Second Annual Meeting of the Swiss-Slovak Cooperation Programme

On 22 May 2024, the second Annual Meeting of the Swiss-Slovak Cooperation Programme was held at the premises of the Ministry of Investments, Regional Development and Informatization of the Slovak Republic (MIRDI SR).

On the Swiss side, the meeting was attended by representatives of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs, the Ambassador of Switzerland to the Slovak Republic, H.E. Peter Nelson, as well as representatives of the Swiss Contribution Office in Bratislava.

On the Slovak side, in addition to the National Coordination Unit (MIRDI SR), representatives of the Paying Authority (MIRDI SR) and the Audit Authority (Supreme Audit Office of the Slovak Republic) were also present. Both sides acknowledged and appreciated the mutual cooperation achieved so far.

The main item on the agenda was the assessment of results from the first reporting period, covering the timeframe from the signing of the Framework Agreement on 19 September 2023 to 31 December 2024. During this period, intensive work was carried out to prepare Support Measure Proposals, which were submitted to the Swiss side for approval.

By the end of the reporting period, two Support Measure Agreements had been signed – “Vocational Education and Training” and “Biodiversity” – marking the official start of their implementation. The Support Measure “Health” was approved in December 2024. Both parties welcomed the involvement of Swiss partners in all three Support Measures.

The first half of 2025 has been equally dynamic. Launching events of the Cooperation Programme and its individual Support Measures were held, all planned calls were launched, and the implementation of all predefined Programme Components started.

The second half of the year will focus on evaluating submitted applications, concluding project contracts, and continuing implementation of the predefined Programme Components. Key tasks of the National Coordination Unit will also include monitoring and continuously assessing potential implementation risks, as well as informing the public about the progress achieved.

In addition to the Annual meeting, technical meetings were also held within the framework of the Support Measures. These meetings included representatives of the State Institute of Vocational Education (for the “Vocational Education and Training” Support Measure), representatives of MIRDI SR as the Programme Operator for “Biodiversity” and “Health”, as well as the predefined Programme Component Operators – the Ministry of Environment of the Slovak Republic (within the “Biodiversity” Programme) and the Ministry of Health of the Slovak Republic (within the “Health” Programme).