Representatives of Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway as well as the management of the Financial Mechanism Office met with the Council of Europe Secretariat on 11 January in the framework of the annual meeting on cooperation with the EEA and Norway Grants.

Participants reviewed the Council of Europe's involvement per country and thematic area and agreed on objectives to enhance the impact in the programme development and implementation phases.

The Council of Europe acts as International Partner Organisation and provides expertise and advice to the donor and beneficiary states of the EEA and Norwegian Financial Mechanisms. The Council of Europe will play this role in programmes on Roma Inclusion, education and youth, human rights national implementation, correctional services and detention, combating crime, effectiveness and efficiency of the judicial system and domestic and gender-based violence. The Office of the Directorate General of Programmes co-ordinates this co-operation within the Council of Europe.

A study visit to enhance knowledge on Council of Europe standards and mechanisms preceded the annual meeting.