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The new Swiss-Polish Cooperation Programme has been launched

13.12.2023 — Article Schweizer Beitrag
The Swiss-Polish Cooperation Programme as part of the Swiss Contribution to selected EU member states, was officially launched in Warsaw on 12 December 2023. Over 300 representatives from Polish towns, the research and innovation community, civil society and the private sector attended the event.


Closing Conference of the Croatian-Swiss Research Programme in Zagreb

23.10.2023 — Article Schweizer Beitrag
On 19 October, the closing conference of the Croatian-Swiss Research Programme (CSRP), organised by the Croatian Science Foundation HRZZ, took place in Zagreb. The CSRP initiative aims to promote scientific cooperation between Switzerland and Croatia and is in implementation from 2017 until the end of 2023.


All implementation agreements signed, first projects launched

19.09.2023 — Article Schweizer Beitrag
Switzerland and Slovakia have signed the bilateral agreement on 19 September 2023 on the implementation of the second Swiss contribution to selected EU member states. Switzerland has thus signed the bilateral implementation agreements for the cohesion part with all partner countries of the second Swiss contribution. The implementation phase now follows.


Greater cooperation with Slovakia

19.09.2023 — Press releases Europa
Switzerland and Slovakia have signed a bilateral agreement on 19 September 2023 on the implementation of the second Swiss contribution to selected EU member states. Switzerland will support programmes in Slovakia in the areas of vocational training, sustainable tourism and healthcare amounting to CHF 44.2 million. This means that all 13 bilateral implementation agreements for the second Swiss contribution to strengthen cohesion are under wraps.



Ignazio Cassis signs agreement in Slovenia on implementation of second Swiss contribution

28.08.2023 — Press releases EDA
During a visit to Slovenia, Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis, head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA), today signed an agreement on the implementation of Switzerland's second contribution in Ljubljana. The agreement provides for the financing of projects aimed at improving Slovenia's energy efficiency and developing its renewable energy resources. Mr Cassis also attended the Bled Strategic Forum, where he took part in a panel discussion on the future of multilateralism.


Cultural mediators to support the Italian police and migration authorities

21.08.2023 — Local news Schweizer Beitrag
In 2023, Italy has been facing a high number of disembarkations. In order to facilitate communication between migrants, police and migration authorities, Italy works together with cultural mediators. Switzerland finances the deployment of cultural mediators with the Rapid Response Fund of the Second Swiss Contribution.


Procurement information: Advance notification of backstopping tender in the environmental and climate protection sector

30.06.2023 — Article Schweizer Beitrag
Switzerland is allocating CHF 1.302 billion towards projects under its Second Contribution to selected EU member states. The bulk of Switzerland's Second Contribution (CHF 1.102 billion) is earmarked for projects aimed at reducing economic and social disparities in the 13 states that have joined the EU since 2004. Of this amount, around CHF 400 million is reserved for projects in the field of environmental and climate protection for the benefit of Bulgaria, Croatia, Latvia, Poland, Romania, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia and Hungary. 


Elisabeth Baume-Schneider to visit aid projects in Poland and Slovakia for people who have fled the war in Ukraine

30.06.2023 — Press releases Europa
On 5 and 6 July, Federal Councillor Elisabeth Baume-Schneider will be on a working visit to Poland and Slovakia, two countries neighbouring Ukraine that have taken in large numbers of refugees. Ms Baume-Schneider will visit several aid projects for Ukrainian refugees that are co-financed by Switzerland. She will also meet her counterparts in both countries for bilateral exchanges.


Launch of new cooperation programme between Switzerland and the Czech Republic

29.06.2023 — Press releases Europa
State Secretary Helene Budliger Artieda and Czech Minister of Finance Zbynêk Stanjura signed a bilateral agreement in Prague implementing Switzerland's second contribution to selected EU Member States. Switzerland is allocating CHF 76.9 million towards a programme in the Czech Republic. This visit underlines Switzerland’s interest in further enhancing its already very good bilateral relations with the Czech Republic.


Launch of new cooperation programme between Switzerland and Latvia

19.06.2023 — Press releases Europa
Switzerland and Latvia have signed a bilateral agreement implementing the second Swiss contribution to selected EU member states. Under the agreement Switzerland will allocate CHF 40.4 million towards programmes in Latvia in the fields of polluted site remediation, applied research, vocational education and training and healthcare.


Swiss-Lithuanian Cooperation Programme launched

22.05.2023 — Press releases EDA
On 22 May 2023, the Ambassador of Switzerland and the Lithuanian Minister of Finance signed the implementation agreement for the Swiss-Lithuanian Cooperation Programme under the second Swiss contribution to selected EU member states. The contribution to Lithuania amounts to 45.2 million Swiss francs and will support programmes in Lithuania in the fields of health, civic participation and vocational education.

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European policy: Federal Council sets out next steps for second Swiss contribution

04.06.2021 — Press releases EDA
The unblocking of the second Swiss contribution to selected EU member states is part of the Federal Council's European policy agenda, with a view to pursuing the bilateral approach. At its meeting on 4 June, the Federal Council decided to prepare a dispatch on the unblocking of the corresponding framework credits. The dispatch will be submitted to Parliament in the autumn session.


No signing of Swiss–EU institutional agreement

26.05.2021 — Press releases EDA
At its meeting on 26 May, the Federal Council undertook an overall evaluation of the outcome of the negotiations on the institutional framework agreement (InstA). It concluded that there remain substantial differences between Switzerland and the EU on key aspects of the agreement. The conditions are thus not met for the signing of the agreement. The Federal Council today took the decision not to sign the agreement, and communicated this decision to the EU. This brings the negotiations on the draft of the InstA to a close. The Federal Council nevertheless considers it to be in the shared interest of Switzerland and the EU to safeguard their well-established cooperation and to systematically maintain the agreements already in force. It therefore wishes to launch a political dialogue with the EU on continued cooperation. Meanwhile, it has tasked the Federal Department of Justice and Police (FDJP) to consider how autonomous amendments to Swiss legislation might contribute to the stabilisation of Swiss–EU relations.


Upgrading water infrastructure in Croatia's karst mountains

02.02.2021 — Article Schweizer Beitrag
Switzerland is helping to upgrade the drinking-water and sewerage infrastructure in Croatia's mountain region of Gorski Kotar in the north-west. The aim of the project is to reduce water loss and connect more homes to the sewerage system. This contributes to water conservation and economic development in the region.


Supporting innovation in Croatia

22.01.2021 — Article Schweizer Beitrag
Innovation is an important factor in countries' economic development. However, government spending for research and development is often limited. In Croatia, Switzerland provides promising small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with support for the launch and development of innovative new projects. Five SMEs have succeeded in obtaining funding from the European Eurostars programme with Switzerland's support.


Results of country programmes completed in the EU-12

08.06.2020 — Article Schweizer Beitrag
Promoting renewable energy, creating employment and strengthening civil society: the final review of Switzerland's enlargement contribution summarises the results of Swiss-backed projects in 12 of the 13 states that joined the EU in 2004. Croatia, which joined the EU in 2013, is the only country where projects will continue until 2024.


Contribution to the enlarged EU: programmes in Bulgaria and Romania come to a close

20.01.2020 — Schweizer Beitrag
Over the last ten years, Switzerland has provided CHF 257 million from its enlargement contribution to support projects in Bulgaria and Romania. The two countries joined the European Union (EU) in 2007. The contribution aimed to reduce economic and social disparities in Europe and within Bulgaria and Romania. The 93 projects, which came to a close in December 2019, have achieved good results. Switzerland's support contributes to greater stability in Europe, which is also in the country's interests.


Switzerland's enlargement contribution to Bulgaria and Romania comes to a close

20.01.2020 — Press releases EDA
Over the last ten years, Switzerland has provided CHF 257 million from its enlargement contribution to support projects in Bulgaria and Romania. The two countries joined the European Union (EU) in 2007. The contribution aimed to reduce economic and social disparities in Europe and within Bulgaria and Romania. The 93 projects, which came to a close in December 2019, have achieved good results. Switzerland's support contributes to greater stability in Europe, which is also in the country's interests.


Road safety: Croatian project partners visit Switzerland

02.12.2019 — Article Schweizer Beitrag
A study visit by a Croatian delegation to explore road safety in Switzerland has been successfully completed. Swiss partner organisation Pro Velo along with researchers and transport policy experts all contributed actively to the success of the project with their specialist input. During the visit, Switzerland highlighted how its contribution to the enlarged EU played a significant role and valuable contacts were established.


Vocational training to counter skills shortage in Bulgaria

04.11.2019 — Article Schweizer Beitrag
In September 2019, a Bulgarian delegation visited various companies, vocational schools and training centres in Switzerland. The Swiss model has inspired Bulgaria's reform of its vocational education and training (VET) into a dual system, to which Switzerland contributed financial support and expertise. The new system includes more practical work and the active participation of companies in the traineeships.


Green investments in Romania

16.08.2019 — Article Schweizer Beitrag
The Romanian city of Cluj-Napoca has launched a programme to improve its energy efficiency. In support of the programme, Switzerland has funded the energy-efficient renovation of school buildings, the installation of several thousand LED lights on the city's streets and the purchase of electric buses – making a significant contribution to climate change mitigation and improving the quality of life of the city's population.


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