The Fund for Bilateral Relations is a flexible source of supporting mutual interest initiatives both for entities in the Donor States and in Romania, contributing to strengthening the cooperation and improving the mutual knowledge and understanding between institutions, public or private organizations in Romania, on one hand, and in Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein, on the other hand. The Fund aims at strengthening the contact, cooperation and knowledge at all levels - administrative, political and cultural – between Romania and the donors.
The budget of the Bilateral Relations Fund is 10 050 000 EUR, representing about 2% of the total allocation for Romania in the period 2014-2021, being distributed as follows:
The Fund for Bilateral Relations is implemented through predefined projects or open calls.
The implemented bilateral initiatives concern the following priority sectors and fields (in the Blue Book, without limitation):
The strategic mutual interest objectives may be financed under the Fund for Bilateral Relations, and among such objectives there are: Romanian Presidency of the EU in 2019, Timișoara – European Capital of Culture 2021, International Film Festival Transilvania in Cluj, FILIT Literature Festival in Iași, 30 years of Norwegian teaching in Cluj in 2021, etc.
The following activities are considered eligible under the Fund for Bilateral Relations, provided that they contribute to strengthening the bilateral relations between the Donor States and Romania:
The eligible promoters and partners are any public or private entity, commercial (under specific programmes) or non-commercial, as well as the non-governmental organizations established as legal entities, either in the donor states or in the beneficiary states, as well as any international organization, body or agency. Trade unions, employers or professional organizations are also eligible applicants.
The bilateral initiatives aim at meeting the following indicators (as the case may be):
The Fund for Bilateral Relations is run at a double level:
The National Focal Point monitors and verifies the use of the Fund for Bilateral Relations allocated to programme operators, based on the provisions of the programme implementation agreements.