The Ministry of Justice organized on Wednesday 15^th of November 2017 the final conference for closing the three programmes financed through Norway grants 2009-2014, respectively RO20 ”Domestic and Gender-based Violence”, RO23 ”Correctional Services, including Non-custodial Sanctions” and RO24 ”Judicial Capacity-building and Cooperation”.

The conference was attended by high level representatives, namely Ms Sofia – Mariana MOȚ, State Secretary within the Romanian Ministry of Justice, Ms Anette CARNARIUS ELSETH, State Secretary within the Norwegian Ministry of Justice and Public Security, Her Excellency Ms Lise Nicoline KLEVEN GREVSTAD, Ambassador of the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Bucharest. The event was attended also by representatives of the donor state, donor programme partners (Norwegian Court Administration, Norwegian Correctional Services, Norwegian Police Directorate, etc.) as well as of the Council of Europe, Programme Operators from other beneficiary states of the Norway grants (Poland, Lithuania), Romanian institutions involved in the implementation of Norway grants (Ministry of Public Finance, Ministry of Regional Development, Public Administration and European Funds), beneficiaries and project partners respectively of central institutions (the National Institute of Magistracy, the National School of Clerks, the General Inspectorate of the Romanian Police, the Prosecutor's Office attached to the High Court of Cassation and Justice, the National Agency for Roma, the National Administration of Penitentiaries, the National Agency for Equal Opportunities for Women and Men, etc.), and non-governmental organizations (Save the Children, the Foundation for Elderly Support, etc.).

State Secretary Sofia - Mariana Moţ launched the conference by highlighting the "special assistance that Norway grants offered for supporting the strategic development needs of the judiciary, the penitentiary system, and for combating the domestic violence phenomenon in Romania. For the Romanian judicial system, the Norwegian assistance was the first major non-reimbursable allocation after the pre-accession European financial funding arriving in a crucial moment that of the entry into force of the new legal codes. ".

Ms. Lise Kleven Grevstad, Ambassador of the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Bucharest, stressed the importance of cooperation between the two countries in the justice field. "During the programming period we are now concluding, Norway grants have contributed to the justice system in 11 European states. Combating domestic and gender-based violence was one of the areas of intervention. In Romania, the outstanding results achieved in these programmes, as well as the excellent collaboration with the Norwegian institutions, have encouraged us not only to continue, but also to double the funding. ".

The main results achieved within the 3 programmes financed through Norway grants 2009-2014 were presented during the conference.

As regards the judicial system, the Norwegian funding contributed to the training of approximately 9,000 judges, prosecutors and other law professionals in the context of the adoption of new legal codes. At the same time, investments were made in the IT infrastructure and in the training of specialists for the preparation of the future development of the electronic case management program used at the level of the judiciary (ECRIS).

The Norwegian assistance also provided the framework for implementing pilot policies targeting vulnerable categories of citizens, including the Roma population, aiming at improving their access to justice.

The programme dedicated to the penitentiary and probation systems as well as to the pre-trial detention centres managed by the Romanian Police have contributed to the improvement of the remand/detention conditions in compliance with international standards, to the increase of the personnel skills and to the development of specialized intervention programmes for people in custody.

Thus, a therapeutic centre for women was set up and equipped within the Gherla Penitentiary, the youth pavilion/wing from Bacău Penitentiary for the social reintegration of minors and youngsters deprived of liberty was rehabilitated, two self-management centres were set up at Craiova and Brăila-Tichileşti Detention Centres, 5 ecological workshops in the Danube Delta region were built for professional training of detainees, the Centre for Training and Specialization of Officers from the National Administration of Penitentiaries – Arad was renovated and equipped, over 1,350 persons (officers and specialists from the penitentiary system, policemen) were trained, the organizational management and the working tools for probation were improved, and also 51 arrest centres were modernized.

Nonetheless, the Norwegian assistance has supported the system of protection of victims of domestic violence, both by improving the counselling and hosting services at local level, by setting up or supporting the operation of 11 centres for victims of domestic violence and 2 centres for aggressors, 75 aggressors benefiting of counselling services and 950 victims of domestic violence receiving specialized services, as well as by organizing 4 public information and awareness campaigns on domestic violence and trafficking in human beings with a focus on vulnerable groups, including Roma people, helping them understand and exert  their rights, also by training 1226 specialists in fighting against domestic violence, and training 135 specialists in  fighting against trafficking in human beings.

The Program Operator has been constantly supported by Norwegian partner institutions as well as by the Council of Europe, international partner organization, being carried out a series of bilateral actions leading to the creation of new networks of cooperation between specialists from both countries.

For further information on programmes funded through the Norway Grants 2009-2014, managed by the Ministry of Justice, as Program Operator, and the respective implemented projects, please see the operator's webpage at http://norwaygrants.just.ro/en-gb/projects.aspx.

Press release regarding the 2014-2015 Annual Report on the implementation of EEA and Norway grants

The 2014-2015 Annual Report on the implementation of the EEA and Norway grants was published on the 24th of August 2015. It provides an overview of the aims and achievements of the operational programmes, funded by the said grants, and implemented in 16 European countries, including Romania.

The report underlines as a main accomplishment at national level, out of 22 operational programmes financed by the above mentioned instruments, the results achieved in the framework of the RO 24 Programme “Judicial Capacity-building and Cooperation” managed by the Romanian Ministry of Justice as Programme Operator through the “Strengthening the capacity of the Romanian judicial system to face new legislative and institutional challenges” project.

Having the Superior Council of Magistracy (SCM) together with the National Institute of Magistracy and the National School of Clerks as project promoters, and the Norwegian Court Administration and the Council of Europe, as international partners, the project reconfirms through the results obtained, namely the training of 2.696 of specialists, the continuous interest of the Judiciary for the increase in the quality of the act of justice, including by the specialized training of the representatives of the legal professions and court staff on topics of high interest such as the new Romanian civil, criminal and procedural codes and the enforcement of the European Convention on Human Rights.

The Romanian Ministry of Justice, as Programme Operator, will continue to support the partner institutions with the project implementation in order to achieve the envisaged results. Additional initiatives of the project promoters meant to contribute to the exchange of best practice between the Romanian and Norwegian experts will also be funded.

More information on the “Strengthening the capacity of the Romanian judicial system to face new legislative and institutional challenges” project can be found on the SCM’s web page dedicated to project financed by Norway grants (https://sites.google.com/a/csm.csm1909.ro/norwaygrants/).

The 2014-2015 Annual Report can be consulted on the web page http://eeagrants.org/index.php/News/2015/Annual-report-2014-2015-out-now.

Press release concerning the approval of the project  "Further strengthening the judicial bilateral cooperation between Romania and Norway in the field of transfer of sentenced persons"

 The project “Further strengthening the judicial bilateral cooperation between Romania and Norway in the field of transfer of sentenced persons“ was approved for financing on July 13, 2015, under the Bilateral Fund of the Programme RO23 “Correctional Services, including non-custodial sanctions” within the Norwegian Financial Mechanism 2009 – 2014.

The project aims at improving the application of the Treaty between Romania and Norway on the transfer of sentenced persons, through the organization of two seminars for the practitioners in the field from the two partner states.

The project will be implemented by the Romanian Ministry of Justice through the Department of International Law and Treaties, and the Directorate of the Norwegian Correctional Service. The project has a 12 months implementation period (June 2015-June 2016) and a budget amounting to about 48.000 EUR, non-reimbursable funds.

This action is a follow up of the project “Strengthening the judicial cooperation between Romania and Norway in the field of transfer of sentenced persons”, which was carried out during February - June 2014 by the Directorate for International Law and Judicial Cooperation (Romanian Ministry of Justice) in partnership with the Directorate of the Norwegian Correctional Service.

LAUNCH OF THE CALL FOR PROPOSALS FOR THE BILATERAL FUND AT THE LEVEL OF THE

RO20 PROGRAMME "DOMESTIC AND GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE” FUNDED BY THE KINGDOM OF NORWAY THROUGH THE NORWEGIAN FINANCIAL MECHANISM 2009-2014

The Ministry of Justice announces the launch of the call for the Bilateral Fund at the level of the RO20 Programme "Domestic and Gender-based Violence", funded by the Kingdom of Norway through the Norwegian Financial Mechanism 2009-2014, from August 11^th 2015 until November 2^nd 2015.

The activities of the projects financed through this call for proposals will have to contribute to strengthening the relations and exchange of experience between project promoters and donor state entities.

The eligible applicants within the Programme are the project promoters of the projects within the RO20 Programme "Domestic and Gender-based Violence".

The maximum value of an application submitted by one Project Promoter is 15.000 Euro.

The deadline for submission of the projects is November 2^nd 2015, the mail/courier date, or November 2^nd 2015 17:00 hours, in case of personal submission at the Ministry of Justice.

The submission of the projects is possible throughout the whole period of the opening of the call and can be done on paper personally, Monday to Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the Registry of the Ministry of Justice situated in Apolodor Street, no. 17, district 5, Bucharest, postal code 050741 or by mail/courier at the same address.

The call can be accessed here.

To the attention of the project promoters for the call for proposals launched within the RO20 Programme „Domestic and gender based violence” funded by the Kingdom of Norway through the Norwegian Financial Mechanism 2009-2014:

Please note that additional funds have been identified for funding other 2 projects on the reserve list, as follows:

To the attention of the project promoters for the call for proposals launched within the RO20 Programme „Domestic and gender based violence” funded by the Kingdom of Norway through the Norwegian Financial Mechanism 2009-2014:

Please note that additional funds have been identified for funding 4 projects on the reserve list, as follows:

To the attention of the project promoters for the call for proposals launched within the RO20 Programme „Domestic and gender based violence” funded by the Kingdom of Norway through the Norwegian Financial Mechanism 2009-2014:

Please note that for projects on the reserve list there are no funds available at this moment.

To the extent that additional funds will be identified, subject to the Donors further approval, the Programme Operator (MoJ) shall establish the priority areas of the call to allocate additional funds as well as the amounts available.

Within the priority areas or sub-areas, funding shall be granted to the projects on the reserve list, according to the rankings published on the Program Operator’s website.

The applicants from the reserve list shall be notified in writing on the possibility to conclude a financing contract in approximated 2 months’ time.

To the attention of the project promoters for the call for proposals launched within the RO20 Programme „Domestic and gender based violence” funded by the Kingdom of Norway through the Norwegian Financial Mechanism 2009-2014, we hereby inform you that it has been finalized the selection process of the projects submitted within the present call.

In this regard, please find below:

1.    List of admitted projects

2.    Projects on the reserve list

3.    List of rejected projects

To the attention of the project promoters for the call for proposals launched within the Programme RO 20 ”Domestic and gender based violence” funded by the Kingdom of Norway through the Norwegian Financial Mechanism 2009-2014

The list of admitted projects can be consulted here

The list of rejected projects can be consulted here 

LAUNCHING OF THE CALL FOR PROJECT PROPOSALS WITHIN THE PROGRAMME „RO20 DOMESTIC AND GENDER‐BASED VIOLENCE“ FUNDED BY THE KINGDOM OF NORWAY THROUGH THE FINANCIAL MECHANISM 2009-2014

The Ministry of Justice in Romania has launched a call for proposals within the Programme „RO20 Domestic and Gender‐based Violence“ funded by the Kingdom of Norway through the Financial Mechanism 2009-2014 to be open between February 3 and April 16 2014.

The projects financed through the Programme will need to contribute to achieving the general objective of the Programme, respectively reducing domestic violence in Romania.

Within the framework of the Programme, the following priorities will be financed:

•  
  Supporting the network of units^[1] in the framework of the Law on domestic violence;
• Awareness and sensitising activities;
• Training activities for the professionals working in the field of domestic violence.

The eligible project promoters within the Programme, as extensively described in the Guidelines for applicants, are:

• Romanian public institutions with legal attributions in the field;
• Non-commercial and/or non-governmental organisations established as legal persons in Romania; 
• Inter-governmental organisations with legal attributions in the field operating in Romania.

The value of the grant a project promoter may receive depends on the call priority and it ranges between the minimum limit of 170.000 Euros and the maximum limit of 500.000 Euros, to which the co-financing of the beneficiaries can be added, under the conditions described in the Call for project proposals.

The deadline submitting the project proposals is April 16, 2014, postal date, or April 16 2014, 05.00 pm, in case of personal submission of the project proposal. Projects submitted after the deadline indicated above are not eligible.

The submission of the projects is possible throughout the whole period of the opening of the call and can be done personally, Monday to Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the Registry of the Ministry of Justice situated in Apolodor Street, no. 17, district 5, Bucharest, postal code 050741 or by post office / courier at the same address.

The project proposals will be subject to the evaluation procedure in compliance with the requirements of the Regulation on the implementation of the Norwegian Financial Mechanism 2009-2014 and other programming documents available on the webpage dedicated to the program, http://norwaygrants.just.ro, section "Open Calls".

The call can be accessed here. 

 [1] In accordance with the provisions of the Law no. 217/2003, republished, regarding the and fighting against family violence 

Information on the organization of the second common working meeting in the framework of the project “Strengthening the judicial bilateral cooperation between Romania and Norway in the field of transfer of sentenced persons” financed out of the EEA & Norway Grants 2009-2014  

The Romanian Ministry of Justice, through the Department of International Law and Treaties, is currently implementing in partnership with the Directorate of the Norwegian Correctional Service, the project “Strengthening the judicial bilateral cooperation between Romania and Norway in the field of transfer of sentenced persons”, funded entirely from the Bilateral Fund at National level,  EEA & Norway Grants 2009-2014.

The project aims at improving the efficiency of the application of the Treaty on the transfer of sentenced persons concluded between Romania and the Kingdom of Norway, signed in Oslo, on the 20.09.2010, by elaborating, printing and distributing a working guideline on this topic for the use of the practitioners from the two countries.

Thus, during 17-19 March 2014, a common working meeting was organized in Lillestrøm, Norway, with a view to elaborating a Working Guideline on the transfer of sentenced persons between Romania and Norway, a useful tool for the experts in the field.

Thus, the structure and the final content of the Working Guideline were agreed upon by the Norwegian and Romanian experts. It is expected that the Guideline will be made available to the experts of the two states in a short while. As well, the agenda of the meeting included a visit at the Ullersmo Penitentiary.

The project has a 3 months implementation period (February – April 2014) and a budget amounting to about 17.756 EUR, non-reimbursable funds.