New electronic system brought record numbers of grant applications from civil servants
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The Nordic-Baltic Mobility Programme for Public Administration received 79 applications this year, which is more than in previous years. The biggest number of applications was submitted in Estonia (25), Latvia (24) and Lithuania (22). 8 applications were submitted in Nordic countries, the majority of them in Denmark (5). This year was the first when grant applications could only be submitted electronically via the NB8-Grants application environment. An electronic application system is more environment and user friendly than submission of applications by e-mail or post. The NB8-Grants environment also contains a lot of tips and explanations for applicants that should help them avoid making mistakes in their applications. |
The grants allocated within the scope of the public administration mobility programme created to boost cooperation between officials in Nordic and Baltic countries in 2011 totalled EUR349,493 and were divided between 64 projects. The biggest grant allocated to one project is EUR12,400 and the smallest allocated amount is EUR743.| An important aspect of the numerous applications received by the secretariat of the programme is that the initiatives of local authorities and state authorities are equally represented, which shows that there is close cooperation between Nordic countries and Baltic States at all levels of public administration. “Projects aimed at increasing the efficiency of cooperation between law enforcement authorities as well as innovative activities that support enterprise and economic cooperation stand out among the projects financed by the mobility programme this year,” says Madis Kanarbik, Programme Coordinator in the Nordic Council of Ministers’ Office in Estonia which also is the secretariat of the programme. Grants were also allocated to cooperation projects in the areas of culture, environment protection, healthcare, transport and e-services, etc. The Nordic-Baltic Mobility Programme for Public Administration supports the study visits, work placement trips and network meetings of officials and other public sector workers, thereby contributing to cooperation between the Nordic countries and Baltic States at the level of ministries, regional offices and local governments. Grants are issued to projects which involve partners from at least three NB8 countries. The programme covers up to 70% of the travel and accommodation costs of projects. The programme is designed to promote the exchange of knowledge at all levels of public administration in the shared interests of the Nordic and Baltic countries (NB8 – Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway and Sweden) thereby contributing to the development of the public sector in the region. The secretariat of the programme is the Nordic Council of Ministers’ Office in Estionia. Grants can be applied for once a year in spring. Further information about the grants is available at www.norden.ee. Madis Kanarbik | ||
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