Romania has concluded new cooperation agreements with Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein within the framework of the EEA and Norway Grants, marking the continuation of a joint commitment to reducing socioeconomic disparities in Europe and strengthening bilateral relations, announces the Ministry of Investments and European Projects.
The Minister of Investments and European Projects of Romania, Dragoș Pîslaru, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Norway, Espen Barth Eide, and His Excellency Friðrik Jónsson, Iceland's Ambassador accredited to Romania, signed the memorandums of understanding establishing the new funding period for these financial mechanisms during an official ceremony held at Victoria Palace.
„Romania continues its strategic partnership with Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway through the new EEA and Norwegian Grants. Since joining these cooperation frameworks, our country has benefited from non-reimbursable funding amounting to almost 1 billion euros. This money did not remain on paper but reached where it truly matters: it improved people's lives, their communities, schools, and institutions. The new grants, worth approximately 600 million euros, will play the same, equally important role for us,” stated Minister Dragoș Pîslaru.
The ceremony was attended by representatives of the Romanian institutions involved, as well as over 40 representatives from partner institutions in Norway and Iceland, who will contribute to the implementation of the funding programs.
Romania has been an active partner in the EEA and Norwegian Grants since its accession to the European Union. In the three programming periods carried out so far, Romania has benefited from approximately one billion euros in non-refundable funding, impacting the lives of hundreds of thousands of citizens.
The signing of new Memorandums of Understanding, with an allocation of over 596 million euros, initiates the process of accessing funds for new programs and projects with significant and lasting impact.
Nine programs will be funded in areas essential for Romania's long-term development, areas where the added value of the expertise of the states within the European Economic Area is particularly relevant: green transition and climate action, innovation, social cohesion and culture, strengthening democratic institutions and the rule of law, and bilateral cooperation. The interventions agreed upon by the donor states and Romania aim both to continue and develop the results obtained through previous funding and to pilot innovative measures.
Support for strengthening civil society will also continue to be an important priority of the EEA and Norway Grants. The program dedicated to civil society in Romania will be managed by the Foundation for the Development of Civil Society, selected by the donor states through a competitive process carried out for this purpose.
Romania and the donor states within the European Economic Area share common objectives and values, and the expertise of partners from Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein, as well as the contribution of the involved international partner organizations – the Council of Europe, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), and the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights – play an essential role in achieving them.