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.

Swiss Enlargement Contribution Annual Report 2015

The annual report contains an overview of concrete results and the status of project implementation. Over 500 doctoral students and post-doctoral researchers from the new EU member states received scholarships in 2015 to do research in Switzerland. Bulgaria introduced legislation that provides for outpatient care based on the Swiss Spitex model, and Slovenia halved the heating and electricity bills of schools through energy efficiency renovations and renewable energies.

Evaluation: Swiss Contribution to the Enlarged European Union

Evaluation Report on the Swiss Contribution 2015: Key points in brief

An independent evaluation has confirmed the federal authorities have achieved good results in implementing Switzerland’s enlargement contribution to the new EU member states. This report summarises the key findings of the evaluation and outlines the progress and achievements of the Swiss contribution.

Un seul monde 2/2004

Élargissement de l’Union européenne à l’Est : multiples defies / La Roumanie et ses chantiers: corruption, démocratie et adhésion à l’UE / L’aide humanitaire peut-elle nuire? Un entretien avec Mary Anderson

Un seul monde 4/2001

Asie centrale : la douloureuse indépendance des anciennes républiques soviétiques / Tadjikistan : le pays le plus pauvre d’Asie centrale. Portrait / Financement du développement : un débat sur les perspectives et les possibilités

Boosting research in ten EU member states

Promoting public safety in rural communities of Romania

Improved access to education and medical care for Roma

Improving living conditions of Roma communities in north-western Romania

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

NGO fund in twelve EU member states

Switzerland supports the victims of human trafficking

18.10.2016 – Article

Europe has appealed for international action against trafficking in humans on 18 October every year since 2007. Switzerland is also committed to the fight against human trafficking through its enlargement contribution. It is supporting Bulgaria and Romania with their efforts aimed at prevention, victim protection, reintegration and improving criminal prosecution.

A home for abandoned children in Romania

21.09.2016 – Article

Many Romanian children find themselves in a home – not because they are orphans but for reasons of poverty.  Since the 1990s, members of the Swiss-Romanian association for abandoned children have run a home for abandoned children in the Transylvanian town of Ghimbav. The home offers these children a family environment to grow up in.

Volunteer fire brigade in Romania – civil society involvement

06.07.2016 – Article

Romanian civil society is working to set up a volunteer fire service. More than five years ago the Romanian Parliament passed a law according to which every municipality in the country should have its own volunteer fire brigade. Unfortunately the municipalities did not have the necessary funds so that in many places the law remained dead letter. For this reason, Romanian civil society, with the support of the Opération Villages Roumains - Suisse association and the Swiss contribution to the enlarged EU, has become involved.

Swiss support helps secure jobs in Romania

06.01.2016 – Article

In the town of Reghin in the north-west of Romania, the Moldovan family runs a small business making musical instruments. Thanks to a microcredit provided by Switzerland, they have been able to purchase two new wood-processing machines and a vehicle, helping to make their work more efficient, increase their income and secure jobs.

Sciex research programme comes to an end

28.09.2015 – Article

The closing ceremony of the Sciex scholarship programme was held on 25 September 2015. Thanks to this programme, more than 500 doctoral and post-doctoral students could visit Switzerland for a limited period to conduct and expand their research. 

Young Romanian researching pain in Lausanne

29.01.2015 – Article

Thanks to a Sciex scholarship Alexandru Deftu from Romania has been researching aspects of pain signals in the central nervous system for one year at Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV). On 17 November 2014 he presented his complex field of research at the University of Bern to other research fellows and an interested public as part of the "Sciex Science Slammer 2014" competition. In an interview he talks about his work and the difficulty of making a complex subject accessible to the general public.

Federal Council opens consultation on the continuation of the Federal Act on Cooperation with the States of Eastern Europe

17.12.2014 – Media release
The Federal Council has opened the consultation on the continuation of the Federal Act on Cooperation with the States of Eastern Europe (Eastern Europe Cooperation Act). The current act is still valid until the end of May 2017. A timely prolongation should enable the seamless continuation of cooperation with the countries of Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union. The consultation will last until 31 March 2015.

Swiss involvement in Bulgaria and Romania: a 5-year review

08.12.2014 – Article

In December 2014, Switzerland will end the first phase of support for Bulgaria and Romania as part of its enlargement contribution to the new EU member states. In the period from 2009 to 2014 clear objectives for these two states were defined. To achieve them, Switzerland selected 28 specific projects and 13 thematic funds comprising numerous individual projects. All of these projects are due to be implemented by 2019. The SDC and State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) are responsible for implementing this support on behalf of Switzerland.

End of commitment period for enlargement contribution to Bulgaria and Romania

08.12.2014 – Media release
The commitment period of the enlargement contribution for Bulgaria and Romania, which joined the EU in 2007, ended on 7 December. In all, 13 thematic funds and 28 projects totalling CHF 257 million were approved. The Swiss commitment aims to eradicate social and economic disparities in the enlarged European Union (EU).

Swiss heat pumps for the Julian Alps

06.06.2014 – Media release

Switzerland is working in Slovenia within the framework of its enlargement contribution on two infrastructure projects in the field of energy. The realisation of such projects has led on the one hand to the building of new infrastructure – for example new solar panels, heat pumps or biomass boilers – and on the other to the creation of one single platform through which Swiss firms can enter the Slovenian market and forge contacts with local firms more easily. Switzerland is thus actively promoting the transfer of knowledge in the area of energy efficiency and fostering greater cooperation between Swiss and Slovenian project partners.

Project Agreement Anti-Money Laundering and Combating Financing of Terrorism Signature

22.04.2014 – Media release

Switzerland provides CHF 2’150’500 to improve the financial intelligence analysis capacity of the National Office for Prevention and Control of Money Laundering (NOPCML) – the Romanian Financial Intelligent Unit (FIU).

Partnership Fund: Launch of the Call for Project Proposals

26.03.2014 – Media release

Thematic Fund for Partnership - Block Grant for Partnerships

The Swiss contribution in brief

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

Romania: Anti Human Trafficking