Published on 10 February 2025

Second Swiss Contribution

The second Swiss contribution (2019–29) to selected EU member states is an investment in Europe's security, stability and prosperity and is thus in Switzerland's national interest. By making this second contribution, Switzerland is also strengthening and deepening bilateral relations with its partner countries and the EU as a whole.

Switzerland is committed to education and innovation in Europe with the second Swiss contribution to selected EU member states. — © FDFA

The second Swiss contribution is a key part of Switzerland's European policy, and enables Switzerland to help promote cohesion and stability in Europe. At the same time, it enables Switzerland to strengthen and deepen its bilateral relations with partner countries. This contribution of over CHF 1.3 billion, which will run until 2029, supports countries that joined the EU since 2004 (EU-13) or face major migration flows. The aim is to reduce economic and social disparities in Europe and promote measures to manage migration flows.

The funds do not flow directly into the budgets of the partner countries or the EU, but are implemented bilaterally in selected projects and programmes between Switzerland and the respective partner country. Switzerland's commitment is not part of the EU's cohesion policy, but the commitment ensures that Swiss funds are used in a way that complements EU cohesion funds.

The contribution comprises two framework credits:

• Framework credit on cohesion
  Switzerland has earmarked over CHF 1.1 billion for the 13 states that have joined the EU since 2004: Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia (EU-13). This amount is intended to strengthen cohesion. The funding will also be invested in other areas such as vocational education and training, research and innovation, welfare and healthcare systems, public safety, civic engagement and transparency, environmental and climate protection and SME financing, in keeping with the priorities set by the partner countries and Switzerland. The Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) are responsible for the cohesion framework credit. (You can find information on the cohesion framework credit on this website.)
• Framework credit on migration
  CHF 200 million will be used for migration-related measures in countries which are particularly affected by migration flows. The contribution can therefore also benefit EU member states outside the EU-13, and will be used by Switzerland to support measures to improve the management of migration flows. The framework credit for migration is implemented by the State Secretariat for Migration (SEM).
  Framework credit on migration

CHF 65.1 million (5% of the funds) is earmarked for the internal administrative expenses of the Federal Administration.

The second Swiss contribution has its legal basis in the Federal Act on Cooperation with the States of Eastern Europe (SR 974.1) and the Asylum Act (SR 142.31) as well as the federal decrees governing the two framework credits.

Projects/programmes Second Swiss contribution

• Bulgaria
• Croatia
• Cyprus
• Czech Republic
• Estonia
• Greece
• Hungary
• Italy
• Latvia
• Lithuania
• Malta
• Poland
• Romania
• Slovakia
• Slovenia

Chronology

From 2023

• All bilateral implementation agreements signed (September)
• Signing of bilateral implementation agreements with the partner countries (framework credit on cohesion: Lithuania, Latvia, Czech Republic, Slovenia, Slovakia) / framework credit on migration: Italy); start of the implementation phase

2022

• Signing of the bilateral implementation agreements with the partner states (Framework credit cohesion: Bulgaria, Estonia, Croatia, Malta, Poland, Romania, Hungary and Cyprus / Framework credit migration: Greece and Cyprus)
• Signing of the legally non-binding Memorandum of Understanding MoU on the second Swiss contribution with the EU (30 June)

2021

• Parliament releases second Swiss contribution (removal of non-discrimination condition) (30 September)
• Adoption by the Federal Council of a dispatch to release the second Swiss contribution (removal of non-discrimination condition, 11 August)

2019

• Parliamentary approval of cohesion and migration framework credits (containing non-discrimination condition, 3 December)

2018

• Adoption of the dispatch on the second Swiss contribution by the Federal Council (28 September)

Messages

• Dispatch on the adjustment of the federal decisions on the second Swiss contribution (release of the framework credits for cohesion and migration), 11 August 2021 (de)
• Federal decree on the adjustment of the federal decrees on the second Swiss contribution to selected EU member states (release of the framework credits for cohesion and migration), 30 September 2021 (de)
• Dispatch on the second Swiss contribution, 28 September 2018 (de)
• Federal decree on the second Swiss contribution (cohesion framework credit) (draft) (de)
• Federal decree on the second Swiss contribution (framework credit for migration) (draft) (de)

Documents

• MoU second Swiss contribution

  PDF367.34 kB7 November 2024

• Swiss contribution: Fact sheet

  PDF105.64 kB1 January 2023