Switzerland's contribution to the enlarged EU
From 2007 to 2024, Switzerland supported various projects in 13 EU countries with a total of CHF 1.302 billion as part of the enlargement contribution, with the aim of reducing economic and social disparities in the enlarged EU.
Starting in 2007, Switzerland contributed CHF 1.302 billion to numerous projects to reduce the economic and social disparities within the enlarged EU. The partner countries of the Swiss enlargement contribution were the EU-13: Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, and Slovenia.
All projects under the enlargement contribution for the EU-10 (those countries that joined the EU in 2004) were successfully completed by the end of 2017 following a ten-year planning and implementation phase. An independent evaluation published in 2016 confirmed that the vast majority of the projects achieved their objectives, in some cases even exceeding the expected results. The projects have made a positive contribution to promoting social and economic development in the partner countries and have made a lasting impact. In Bulgaria and Romania, the implementation phase ended in December 2019. The enlargement contribution in Croatia ran until the end of 2024.
Chronology
By the end of 2024
- Project implementation in Croatia
2004–2019
- Completion of project implementation in Bulgaria and Romania (7 December 2019)
- Completion of project implementation in the EU-10 (31 December 2017)
- Signing of bilateral framework agreement with Croatia (30 June 2015)
- Approval by Parliament of framework credit for Croatia (CHF 45 million, 11 December 2014)
- Croatia joins the EU (1 July 2013)
- Signing of bilateral framework agreements with Bulgaria and Romania (7 September 2010)
- Approval by Parliament of framework credit for Bulgaria and Romania (CHF 257 million, 7 December 2009)
- Signing of the bilateral framework agreement with the EU-10 (20 December 2007)
- EU accession of Romania and Bulgaria (1 January 2007)
- Approval by Parliament of framework credit for EU-10 (CHF 1 billion) (14 June 2007)
- EU and Switzerland sign a legally non-binding memorandum of understanding (MoU) on enlargement contribution to EU-10 (27 February 2006)
- EU accession of EU-10 (Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia) (1 May 2004)
Memorandum of understanding on the enlargement contribution
The memorandum of understanding (MoU) on the enlargement contribution to the EU-10 was signed in Brussels on 27 February 2006.
The MoU was a letter of intent not binding under international law. It set out the general modalities of the enlargement contribution (e.g. objective, scope and duration, geographical distribution of funds among the individual partner countries, thematic focus, etc.).
On 25 June 2008, an addendum to the existing MoU was signed. It expanded the enlargement contribution to include Bulgaria and Romania.
On 2 May 2014, an addendum to the existing MoU was signed. It expanded the enlargement contribution to include Croatia.
Federal Council dispatches
- Dispatch on Switzerland's contribution to reducing economic and social disparities in the enlarged European Union, 15 December 2006 (de)
- Dispatch on Switzerland's contribution to Croatia, 28 May 2014 (de)
- Dispatch on Switzerland's contribution to Bulgaria and Romania, 5 June 2009 (de)
- Dispatch on the Federal Act on Cooperation with the States of Eastern Europe, 31 March 2004 (de)
- Federal Act on Cooperation with the States of Eastern Europe, 24 March 2006 (de)
Countries of the enlargement contribution
Information on Switzerland's engagement in the EU countries supported as part of the enlargement contribution.
Contact
Swiss Contribution to EU Member States / Cohesion Section
Holzikofenweg 36
3003 Bern