Historic cooperation agreement between Norway and Romania

Europe minister Elisabeth Vik Aspaker. ( Conservative Party ).Photo: regjeringen.no

Norway has allocated 502.5 million euros, about 4.5 billion kroner, to a number of cooperation programs with Romania in the coming years through the EEA Grants.

– The government has been keen to use the EEA funds to strengthen efforts and cooperation to create economic growth and prosperity in Europe.

This is something we will achieve through this agreement,  EU / EEA minister Elisabeth Vik Aspaker says.
Around 160 million euros are earmarked for corporate-, research and energy cooperation, the Foreign Ministry informs.

– The EEA funds are primarily meant to benefit Romania, but the programs will be implemented in cooperation with Norwegian partners. This is therefore a very good invitation to  Norwegian companies wishing to familiarize themselves with new markets for instance, says Vik Aspaker.

In addition to the corporate and research cooperation  the agreement includes programs on justice and police cooperation, health, culture and measures to improve Roma people’s living conditions.

– The program to combat poverty is at 70 million euros and will be especially directed towards Roma.

But other programs of the agreement also inlcude earmarked support for measures for the Roma, says the Minister.
The agreement will be signed in Bucharest on Thursday morning and is the most comprehensive partnership agreement ever made between Norway and Romania .

This is the first of the  framework agreements which are to be concluded with 15 countries on the use of a total of 2.8 billion euros, about 25 billion kroner.

 

Source: NTB scanpix / Norway Today