The Federal Council approves a contribution to a health programme in Lithuania

20.04.2011 — Local news EB

The Federal Council has decided to allocate CHF 45.6 million to a programme for improvement of maternity and child care in Lithuania as part of Switzerland's enlargement contribution to the newly acceded EU countries. It will be jointly financed by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO).

Latvia: Improving the quality of water and removing waste

17.03.2011 — Local news EB

A project agreement on infrastructure with Latvia was signed on 17 March 2011. Switzerland contributes 13 million Swiss francs to improve the quality of water and help clean up the heavily polluted industrial port of Riga.

Slovenia: signing of the second project agreement on the promotion of renewable energies

02.02.2011 — Local news EB

A project agreement on infrastructure with Slovenia was signed on 28 January 2011. In the Gorenjska region Switzerland is promoting the use of renewable energy in six public buildings, contributing a total of 5.3 million francs.

Estonia: New Equipment for Children’s Hospital and Forensic Institute

28.01.2011 — Article EB

On 26 January 2011, the Tallinn Children’s Hospital received the new automated gait orthosis “Pediatric Lokomat”. This apparatus, co-financed with the funds of the Swiss Enlargement Contribution, is meant to help children with neurological illnesses and injuries improve their ability to walk. On the same day, the new Estonian Forensic Science Institute in Tallinn, in which equipment financed by Switzerland has been installed for use, was officially inaugurated.

Hungary: Two project agreements aiming at supporting environmental monitoring systems signed

20.01.2011 — Local news EB

In the presence of Dr. Tamás Fellegi, Hungarian Minister of National Development and Johann Schneider-Ammann, Swiss Federal Councillor, two project agreements in the field of infrastructure have been signed. By making a contribution of 10.8 million Swiss francs Switzerland is looking to improve waste and emission controls in the Central Danube region as well as to improve the measurement of heavy metal and dust concentration levels in Hungary.

Six infrastructure projects in Hungary approved

29.10.2010 — Local news EB

Switzerland is contributing 35.67 million Swiss francs toward six infrastructure projects in Hungary. Four of the projects focus on improving the water supply and water quality. The other two projects entail measures designed to assist environmental monitoring, amongst other things by supplying modern measurement equipment.

The Swiss Enlargement Contribution in Malta

17.09.2010 — Article EB

Switzerland supports Malta in the realization of two projects, i.e., special funding for the “Mediterranean Academy of Diplomatic Studies” and the acquisition of a PET scanner for diagnosing cancer. Just about CHF 5 million will be injected into these projects from the Swiss Enlargement Contribution. Both projects are on the verge of implementation, bringing to an end the distribution of the Swiss Enlargement Contribution earmarked for Malta.

Enlargement Contribution in Cyprus – All Projects ready for Implementation

28.07.2010 — Article EB

In Cyprus, three different projects have gotten underway that are being supported by a contribution of almost CHF 6 million. With this, Switzerland’s enlargement contribution earmarked for Cyprus has already been completely distributed. The projects pursue the objective of reducing the economic and social disparities between Cyprus and the more advanced countries of the EU.

Modern infrastructure for border police, transport and hospitals in Poland

28.07.2010 — Article EB

Poland is a priority country for the enlargement contributions and has been allocated CHF 489 million, almost a half of the entire enlargement contribution. The country is now a magnet for tourists but its infrastructure, especially in rural areas, is still rudimentary.

Contribution à l’élargissement: le Conseil fédéral a approuvé les accords-cadres bilatéraux avec la Bulgarie et la Roumanie

23.06.2010 — Article EB

Lors de sa séance du 23 juin 2010, le Conseil fédéral a approuvé les accords-cadres bilatéraux avec la Bulgarie et la Roumanie et décidé de procéder à leur signature. Ces accords régissent le contenu et la mise en œuvre de la contribution suisse à l’élargissement en faveur de ces deux pays. Les premiers projets pourront sans doute être sélectionnés et réalisés dès fin 2010.

Switzerland supports Hungary’s fight against the serious threat of floods

08.06.2010 — Press release EB

Hungary is getting prepared to face a major risk of flooding in the north of the country. The Danube and the Tisza are threatening to overflow their banks towards the middle of next week. To cope with this threat, the Hungarian government has requested the aid of its European partners. Switzerland will deliver 500,000 bags of sand and dispatch to the site three experts from the Swiss Humanitarian Aid Unit.

Hungary: Risk capital fund to support SMEs

31.03.2010 — Local news EB

On 30.3.2010 President of the Confederation Doris Leuthard approved the first Swiss project to support the Hungarian private sector. The aim of the project is to ensure the long-term financing of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). This will help to create a large number of jobs.

Federal Councillor Didier Burkhalter to visit the Baltic countries to deepen bilateral relations and discuss relations with the European Union

29.07.2013 — Press release EDA
From 29 July to 1 August, Mr Burkhalter, the head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA), will pay an official working visit to Lithuania and then to Latvia. He will make the traditional 1 August speech to mark Switzerland's national day in Riga. The main aims of this official working visit are to deepen bilateral relations, to discuss the importance of relations between Switzerland and the European Union (EU) and to present Switzerland's priorities for its chairmanship of the OSCE in 2014. Mr Burkhalter will also visit a number of projects that are part of the Swiss enlargement contribution. This contribution is a key element in the bilateral relationships between Switzerland and each of these two countries.

Official working visit by the Czech Minister of Foreign Affairs, Karel Schwarzenberg

31.05.2013 — Press release EDA
Federal Councillor Didier Burkhalter, Head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA), received the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic, Karel Schwarzenberg, on 31 May 2013 for an official working visit to Bern. Their discussions focused on Switzerland's European policy, the Czech Republic's European Neighbourhood Policy, the Swiss contribution to the enlargement of the European Union, and economic relations between the two countries.

Switzerland

31.05.2013 — Press release EDA
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.

Official visit by Latvian Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkēvičs

21.03.2013 — Press release EDA
On 21st March 2013, Federal Councillor Didier Burkhalter, Head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA), received his Latvian counterpart Edgars Rinkēvičs for an official working visit. In addition to bilateral relations, the talks in Bern covered the European policy of both countries, aspects of multilateral cooperation, and current international issues.

Official visit of the President of Slovakia

10.09.2012 — Press release EDA
President Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf received the President of the Slovak Republic Ivan Gašparovič in Bern on an official visit. President Gašparovič was accompanied by the Slovak Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Miroslav Lajčák, who met his opposite number Federal Councillor Didier Burkhalter for a working meeting. Federal Councillor Johann N. Schneider-Ammann met the Slovak Minister for Economic Affairs Tomáš Malatinský, who was also part of the official delegation.

Official visit to Bern by the Hungarian Foreign Minister János Martonyi

03.09.2012 — Press release EDA
Federal Councillor Didier Burkhalter, Head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA), today received his Hungarian counterpart Janos Martonyi for an official working visit at the Von Wattenwyl House in Bern. In addition to bilateral relations, the talks covered the European policy of both countries, aspects of multilateral cooperation, and current international issues.

Swiss Enlargement Contribution: 210 Projects approved within the Funding-Commitment Period

18.06.2012 — Press release EDA
Switzerland has approved a total of 210 projects in the countries of Central and Eastern Europe that became EU-Member States (EU-10) in 2004, with the aim of contributing to the reduction of the economic and social disparities in the enlarged European Union. In so doing, Switzerland has fulfilled the objective set down for the first phase of the Enlargement Contribution, namely that of concluding – within the commitment deadline of 14 June 2012 - project agreements with the EU-10 in whose financing it would participate with a total amount of CHF 1 billion. Following the five-year funding commitment period, the implementation phase is now to follow. This latter phase is scheduled to come to an end in June 2017, the deadline by which the projects agreed upon are obliged to have been concluded.

Switzerland supports Hungary’s fight against the serious threat of floods

08.06.2010 — Press release EB

Hungary is getting prepared to face a major risk of flooding in the north of the country. The Danube and the Tisza are threatening to overflow their banks towards the middle of next week. To cope with this threat, the Hungarian government has requested the aid of its European partners. Switzerland will deliver 500,000 bags of sand and dispatch to the site three experts from the Swiss Humanitarian Aid Unit.

Enlargement Contribution in Cyprus – All Projects ready for Implementation

28.07.2010 — Article EB

In Cyprus, three different projects have gotten underway that are being supported by a contribution of almost CHF 6 million. With this, Switzerland’s enlargement contribution earmarked for Cyprus has already been completely distributed. The projects pursue the objective of reducing the economic and social disparities between Cyprus and the more advanced countries of the EU.

Modern infrastructure for border police, transport and hospitals in Poland

28.07.2010 — Article EB

Poland is a priority country for the enlargement contributions and has been allocated CHF 489 million, almost a half of the entire enlargement contribution. The country is now a magnet for tourists but its infrastructure, especially in rural areas, is still rudimentary.

Contribution à l’élargissement: le Conseil fédéral a approuvé les accords-cadres bilatéraux avec la Bulgarie et la Roumanie

23.06.2010 — Article EB

Lors de sa séance du 23 juin 2010, le Conseil fédéral a approuvé les accords-cadres bilatéraux avec la Bulgarie et la Roumanie et décidé de procéder à leur signature. Ces accords régissent le contenu et la mise en œuvre de la contribution suisse à l’élargissement en faveur de ces deux pays. Les premiers projets pourront sans doute être sélectionnés et réalisés dès fin 2010.

Hungary: Risk capital fund to support SMEs

31.03.2010 — Local news EB

On 30.3.2010 President of the Confederation Doris Leuthard approved the first Swiss project to support the Hungarian private sector. The aim of the project is to ensure the long-term financing of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). This will help to create a large number of jobs.

Enlargement Contribution for Bulgaria and Romania accepted by Parliament

07.12.2009 — Article EB

As the second Chamber of the Swiss Parliament to do so, the Council of States followed the National Council on 7 December 2009 in approving the Federal Decree on the enlargement contribution for Bulgaria and Romania This parliamentary decision enables Switzerland to finance projects and programmes designed to reduce the economic and social disparities in Bulgaria and Romania.

Slovenia: First renewable energy project approved

27.10.2009 — Local news EB

Within the framework of its contribution to EU enlargement, Switzerland has set aside CHF 3.7 million for a Slovenian project to encourage the use of renewable energy sources in various municipalities of the Primorska coastal region. The pilot project will enable the use of solar power and biomass and raise public awareness of the use of renewable energy sources.

Transparent framework conditions for Poland’s private sector

27.08.2009 — Local news EB

Implementation of accounting and auditing standards

Particularly in times of economic downturn, the existence of transparent framework conditions is crucial to the growth of private enterprise. SECO has thus approved a CHF 10 million project supporting the implementation of the accounting and auditing standards for businesses in Poland.

Modernisation of the Latvian Judicial System

26.06.2009 — Article EB

As part of its contribution to EU enlargement, Switzerland has pledged CHF 8 million to co-fund a project aimed at improving the quality and efficiency of Latvia’s judicial system. The joint project agreement was signed by the two countries on 25 June 2009.

Kick-off of the Scholarship Fund Programme in the Partner Countries

15.06.2009 — Article EB

With the launch of a pilot phase in Poland and the Czech Republic, the implementation of the scholarship programme within the scope of the Swiss enlargement contribution has gotten underway. The beneficiaries of this CHF 30 million-endowed programme are young and promising research scientists from the Central and Eastern European EU-Member States.

Switzerland supports the Fight against Crime in Estonia

15.06.2009 — Article EB

On 28 May 2009, within the scope of the Swiss Enlargement contribution, a project agreement was signed in Tallinn, Estonia, for the provision of support both to the Estonian Forensic Science Institute and to other criminal prosecution authorities in Estonia. The Swiss contribution of CHF 3.5 million is intended to finance the procurement of modern technical equipment, an enhanced data exchange system, and the organization of training courses.

Enlargement contribution to Bulgaria and Romania: Federal Council sends dispatch to parliament

05.06.2009 — Local news EB

On 5 June 2009 the Federal Council sent the Dispatch on the Credit Facility for the Enlargement Contribution in favour of Bulgaria and Romania to parliament. Switzerland’s contribution to reducing economic and social disparities totals CHF 257m over a five-year period.

Implementation of enlargement contribution in Poland

13.05.2009 — Local news EB

Switzerland is helping to facilitate access to long-term financing for SMEs in Poland. On 13 May, the Federal Council decided to make CHF 53 million from the enlargement contribution fund available for venture capital investments with a view to enabling job creation in structurally weak regions.