NRC Europe - Norwegian Refugee Council

NRC Europe was established in 2006 in order to strengthen the Norwegian Refugee Council's relationship with the European Union. The EU is a natural partner for NRC. Together with its Member States, the European Commission contributes to more than half of all humanitarian and development assistance in the world. As an operational funding partner, the EU and in particular DG ECHO and DG DEVCO/EuropeAid provide around 20% of NRC funding. In 2014, NRC signed 23 ECHO projects for a total amount of 40 mil euros and 4 EuropeAid projects for a total amount of 4,2 mil euros. NRC Europe developed close working relationships with the EU, both at the level of policy issues and of specific humanitarian operations. NRC Europe Partnership Advisers assist 25 NRC Country Offices to implement ECHO, EuropeAid and EU Member States* funded projects, to maintain quality and to ensure that the projects are in line with donor’s rules. EU Partnership Advisers also regularly travel to NRC field offices to provide training on donors’ rules and compliance. NRC Europe has been playing an increasingly significant role in advocacy as well, aiming to raise institutional and public awareness of refugee and IDP issues in the EU, also through the organisation of events in Brussels. The advocacy team has been focusing on protection at sea, the Syrian crisis, Palestine, education in emergency and protracted crisis. In 2015, NRC Europe played an active role in influencing the EU regional strategy for Syria and Iraq by providing recommendations together with 24 International and European NGOs. The EU advocacy team also travels regularly to the UK, Germany and France to influence key decision-makers in EU foreign policy. The NRC Europe team holds regular meetings with representatives from the European Commission (ECHO, DEVCO, NEAR), the European Parliament, the European External Action Service and the EU Member States, in order to advocate for protection and support to refugees and IDPs.