Published on 10 February 2025

Swiss contribution to selected EU member states

Since 2007, Switzerland has been helping to reduce economic and social disparities within the EU by making a contribution to selected EU member states. Switzerland works directly with partner countries to decide which programmes and projects to support. The contribution is a key component of Switzerland's European policy and underpins its strong economic and political ties with the EU and member states.

A group of people working together. — The Swiss contribution supports targeted partnerships. — © SDC/SECO

The Swiss contribution to selected EU member states, which includes the ‘enlargement contribution’, ‘second Swiss contribution’ and future Swiss contributions, refers to funding that Switzerland has provided to specific EU member states since 2007. Contributions are channelled into selected projects and programmes in partner countries and are not transferred directly to national budgets or to the EU. The Swiss contribution to selected EU member states is an investment in Europe's security, stability and prosperity and is therefore in Switzerland's interests.

From 2007 to the end of 2024, Switzerland provided CHF 1.302 billion, through the enlargement contribution, to over 200 projects aimed at reducing economic and social disparities within the enlarged EU. The partner countries involved were the EU-13 member states, i.e. countries that joined the EU in or after 2004: Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia.

The second Swiss contribution, totalling CHF 1.302 billion, will be implemented by 2029. By focusing on issues such as vocational training and migration, the second Swiss contribution helps to address challenges Europe is currently facing – challenges that also affect Switzerland.

Swiss contribution to selected EU states, pageflow

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Stabilisation of the Swiss contribution

In line with the package approach, the objective is to create the basis for regular contributions by Switzerland to help reduce economic and social disparities within the EU. The specifics of the next Swiss contribution, i.e. duration, amount, partner countries and thematic priorities have been addressed in negotiations with the EU.