Following the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding on 20 March for the new 2021–2028 programming period, the Kick-off Meeting on 26 March marked the start of a new phase of cooperation, preparation, and shared ambition.
The meeting brought together representatives from the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Athens, the Financial Mechanism Office in Brussels, Programme Operators and Fund Operators, Donor Programme Partners, Project Promoters, and colleagues who will help shape and implement the new programming period in Greece.
What stood out from the very beginning was the strong sense of commitment in the room: openness, active participation, and a shared willingness to move forward together. Through presentations and open discussion, we reflected on the key priorities for the new period and the importance of coordination, knowledge exchange, and timely preparation across all partners.
The parallel thematic discussions were especially valuable, highlighting that the design of the new programmes is not a one-way process, but a genuine exercise in co-creation.
The Kick-off Meeting also created an important opportunity for back-to-back meetings with the programmes, which continued into the following day, allowing for more focused exchanges, practical coordination, and a deeper discussion of priorities and next steps.
Our Donor Programme Partners strongly reaffirmed this spirit, generously expressing their readiness to contribute expertise, experience, and institutional support. Their presence and contribution made one thing clear: this new programming period is built on a shared commitment to develop focused, meaningful programmes with real impact for people and communities.
The Kick-off Meeting confirmed that the EEA Grants 2021–2028 in Greece begin on a strong foundation: with shared vision, strong partnerships, and readiness for collective work. With cooperation, openness, and mutual trust, we now move to the next steps — with the common goal of delivering programmes that respond meaningfully to today’s social needs and everyday challenges.
