Results country programmes in EU-12 countries

Promoting renewable energy, creating employment and strengthening civil society: the final review of Switzerland's enlargement contribution summarises the results of the Swiss-backed projects.

Switzerland's contribution to the enlarged EU: 2018 Annual Report

Information on the results achieved in the last three remaining country programmes that are still under way, e.g. mine clearance in Croatia, the promotion of SMEs in Romania and decommissioned trams from Basel improving Bulgaria's public transport system. The report also briefly explains the background to the second Swiss contribution to selected EU member countries.

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.

Regional development in Poland

The economic situation in structurally weak regions has been improved through promoting tourism and marketing regional products.

Swiss Enlargement Contribution: Annual Report 2016

The report shows the results and the state of progress, e.g. in the dual vocational training programme in Slovakia, the fight against human trafficking in Bulgaria and Romania, the rehabilitation of a port in Latvia, and a venture capital fund in Hungary. In addition, it covers the national programmes which have come to a close in Estonia and Slovenia and presents the new programme in Croatia.

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.

Switzerland supports a dual vocational education and training system geared to the labour market in Slovakia

Projects promoting social inclusion of the Roma people and other disadvantaged groups in four EU member states

Boosting research in ten EU member states

Improving living conditions of Roma communities in north-western Romania

Regional development in Poland

The economic situation in structurally weak regions has been improved through promoting tourism and marketing regional products.

2013 Annual Report 2013

Regional development in Poland creates jobs

28.02.2014 – Article

Local initiatives are strengthening economically weak regions in the new EU member states and creating employment. An interim evaluation of ten regional development projects in Poland shows that the implementation of the projects is largely going according to plan and already producing results.

Microlending programme in Latvia exceeds its targets

07.11.2013 – Article
The unemployment ratio in Latvia rose dramatically as a result of the world’s economic and financial crises. The microlending programme makes it easier for micro enterprises and the self-employed to obtain business loans. The aim of the project was to award around 650 microcredits and thus create up to 900 new jobs. 2013 these targets are exceeded: Already 800 microcredits are allocated and approximately 2,000 jobs have been retained or created thanks to the microlending programme.

Exchange of experiences with the Federal Audit Oversight Authority

27.12.2012 – Article

Independent, high-quality audits discourage the falsification of corporate accounts and thus also help prevent balance sheet fraud and the economic instability that accompanies it. Switzerland therefore provides funding for a regional programme coordinated by the World Bank's Centre for Financial Reporting Reform to introduce more transparent accounting and auditing standards in several of the new EU member states. In the framework of this programme, a two day study visit to Switzerland took place in December 2012.

Kick-off to the Swiss-Romanian Research Projects

10.10.2012 – Article

On 29 August 2012, an information event was held in Bern on the Swiss-Romanian research projects being supported by the Swiss Enlargement Contribution for the benefit of Romania. The moment has now come to get underway with the implementation of the 26 projects selected. As a rule, they are to last for a three-year period and be terminated by 2015. Switzerland is supporting the programme with an amount of CHF 10 million.

Co-operation on research between Poland and Switzerland

24.09.2012 – Article

In the framework of the Swiss-Polish Research Programme, two research teams from Bern are participating in projects on flood prevention and aspects of climate change. The Programme is financing a total of about 40 research projects which are being carried out by Swiss and Polish universities and research institutes. The programme has an overall budget of about CHF 30 million.

The Scholarship Fund Sciex-NMS.ch: Four Academics provide an Insight into the Programme

01.02.2012 – Article

It was back in 2009 that the first of over 450 academicians from the new EU-Member States were accepted into the scholarship programme of the Swiss Enlargement Contribution. The transnational scholarship fund is endowed with an overall budget of CHF 45 million, thus making it possible for young, talented researchers to effectuate a maximum two-year stay in Switzerland on a research fellowship. Four scholars provide an insight into their stay, thereby giving the Programme a concrete face.

Hungary: two projects for tourism development approved

14.11.2011 – Local news

As part of its enlargement contribution, Switzerland is supporting two tourism projects to strengthen so-called destination management organisations (DMO) in the economic development areas of Northern Hungary and the Northern Great Plain. Both projects focus on medicinal and cultural tourism, and a total of CHF 2 million will be invested in improving tourist services.

Enhancement of regional competitiveness in Poland

05.09.2011 – Article

In Poland, the principles of environmental awareness and corporate social responsibility have not yet been widely adopted. With a contribution of about CHF 5 million, Switzerland seeks to improve this situation. The project agreement was signed on 4 August 2011.

Latvia: Easier access to microcredits

21.06.2011 – Local news

Switzerland contributes 7.48 million Swiss francs to support a microcredit programme in Latvia. The programme agreement was signed on 21 June 2011. The microcredit programme will make it easier for small-sized companies and self-employed workers to obtain microloans, which in turn should spur the creation of up to 900 new jobs.

The Swiss Enlargement Contribution in Malta

17.09.2010 – Article

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.

Hungary: Risk capital fund to support SMEs

31.03.2010 – Local news

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.

Transparent framework conditions for Poland’s private sector

27.08.2009 – Local news

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.

The Swiss contribution in brief

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

Latvia: The power of microcredit

Results country programmes in EU-12 countries

Promoting renewable energy, creating employment and strengthening civil society: the final review of Switzerland's enlargement contribution summarises the results of the Swiss-backed projects.

Switzerland's contribution to the enlarged EU: 2018 Annual Report

Information on the results achieved in the last three remaining country programmes that are still under way, e.g. mine clearance in Croatia, the promotion of SMEs in Romania and decommissioned trams from Basel improving Bulgaria's public transport system. The report also briefly explains the background to the second Swiss contribution to selected EU member countries.

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.

Swiss Enlargement Contribution: Annual Report 2016

The report shows the results and the state of progress, e.g. in the dual vocational training programme in Slovakia, the fight against human trafficking in Bulgaria and Romania, the rehabilitation of a port in Latvia, and a venture capital fund in Hungary. In addition, it covers the national programmes which have come to a close in Estonia and Slovenia and presents the new programme in Croatia.

Regional development in Poland

The economic situation in structurally weak regions has been improved through promoting tourism and marketing regional products.

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.