Norway Grants or the Norwegian Financial Mechanism 2014-2021 represent the financial contribution from Norway in order to reduce economic and social disparities in Europe and to strengthen bilateral relations between the Norway and the Beneficiary States.

The Norway Grants consist of 1.3 billion during the 2014-2021 funding period  and are are allocated to the 13 countries which joined the EEA after 2004, for financial contributions in the following priority sectors:

• Innovation, research, education and competitiveness;
• Social inclusion, youth employment and fight against poverty;
• Environment, energy, climate change and low carbon economy;
• Culture, civil society, good governance and fundamental rights and freedoms;
• Justice and home affairs.

The cooperation and implementation framework of the financial assistance is set by the Memorandum of Understanding on the Norvegian Financial Mechanism 2014- 2021, concluded between the Kingdom of Norway and the Government of Romania.

The Memorandum of Understanding establishes the national entities involved in the implementation of the Norwegian Financial Mechanism 2014-2021 and their competences within the national management and control system (Annex A), as well as within the implementation framework (Annex B), which specifies: the list of the programme areas and their financial allocation under the Norwegian Financial Mechanism 2014-2021, the approved financial programmes with the main objectives and expected outcomes, the bilateral ambitions, the related Programmes Operators and the pre-defined projects approved at the moment of the conclusion of the Memorandum.

For further information regarding the Norwegian Financial Mechanism 2014-2021, please consult the web page of the National Focal Point (the Ministry of Investments and European Projects) and the official web page of the Mechanism.

JUSTICE PROGRAME

Romanian Ministry of Justice is Programe Operator for the Justice programe financed under Norwegian Financial Mechanism 2014-2021. The budget of the Programme is 57.294.118 Euro out of which 48.700.000 Norway grant and 8.594.118 Euro national cofinancing. The budget includes the performance reserve accessed by the Romanian Ministry of Justice, amounting to 4.352.941 Euro.

The Programe is implemented during 2016-2024 by the Romanian Ministry of Justice in partnership with:

Ø  Donor Programe Partners:

- the Norwegian Ministry of Justice

- the Directorate of Norwegian Correctional Service (KDI)
- the Norwegian Courts Administration 

Ø  International Partner Organisation: Council of Europe.

10 predefined projects are financed by the Programe, for which 8 financing contracts have been signed, in the following areas:

• effectiveness and efficiency of the judicial system and strengthening the rule of law;
• correctional services;
• domestic and gender based violence;
• good governance.