b)

is to be ratified or approved by the European Community and Norway in accordance with
their respective procedures. The instruments of ratification or approval are to be deposited
with the General Secretariat of the Council of the European Union;

it shall enter into force on the day following the deposit of the last instrument of ratification or
approval provided that the instruments of ratification or approval of the following related
agreements have been deposited as well:

(i) Agreement on the Participation of the Republic of Bulgaria and Romania in the

European Economic Area;

(ii) Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters between the European Community and
Norway concerning a Cooperation Programme for Economic Growth and Sustainable
Development in Romania;

(iii) Additional Protocol to the Agreement between the European Economic Community and
Iceland consequent on the accession of the Republic of Bulgaria and Romania to the
European Union; and

(iv) Additional Protocol to the Agreement between the European Economic Community and
the Kingdom of Norway consequent on the accession of the Republic of Bulgaria and
Romania to the European Union.’

I have the honour to confirm agreement with the contents of your letter.

Please accept, Sir, the assurance of my highest consideration.

25.8.2007

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 221/51

Utferdiget i Brussel,
Съставено в Брюксел на
Hecho en Bruselas, el
V Bruselu dne
Udfærdiget i Bruxelles, den
Geschehen zu Brüssel am
Brüssel,
Έγινε στις Βρυξέλλες, στις
Done at Brussels,
Fait à Bruxelles, le
Fatto a Bruxelles, addì
Briselē,
Priimta Briuselyje
Kelt Brüsszelben,
Magħmul fi Brussell,
Gedaan te Brussel,
Sporządzono w Brukseli dnia
Feito em Bruxelas,
Adoptat la Bruxelles,
V Bruseli
V Bruslju,
Tehty Brysselissä
Utfärdat i Bryssel den

For Kongeriget Norge
За Кралство Норвегия
Por el Reino de Noruega
Za Norské království
For Kongeriget Norge
Für das Königreich Norwegen
Norra Kuningriigi nimel
Για το Βασίλειο της Νορβηγίας
For the Kingdom of Norway
Pour le Royaume de Norvège
Per il Regno di Norvegia
Norvēģijas Karalistes vārdā
Norvegijos Karalystės vardu
A Norvég Királyság részéről
Ghar-Renju tan-Norveġja
Voor het Koninkrijk Noorwegen
W imieniu Królestwa Norwegii
Pelo Reino da Noruega
Pentru Regatul Norvegiei
Za Nórske kráľovstvo
Za Kraljevino Norveško
Norjan kuningaskunnan puolesta
För Konungariket Norge