The project aimed to develop the bilateral relations between Romania and Norway as donator state and to explore the possibilities for developing the cooperation in the field of elaboration of energy efficiency strategies for regions/cities.

The main activity of the project consisted in a study visit made by the representatives of the Satu Mare County Intercommunity Development Association in Norway at the partner headquarter, visit that focused on an exchange of experience on energy efficiency strategies in regions and municipalities, getting acquainted with best practices in the field of energy efficiency, development of common project ideas which could be implemented in the future and establishment of new partnerships. The Satu Mare County Intercommunity Development Association was represented at this exchange by the President of the Association, Adrian Ștef, and the Executive director of the Association, Nicoleta Lașan.

During the exchange there took place site visits and presentations of case studies on the ways in which municipalities, regions as well as private investors contribute to raising energy efficiency, reducing waste quantities and carbon emissions. In this respect, among the visited objectives there was a sawmill that developed a system through which on the base of waste from the production process thermal energy is distributed to other private companies in the industrial area, a business incubator and the biggest bio gas factory based on household waste in Norway.

Moreover, there have been discussions and debates on different topics related to energy efficiency with the representatives of the Sor-Trondelag Regional Council in Norway. During the exchange there have been explored the possibilities to develop cooperation relations in the field of energy efficiency between the Satu Mare County Intercommunity Development Association and the visited institutions. The first step in developing these relations shall be made by the partners involved in this project, the Satu Mare County Intercommunity Development Association and International Development Norway Research, which shall apply in the near future for a new project in the field of energy efficiency.

The project benefits from a grant in value of €3.200 from Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway through the EEA and Norway Grants 2009-2014 through the Bilateral Fund – Programme RO01-Technical Assistance.

Notes from the project:

• Through the EEA Grants and Norway Grants, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway contribute to reducing social and economic disparities and to strengthening bilateral relations with the beneficiary countries in Europe. The three countries cooperate closely with the EU through the Agreement on the European Economic Area (EEA).
• For the period 2009-14, the EEA Grants and Norway Grants amount to €1.79 billion. Norway contributes around 97% of the total funding. Grants are available for NGOs, research and academic institutions, and the public and private sectors in the 12 newest EU member states, Greece, Portugal and Spain. There is broad cooperation with donor state entities, and activities may be implemented until 2016.
• Key areas of support are environmental protection and climate change, research and scholarships, civil society, health and children, gender equality, justice and cultural heritage.