Very important projects to Romania, such as Via Transilvanica and slow tourism in the Danube Delta, will be funded with Norwegian grants, the Minister of European Investment and Projects, Dragos Pislaru, said on Thursday, at the end of a government meeting, according to Agerpres.
”We have announced that the memorandum will be signed with Norway and with the states of the European Economic Area. (…) What was not said yesterday and I would like it to be understood is that there are some very important projects for Romania in this support related to Norwegian funds. First of all, it is the first time when the Romanian government pledges to use the funding that I mentioned to you to support Via Transilvania and it is something that I think we deserved to do for a long time. It is a project that was practically made from scratch, started from nothing and which has now become one of the things we are proud of at a tourist and cultural level at a global level, not just European”, said Dragoș Pislaru.
He added that another project, ‘lost due to the poor management of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan ( PNRR)’, namely the development of slow tourism in the Danube Delta, was discussed to be financed also from Norwegian funds.
”Secondly, a project lost due to the poor management of the PNRR, namely the development of slow tourism in the Danube Delta – which was also lost due to the fact that no one was concerned (…) And it was abandoned from the PNRR because it could not be implemented anymore – we discussed with the Norwegian partners to be able to finance it with Norwegian funds. It is the pet project of rower Ivan Patzaichin. It was his dream for over 20 years that tourism in the Danube Delta should not be done with boats that make noise everywhere, in all directions, and that there should be, as we find in all national parks, in all nature reserves, routes where you can really understand what this extraordinary heritage is. And the fact that we have now identified the source of funding so that this project is not lost represents to me a tribute in memory of Ivan Patzaichin and is a very important moment to have a visitable Delta”, the minister said.
He added that countless other projects are targeted, such as measures related to the fight against disinformation, ‘something that we will have in a bilateral relationship with Norway’, and other things related to cultural and social heritage, biodiversity, entrepreneurship and innovation.
Romania will get over EUR 596 million in new financing period of the EEA and Norwegian Grants, after the signing of the Memoranda of Understanding with Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein, with the funds supporting programmes in areas such as green transition, innovation, social cohesion, strengthening democratic institutions and bilateral cooperation.
From environmental protection and social inclusion to the conservation of cultural heritage and the strengthening of the rule of law, the EEA and Norway Grants have become a pillar of sustainable development for Romania over the past 20 years. Although less voluminous than EU structural funds, these resources provided by Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein have successfully financed niche projects where community needs were most acute.
Since 2007, the year of Romania’s accession to the European Union and, consequently, to the European Economic Area (EEA), the country has benefited from three financial programming periods. The balance sheet of these two decades shows an investment of over one billion euros, strategically directed towards reducing economic and social disparities.
A Funding Model Based on Cooperation
Unlike other financing mechanisms, the Norway Grants place a particular emphasis on partnerships between Romanian entities and those in the donor states. This approach has allowed for a constant exchange of best practices and technical expertise, especially in fields where Norway is a world leader, such as renewable energy or prison management.
Regarding the impact of these funds, the former Ambassador of Norway to Bucharest, Siri Barry, emphasised in a statement for Agerpres: “These grants represent more than just financial support; they are an investment in our common values. We have managed to build bridges between people and institutions, working together for a fairer and greener Europe.”
Key Areas: Where Has the Difference Been Made?
The evolution of these funds has targeted sensitive sectors that often remain outside the main lines of European financing:
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Social Inclusion and Poverty Alleviation: Projects dedicated to Roma communities and vulnerable groups have focused on access to education and healthcare.
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Cultural Heritage: The restoration of emblematic monuments, such as the Palace of Culture in Iași or various wooden churches in Transylvania, was made possible through these mechanisms.
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Justice and Home Affairs: Improving prison conditions and modernising the police force have been constant priorities, aiming for alignment with ECHR standards.
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Energy and Environment: Romania has utilised Norwegian expertise to develop geothermal energy solutions and to protect fragile ecosystems.
Results in Figures: Three Stages of Development
The evolution of the allocated sums reflects Romania’s increasing importance within this mechanism of European solidarity.
| Programming Period | Allocated Sum (approximate) | Main Focus |
| 2007 – 2009 | €98 million | Initial environmental and health projects. |
| 2009 – 2014 | €306 million | Strengthening civil society and research. |
| 2014 – 2021 (extended) | €502 million | Digitalisation, green energy, and social inclusion. |
Civil Society: The Engine of Change
A fundamental aspect of the Norway Grants is the massive support granted to NGOs through programmes such as the Active Citizens Fund. During a period when the non-profit sector faced financing difficulties, these funds ensured the survival of many watchdog and legal assistance projects.
Ionuț Sibian, Executive Director of the Civil Society Development Foundation (FDSC), noted in an analysis for HotNews: “Norwegian funds have often been the only lifeline for small organisations fighting for human rights in isolated areas. Without this support, the citizen’s voice in relation to the state would have been much weaker.”
Implementation Challenges and Bureaucracy
Although success is visible, the 20-year journey has not been without obstacles. The low administrative capacity of some Romanian public institutions and cumbersome bureaucracy have sometimes led to delays in the absorption of funds. Nevertheless, absorption rates for Norway Grants have traditionally been among the highest in Romania, often exceeding the average for EU funds.
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