Partners
| Swiss-Czech Cooperation Programme |
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Switzerland is making a contribution to the ten states that joined the European Union on 1st May 2004 to help reduce economic and social disparities in an enlarged EU. Switzerland's commitment is an expression of solidarity and the foundation upon which solid economic and political ties with the new EU member states will be built.
The Czech Republic is supported with a total amount of 109,780 million Swiss francs between 2008 and 2017. The focus will be on regional development, basic infrastructure and environment, health care, private sector promotion, scholarships, partnerships and NGO activities in the environmental and social sector. On 5 June 2009, the Programme was officially launched in the Czech Republic. First Project Agreements between Switzerland and the Czech Ministry of Finance - National Coordination Unit (NCU) have already been signed. At the end of June, it was the Agreement on the Partnership Fund, which promotes co-operation and partnerships between Czech and Swiss municipal authorities and organisations. The enlargement contribution supports small projects involving outlays of between CHF 10,000 and 250,000 designed to contribute to the solution of concrete developmental challenges in the Czech Republic through the exchange of knowledge and practical know-how. In April this year, an agreement was signed on the promotion of scientific exchanges. As from autumn 2009, young scientists and researchers from the Czech Republic will be able to join Swiss research teams for periods of 6-24 months to gain further qualifications. These exchanges will be financed through the Sciex-NMSch programme, which will extend over the next seven years. The pilot phase of this programme is currently being carried out in close co-operation with the Czech Republic. In the private sector, the outline of a project has already been approved on the application of financial reporting and auditing rules for companies. This project is now in the process of finalisation. In the areas of environment and infrastructure, submissions for projects will be collected in the third quarter of 2009. Following a pre-selection process carried out by the Czech side, Switzerland will make final decisions on which of the projects it will support. In the second half of 2009, calls will go out to submit projects in the other thematic areas: regional development, security, health care and the promotion of civil society and the private sector. In some areas, project plans will be submitted directly by the relevant ministries. Further information and updates are available at the Swiss Contribution website: |
