Swiss Enlargement Contribution: Annual Report 2017

The ten countries that joined the EU in 2004 have completed their projects under the enlargement contribu-tion. SECO and the SDC have taken stock of the last decade and published the results in their 2017 annual report. The projects have made a significant contribution to reducing economic and social disparities in Europe. Switzerland was also able to use its expertise to make a meaningful contribution to a number of projects.

The Swiss Enlargement Contribution

The Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation SDC and the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs present an interim balance sheet on the first five years since the approval of the Enlargement Contribution to the new 10 EU-Member States. The projects are to be implemented within another five year period, i.e., by 2017.

Partnership funds in the new EU member states

Boosting research in ten EU member states

NGO fund in twelve EU member states

Swiss Enlargement Contribution: Annual Report 2017

Swiss Enlargement Contribution: Annual Report 2017

Promotion of renewable energy in Primorska

One billion well invested

05.06.2018 – Article
The ten countries that joined the EU in 2004 have completed their projects under the enlargement contribution. SECO and the SDC have taken stock of the last decade and published the results in their 2017 annual report. The projects have made a significant contribution to reducing economic and social disparities in Europe. Switzerland was also able to use its expertise to make a meaningful contribution to a number of projects.

Consultation on a second Swiss contribution

28.03.2018 –
At its meeting on 28 March 2018, the Federal Council decided to initiate the consultation procedure on a second Swiss contribution to selected EU member states. With this contribution, Switzerland aims to continue to contribute to the reduction of economic and social disparities in the EU member states. Last year, the Federal Council set two priorities for this contribution: vocational education and training and migration.

10 years of contribution to the enlarged EU: efforts pay off

19.06.2017 – Press releases

The 10-year implementation period for Switzerland’s enlargement contribution to the 10 central and eastern European countries that joined the EU in 2004 came to an end on 14 June 2017. Under the contribution, Parliament approved a total of CHF 1 billion to implement 210 projects which have helped reduce economic and social disparities among broad sections of the population living in the EU.

Preventing financial crime and attracting investors

23.02.2016 – Article

Estonia, Slovenia and the Czech Republic have completed their projects in the area of financial reporting, improving their application of international standards in financial reporting and auditing. The improved quality, transparency and comparability of their financial reporting is creating a better environment for the private sector.

Successful end to energy projects in Slovenia

30.09.2015 – Article

Slovenia received CHF 22 million as part of Switzerland's contribution to the enlarged EU. Almost half of this was devoted to two projects relating to renewable energies and sustainable energy use.  The projects raised awareness of these issues among around 5,000 teachers and students, and 41 schools are now heated using renewable energies. The successful end of the project to promote environmentally friendly energy for the Slovenian Alps was celebrated on 16 September 2015 in the presence of President of the Swiss Confederation Simonetta Sommaruga.

Sciex research programme comes to an end

28.09.2015 – Article

The closing ceremony of the Sciex scholarship programme was held on 25 September 2015. Thanks to this programme, more than 500 doctoral and post-doctoral students could visit Switzerland for a limited period to conduct and expand their research. 

Federal Council opens consultation on the continuation of the Federal Act on Cooperation with the States of Eastern Europe

17.12.2014 – Press releases
The Federal Council has opened the consultation on the continuation of the Federal Act on Cooperation with the States of Eastern Europe (Eastern Europe Cooperation Act). The current act is still valid until the end of May 2017. A timely prolongation should enable the seamless continuation of cooperation with the countries of Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union. The consultation will last until 31 March 2015.

Swiss heat pumps for the Julian Alps

06.06.2014 – Press releases

Switzerland is working in Slovenia within the framework of its enlargement contribution on two infrastructure projects in the field of energy. The realisation of such projects has led on the one hand to the building of new infrastructure – for example new solar panels, heat pumps or biomass boilers – and on the other to the creation of one single platform through which Swiss firms can enter the Slovenian market and forge contacts with local firms more easily. Switzerland is thus actively promoting the transfer of knowledge in the area of energy efficiency and fostering greater cooperation between Swiss and Slovenian project partners.

Switzerland

31.05.2013 – Press releases
More than 200 projects are now being implemented as part of the enlargement contribution. At the annual conference of Swiss Cooperation with Eastern Europe on 31 May 2013 in Bern, government representatives and experts from Switzerland and abroad discussed the importance and the impact of these projects. About 750 people took part in the annual conference in the Hotel National, an exceptionally high turnout.

The Swiss contribution in brief

Information on Switzerland’s contribution to the enlarged EU: a brief presentation including project examples.

Slovenia: Energy Efficiency

Slovenia: Environnment