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The Swiss contribution to EU enlargement towards the East
Since 2008, Switzerland has been participating in various projects designed to reduce the economic and social disparities in an enlarged EU. Despite rapid growth, the level of prosperity in the new EU member states is relatively low and the gap with EU-15 member states is comparably high. Switzerland’s commitment to EU enlargement is an expression of solidarity. At the same time, Switzerland is laying the foundation for solid economic and political ties with the new EU member states.
The beneficiaries are the ten new Member States that joined the European Union on 1 May 2004. Since 2009, Switzerland has also been contributing to the support of Bulgaria and Romania, who acceded to the EU on 1 January 2007. The enlargement contribution funds are earmarked for the respective countries as follows:
- Contribution amounting to CHF 1 billion
| Country | CHF |
| Poland | 489,020,000 |
| Hungary | 130,738,000 |
| Czech Rep. | 109,780,000 |
| Lithuania | 70,858,000 |
| Slovakia | 66,866,000 |
| Latvia | 59,880,000 |
| Estonia | 39,920,000 |
| Slovenia | 21,956,000 |
| Cyprus | 5,988,000 |
| Malta | 2,994,000 |
| Reserve* | 2,000,000 |
| Total |
1,000,000,000 |
*Amount of the reserve allocated to Malta in August 2010
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Contribution for Bulgaria and Romania: |
The funding that has been made available is distributed on the basis of the allocation key that was used by non-EU member Norway for its contribution. The calculation is based
on population size as well as per capita income in the recipient country.
The legal basis
The legal basis for Switzerland’s contribution to EU enlargement can be found in the Federal Act of 24 March 2006 on cooperation with Eastern European countries and the CIS, which was approved by the
Swiss population on 26 November 2006. Before this, Switzerland’s contribution was based on a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding between Switzerland and the EU, which was signed on 27 February
2006.
Disparities
Despite having successfully navigated the transition from a centrally planned to a market-based system, these countries still lag behind their EU-15 peers in many respects. The average per capita
income of the new EU member states is roughly half that of the EU-15 average. To help the new member states that joined the EU in 2004, Switzerland has pledged a total of CHF 1 billion, which will be
spread over a period of five years (2007 – 2012).
Bulgaria and Romania, that joined the EU in 2007, are slated to receive support from the Swiss enlargement contribution in the amount of CHF 257 million (over the period 2009 - 2014).
Thematic priorities
New EU member states receive funding for projects in four thematic
areas:
- Security and stability, and support for reforms;
- Environment and infrastructure;
- Promotion of the private sector;
- Human and social development.
In these areas, the partner states are far behind their EU-15 counterparts. Support is channelled primarily towards underdeveloped regions. Projects focus on improving health-care, improving the quality of air and water, and investing in education and training. These projects are implemented in close cooperation with the partner countries. National Coordination Units (NCUs) in the various partner countries are in charge of examining project proposals. Experts from the SDC and SECO decide which projects receive the necessary funding and coordinate and monitor implementation.
Switzerland’s commitment to the new EU member states is an expression of solidarity with Europe. As a responsible partner, Switzerland intends to shoulder part of the burden in helping Central and Eastern Europe to grow. At the same time, Switzerland is laying the foundation for solid economic and political ties with the new EU member states. Its contribution will also improve business prospects for Swiss companies in these new up-and-coming markets.
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Detailed information regarding Switzerland’s contribution to EU enlargement
More about how Switzerland’s
contribution to EU enlargement furthers Swiss interests More about how Switzerland’s
contribution to EU enlargement is budget neutral in that it places no added burden on Swiss taxpayers and constitutes a reduction in southern aid. More about the
principles that guide operational implementation and about target-driven usage of funding More about the social
and economic situation in the new EU member states in Eastern Europe as well as about the cohesion policies pursued by both EU and EEA member states.
Federal
Act of 24 March 2006 on cooperation with Eastern Euorpean countries Federal Council Dispatch of 31 March 2004 concerning a
Federal Act on cooperation with Eastern European countries. Memorandum of Understanding signed by Switzerland and the EU on 27 February 2006 and the Addendum signed on 25 June 2008True for Poland, Hungary, Czech Republic, Lithuania, Slovakia, Latvia, Estonia, Slovenia, Cyprus and Malta
Federal Council Dispatch of 15 December 2006 concerning the Swiss Contribution to reduce
economic and social disparities within the enlarged European Union [de] [fr] [it]Federal decision of 14 June 2007 concerning the Swiss Contribution to reduce economic
and social disparities within the enlarged European Union [de] [fr] [it] Bilateral framework agreement signed by Switzerland and the
ten partner countries on 20 December 2007True for Bulgaria and Romania
Federal Council Dispatch of 5 Juni 2009 concerning the
Swiss Contribution in favour of Bulgaria and Romania [de] [fr] [it]Federal decision of 7 December 2009 concerning the
Swiss Contribution in favour of Bulgaria and Romania [de] [fr] [it] Technical cooperation provided to Eastern European countries by the SDC (part of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs) Economic
cooperation provided to Eastern European countries by SECO (part of the Federal Department of Economic Affairs) Switzerland’s policy
towards Europe (FDFA/FDEA integration office)