The purpose of the bilateral assistance programme is to support Croatia's integration into the European Union and NATO, Norwegian Ambassador Elisabeth Walaas said at the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the two countries' foreign ministries.
Walaas said the money was intended for reforms, including of the judiciary, sectors which need to be adjusted to European standards, promotion of democratic institutions, and the reconstruction of institutions and infrastructure damaged in the war.
The Norwegian government also wishes to contribute to the implementation of the Sarajevo Declaration on refugee return and integration as well as to the sustainable economic and social development of the least developed parts of Croatia, she said.
The state secretary at the ministry who signed the memorandum, Zeljko Kupresak, underlined the importance of Norway's assistance for the successful completion of reforms.
He said that seven projects, worth more than 30 million Norwegian krone, would be realised as part of the 2006 bilateral assistance programme. The programme accounts for 30 per cent of Norway's total annual assistance to Croatia.
The Norwegian government has already invested 67 million krone in Croatia this year to finance demining, the reconstruction of formerly war-struck areas, the development of democracy, human rights and the civil sector, economic and social development.
The Norwegian government has invested 1.5 million krone in the development of civil society and NGO activities.
(1 NOK = 0.12 EUR)