Joint projects strengthening bilateral relations

Switzerland finances a partnership fund in Bulgaria and Romania with over CHF 12 million, providing support for around 60 projects. These projects are implemented by a Swiss organisation or institution along with a Bulgarian or Romanian counterpart respectively. The central focus is the exchange of knowledge, and thus Switzerland is strengthening institutional partnerships and bilateral relations with Bulgaria and Romania.

Bilateral partnership projects contribute to resolving specific problems in Bulgaria and Romania and improving living conditions for local people. At the heart of these projects lies the exchange of knowledge and experience with a Swiss organisation or institution which has extensive experience in the specific area. Through the exchange of visits, project partners, local political representatives and specialists are able to share experiences. They plan and implement projects together. Switzerland supports small projects in the amount of 10,000 CHF to 100,000 CHF, while larger projects can receive a subsidy of 100,000 CHF to 250,000 CHF. 

Only non-profit organisations in Switzerland and the partner countries, such as foundations, associations or cultural institutions, may participate in the cooperation programme. Public bodies such as municipalities or cantonal administrative authorities may also access these funds. Among the Swiss partners are renowned institutions and educational establishments such as the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (EPFL), Lausanne, and also smaller organisations such as the Stiftung Lebensqualität, a Swiss foundation for improving quality of life, which has been working with Bulgaria and Romania for a number of years. 

Projects already at the implementation stage

In Bulgaria already 31 projects have been identified. In Romania, following a first call for projects in 2012, 14 partnership projects have been approved. A second call for projects took place in the spring of 2014. 

The projects already started are showing their first results. For example, in the Romanian town of Ghimbav a workshop has been set up to help young people with limited skills find work. The workshop is the result of a partnership between the Swiss association for abandoned children in Romania and the Romanian NGO Pentru copiii abandonati, which is supported through the partnership fund.

Mutual benefits of cooperation

Switzerland too benefits from the mutual exchange of experience, obtaining insights into different approaches at various levels. Through the partnership projects Swiss partners are also playing an active role in reducing the economic and social inequalities prevalent in Bulgaria and Romania. New institutional partnerships are formed, while existing ones are strengthened, which in turn strengthens bilateral relations between Switzerland and the two countries.

Partnership Fund Bulgaria and Romania (PDF, 2 Pagine, 759.6 kB, inglese) 

Partnership Fund Romania

Partnerships strenghten bilateral relations

The partnership funds set up under the auspices of Switzerland’s enlargement contribution facilitate the exchange of experience between institutions in the new EU member states and Swiss partners - in areas such as non-motorised transport, teacher training and biodiversity, for instance. The Swiss contribution to partnership funds for financing small projects is approximately CHF 25 million.

Switzerland possesses a great deal of knowledge in areas such as research and environmental protection, and in other fields too. Given the lack of experience of the partner countries in a wide range of areas (usually for historical reasons), Swiss organisations can consequently make a significant contribution to active knowledge transfer.

Focus on sharing experience

The partnership funds in Bulgaria, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Hungary and the Czech Republic support and foster institutional partnerships between Switzerland and the respective countries. These partnerships focus on sharing experience in the various fields. As a result, institutions and government agencies in the new EU member states can benefit from Swiss expertise and knowledge. This is also in Switzerland’s interests. Through the partnership funds, Switzerland is supporting around 280 small projects which will help solve concrete problems in the partner countries and improve the living conditions of their citizens. Only non-profit organisations are accepted as partners in both Switzerland and the partner countries, i.e. organisations that do not pursue any commercial interests through their participation in projects, such as foundations or associations. Public authorities such as municipalities or cantonal administrative bodies are also eligible to access these funds. Trade unions can also be admitted as partners. Town twinning is a traditional example of such a partnership.

First partnership projects already completed

For instance, Swiss expertise helped to implement a project to promote non-motorised transport in the Czech Republic. Another project concerned incorporating the rights of children in teacher training. As part of the Slovenian partnership fund, a joint research project to preserve biodiversity was implemented. In Poland the focus was placed on partnerships between towns and municipalities. For instance, Polish cities and municipalities can consult Swiss agencies in areas such as spatial planning and public transport.

Mutual benefits of cooperation

By expanding its horizons through establishing and maintaining long-term partnerships between public agencies and institutions, Switzerland also benefits from the mutual exchange of experience. Partnership projects allow Swiss partners to play an active role in reducing economic and social disparities between the new member states and the EU. Projects are submitted to the national institution nominated to manage the fund. A broad-based selection committee, on which Switzerland is also represented, decides which projects will be financed. The partnership funds set up as part of the Swiss enlargement contribution:

• will co-finance around 280 partnership projects;

• will create and foster institutional partnerships between public bodies in the new EU member states and Switzerland;

• will enable the exchange of specialist knowledge between the new EU member states and Switzerland to the benefit of all parties.

Partnership Funds in the New EU Member States (PDF, 2 Pagine, 598.9 kB)

Altre lingue

Partnerschaftsfonds in den neuen EU-Mitgliedstaaten
Fonds d’appui aux partenariats dans les nouveaux pays membres de l’UE
Fondi di partenariato nei nuovi paesi membri dell'UE