NGO Funds sucessfully launched in Romania and Bulgaria

The Romanian and Bulgarian NGO Funds were launched at conferences in Bucharest and Sofia this week.

Mrs. Heidi Sørensen, State Secretary in the Norwegian Ministry of Environment, attended both of the launching seminars. In her speech at the launching in Bucharest, Mrs Sørensen was focusing particurlarly on the positive aspects of a well-functioning civil society.

- Civil society and NGOs are crucial actors in nation building and democratic processes. They are arenas for broad public participation and critical corrections to the state, said State Secretary in the Norwegian Ministry of Environment, Mrs. Heidi Sørensen.

- Focus areas for the NGO Fund will be the protection of human rights, anti-discrimination and social inclusion, support to children and youth, social services, environment, and conservation of cultural heritage. The Norwegian Government is happy to contribute to strengthening the important role of the NGOs within these sectors in Romania, Mrs. Sørensen continued.

The purpose of the Fund is to strengthen the civil society in Romania, with the overall objective of ensuring participation of NGOs in the reduction of social and economic disparities in the EEA countries. The Fund makes available 5 million Euros for NGOs by supporting projects within certain thematic areas.

More than 170 Romanian and Norwegian participants from non-governmental organisations were present at the launching event.

The launching seminar in Bulgaria on tuesday was a seminar that focused on the challenges and the possibilities that Bulgaria has in creating a civil society that is able to play an important role in the bulgarian society. In her speech Mrs. Heidi Sørensen particurlarly underlined the positive role civil society should play in policy-making.

- Policy-making without active NGO participation makes little sense. They often have a broad expert knowledge and competence in their field. They do an important task in spreading information to the public. They are a crucial part of the public debate, said Mrs. Sørensen.

- Civil society must be provided the space and opportunity to play their role in reaching the long term goal of the EEA agreement - to reduce social and economic disparity in Europe. 

From the Norwegian delegation, Sturla Stålsett, Secretary General in the Church City Mission, Oslo, held a speech that gave an overview on how civil society organisations are functioning and working in Norway.

- NGOs play a very important role in the Norwegian Society, and is particurlarly important when it comes to training its members to understand democracy and its rules, and keeping up democratic channels, said Mr. Stålsett in his speech.

More than 160 Bulgarian  and Norwegian participants from non-governmental organisations were present at the launching event.

More information:
www.eeagrants.org 
www.norwaygrants.org