Transition aid
Swiss Cooperation contributes to the strengthening of democratic institutions, good governance and stable economic framework conditions in former communist countries. The support of social, judicial and economic reforms, vocational training for youth and the unemployed, the improvement of basic infrastructure as well as rural development are among the main activities. Roughly 70% of the means are invested in Western Balkan countries (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia, Serbia and Kosovo). About 30% of the budget goes to projects implemented in former Soviet republics (Southern Caucasus, Central Asia, Ukraine and Moldava).

Swiss Contribution to the enlarged EU
The new Federal Act on Cooperation with Eastern Europe (in effect since 1 June 2007) enables Switzerland to contribute to the reduction of social and economic disparities in the enlarged European Union. Eight of the ten new partner countries are former communist countries in Middle and Eastern Europe: Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Slovenia and Slovakia. During a period of ten years Switzerland will invest one billion Swiss francs in the environment, infrastructure, education and economic development of these countries. The bilateral framework agreements with the EU-10 countries were signed in Berne on 20 December 2007. In 2008 the implementation phase of the Swiss Contribution was launched.

Further information:
Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) - Eastern Europe Department
www.sdc.admin.ch/cooperationeast

State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) - Economic Cooperation and Development Department
www.seco-cooperation.admin.ch

Swiss Enlargement Contribution to the 10 new EU member states - Joint Information Platform of the SDC and SECO Headquarters
www.contribution-enlargement.admin.ch