We extend the theory of weighted norm inequalities on variable Lebesgue spaces to the case of bilinear operators. We introduce a bilinear version of the variable $\A_\pp$ condition, and show that it is necessary and sufficient for the bilinear maximal operator to satisfy a weighted norm inequality. Our work generalizes the linear results of the first author, Fiorenza and Neugebauer \cite{dcu-f-nPreprint2010} in the variable Lebesgue spaces and the bilinear results of Lerner {\em et al.} \cite{MR2483720} in the classical Lebesgue spaces. As an application we prove weighted norm inequalities for bilinear singular integral operators in the variable Lebesgue spaces.