Dutch Fund for Regional Partnerships - NFRP-Matra

What is the NRFP-Matra programme?

Countries that want to join the European Union (EU) must meet strict conditions. Some countries in the Eastern Partnership have an association agreement with the EU, which also has strict terms. The NFRP-Matra programme supports these countries in taking the necessary steps to meet the EU's conditions. The Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO) work with external parties to offer support services. These include knowledge, advice and network access.

As part of the NRFP-Matra programme, RVO handles the implementation of 2 subprogrammes:

1. Subsidy programme Matra Government to Government (Matra G2G);
2. Matra Rule of Law (RoL) training programme (RoLT).

For more information about these subprogrammes, see the Matra Government to Government (Matra G2G) webpage. 

For whom?

NRFP-Matra is for:

• Governments of (potential) candidate member states preparing for EU memberships;
• Governments of Eastern Partnership countries;
• Organisations that play a part as experts, trainers or implementing parties in projects enhancing the rule of law and democracy in partner countries. Examples are Dutch government institutes, non-departmental public organisations, legal entities with statutory tasks, knowledge institutes, training institutes and NGOs.

Partner countries

NFRP-Matra's sub-programmes are for:

• Countries preparing for EU memberships: Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Georgia, Kosovo, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Türkiye and Ukraine;
• Countries in the Eastern Partnership with a Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement.

How NRFP-Matra helps

In the partner countries, NFRP-Matra helps:

• Tackle corruption and organised crime;
• Reorganise judiciary and civil services;
• Improve the position of minorities;
• Ensure fundamental freedoms, such as freedom of expression and information; and
• Ensure a reliable and effective government.

Laws and regulations

Matra Government to Government 2025-2029 in Government Gazette, 13 September 2019 (in Dutch).