Switzerland and the Czech Republic enjoy excellent political and economic relations and close person-to-person ties. Around 13,000 Czechoslovak refugees fled to Switzerland in the wake of the Prague Spring in 1968. Following Czechoslovakia's division in 1993, the Czech Republic received support through Switzerland's cooperation programme with Eastern Europe and its contribution to the enlarged EU. The Czech Republic is one of the recipient countries of the second Swiss contribution.
Bilateral relations Switzerland–Czechia
Key aspects of diplomatic relations
Switzerland and the Czech Republic maintain close diplomatic ties.
The second Swiss contribution is further strengthening cooperation between the two countries in the areas of sustainable tourism, the promotion of biodiversity, research infrastructure, migration and health (home care).
Economic cooperation
The Czech Republic is one of Switzerland's main trading partners in Central Europe. Trade between Switzerland and the Czech Republic has grown in recent years, with a volume of around CHF 5.2 billion in 2023. That year, Switzerland exported goods worth CHF 2.1 billion to the Czech Republic and imported CHF 3.2 billion, resulting in a trade deficit for Switzerland. In terms of total direct investments by Swiss companies, Switzerland is the eighth-largest investor in the Czech Republic.
Trade promotion, Switzerland Global Enterprise
Chamber of Commerce Switzerland–Czech Republic
Country information, SECO
Cooperation in education, research and innovation
Cooperation between Switzerland and the Czech Republic in the fields of research and innovation takes place under European framework programmes and the second Swiss contribution.
Researchers from both countries collaborated on more than 100 projects as part of the Horizon 2020 programme.
The second Swiss contribution aims to fund new partnerships between national research infrastructure hubs. For example, the integration of the Czech Republic's Extreme Light Infrastructure into international networks is to be facilitated.
Researchers and artists with Czech citizenship can apply for Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships to the State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI).
Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships for Foreign Scholars and Artists, SERI
Second Swiss contribution to selected EU member states
The Czech Republic receives funding as part of the second Swiss contribution to selected EU member states, which aims to reduce social and economic disparities in the EU. The programme has a total budget of CHF 90 million for 2023–29, comprised of a CHF 76.9 million Swiss contribution and CHF 13.3 million co-financed by the Czech Republic. On 29 June 2023, the two countries signed the framework agreement governing the programme's implementation.
The programme supports projects in four areas:
- Environment (sustainable tourism and promotion of biodiversity)
- Research infrastructure
- Health (home care)
- Migration (integration of Ukrainian refugees)
Programmes/projects in the Czech Republic
Second Swiss contribution to selected EU member states
Cultural exchanges
Switzerland and the Czech Republic enjoy rich and diverse cultural relations. Prague is a major European cultural hub and a popular venue for Swiss artists from all disciplines. Switzerland participates in numerous cultural projects, including literature, theatre, film, circus, design and music festivals. It also supports the promotion of visual arts and collaborates with both foreign and Czech cultural centres and institutions.
Swiss nationals in the Czech Republic
At the end of 2023, 1,570 Swiss nationals were living in the Czech Republic.
History of bilateral relations
During the Second World War, Switzerland assumed 20 protecting power mandates for Czechoslovakia. After the suppression of the Prague Spring in 1968, around 13,000 Czechoslovak refugees sought refuge in Switzerland.
The dissolution of Czechoslovakia in 1993 led to the creation of two new states: the Czech Republic and the Slovak Republic. Switzerland recognised the Czech Republic on the day of its founding, 1 January 1993.
During the transition period of the 1990s, the Czech Republic was a priority country for Switzerland's cooperation programme with Eastern Europe. Switzerland also supported the Czech Republic through its enlargement contribution.
In 2012, Federal Councillor Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf met with Czech President Václav Klaus in Prague.
Czech Republic, Historical Dictionary of Switzerland
Diplomatic Documents of Switzerland, Dodis
