Switzerland’s support to Bulgaria as part of the second Swiss Contribution to selected EU member states is financed from two separate funding lines but implemented jointly through the Swiss-Bulgarian Cooperation Programme. As a result, Switzerland and Bulgaria have singed two Framework Agreements, one on cohesion and one on migration. In fact, Bulgaria is the only partner country with bilateral cooperation programmes covering the whole second Swiss Contribution.
The bilateral Framework Agreements consider Bulgaria’s present needs and provide opportunities for capacity-building and transfer of Swiss expertise in common areas of interest. Their annexes contain the country-specific set-up, which lays down the thematic and geographical allocations of the Contribution and the specific rules agreed between Switzerland and Bulgaria, as well as the attribution of responsibilities and tasks to the entities involved in the implementation of the Swiss-Bulgarian Cooperation Programme.
The Framework Agreement on cohesion was signed in September 2022, and entered into force on December 29, 2022, after ratification by the Bulgarian Parliament. With a total Swiss support of CHF 92.5 mil. the programme complements Bulgarian efforts in a number of areas, like increasing public safety, protecting the climate, strengthening of social systems, and engaging the civil society. A particular emphasis is placed on reducing (youth) unemployment and promoting economic growth through dual vocational education and training (DVET), which will build on existing partnerships between Bulgarian vocational schools and the private sector. It will also introduce quality assurance mechanisms in the educational system. Another initiative aims at preventing early school dropouts and will focus on integrating minorities and socially disadvantaged groups in the education system, while also providing integrated social and health services.
The Framework Agreement on migration was signed in October 2025 and ratified by the Bulgarian Parliament in March 2026. It provides for an additional CHF 21.35 mil. of funding to support Bulgaria in strengthening its asylum procedures and structures, and improving reception facilities for vulnerable migrants. To achieve this, the Bulgarian Ministry of Interior and the State Agency for Refugees will closely work with international organisations to implement efficient and high-quality asylum procedures in accordance with the relevant legal and strategic regulations. Special focus will be put on protection support to asylum seekers in Bulgaria by strengthening the capacity of and renovating reception facilities, cultural mediation, national child protection system, digitalisation of procedures.
