Swiss-Slovak cooperation continues: the second support programme will bring €47 million to Slovakia

The Minister of Investments, Regional Development, and Informatization of the Slovak Republic, Richard Raši, today, together with the Swiss Ambassador H. E. Peter Nelson, officially launched the second Swiss-Slovak Cooperation Programme. As Minister Raši noted, the Programme builds on the successful first cycle implemented from 2007 to 2017 and brings financial resources to Slovakia in several areas, including vocational education and training, sustainable tourism, and biodiversity, as well as health and prevention support.

“The Programme officially began on September 19, 2023, with the signing of the Framework Agreement, which established the key thematic areas and implementation mechanisms. Since that date, several important milestones have already been achieved, such as the signing of the Technical Assistance Agreement, the signing of the Support Measures Agreement focused on vocational education and training, and the signing of the Support Measures Agreement focused on sustainable tourism and biodiversity. Most recently, a health-related Support Measure was approved, with its signing expected in the first quarter of this year,” Minister Raši informed.

The Swiss-Slovak cooperation is based on the bilateral involvement of institutions from both countries and emphasizes continuity, cooperation, and coordination. Experts from Switzerland are involved in individual Support Measures, providing invaluable experience exchange and raising the professional level of projects. The Ministry of Investments, as the National Coordination Unit, collaborates with other Ministries and partners in Slovakia and Switzerland to ensure that the projects deliver measurable results.

“I am pleased that we have succeeded in establishing a partnership with Swiss organizations. The Swiss expertise utilized in this way will add value to all projects and programmes under the Second Swiss Contribution. Last but not least, it will strengthen the relations between our two countries,” said the Swiss Ambassador to Slovakia, Peter Nelson.

Since 2007, Switzerland has been providing contributions to reduce economic and social disparities within the European Union. In the second period (2009-2019), Switzerland allocated 1.1 billion Swiss francs, of which 44.2 million Swiss francs (47 million euros) was designated for the Slovak Republic. The implementation was initially led by the Government Office of the Slovak Republic, and it is now managed by the Ministry of Investments, Regional Development, and Informatization of the Slovak Republic.

“We are confident that, together with our partners, we will be able to face the challenges related to the implementation of the Programme, which will allow us to turn projects into successful stories that will improve the quality of life in Slovakia,” concluded Raši.