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Clean Water in South-Eastern Europe thanks to Swiss Know-how and Assistance

For over 20 years Switzerland has been supporting the countries of South-East Europe with the building of reliable water supply systems and the development of an effective public service. At the annual conference of Swiss cooperation with the countries of Eastern Europe jointly held by the SDC and SECO, experts and officials discussed achievements and future challenges by looking at examples from Moldova and Albania. President of the Swiss Confederation Micheline Calmy-Rey stressed that Switzerland would continue to work on behalf of sustainable development, which not only combats poverty but also protects natural resources.

Clean drinking water and effective sewage systems are taken for granted in Switzerland. But for many people in South-East Europe the situation looks different. Existing installations are antiquated, and more than half of the water seeps into the ground because of leaking pipelines. In rural areas the water often comes from polluted wells and many people become sick because of poor water quality. For over 20 years now Switzerland has been working to improve this situation - with considerable success, as examples from Moldova and Albania show. Clean water was the topic of the annual conference on Swiss cooperation with Eastern Europe that was held in Neuchatel on 25 November and jointly organised by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation and the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs SECO.

Press release of 25.11.11
 Conference programme

Highlights of the day


Opening speech

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Speech of the President of the Confederation Micheline Calmy-Rey on 25 November, 2011 (français, PDF, 165KB)

„Switzerland will continue to work on behalf of sustainable development which not only combats poverty but also protects natural resources.“
President of the Confederation Micheline Calmy-Rey

Drinking water and sewage project Apasan



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The aim of the drinking water and sewage project Apasan is to improve the quality of life and of health provision in rural Moldova. This is achieved by sustainable access to clean drinking water for the population and by an environmentally friendly sewage system.

Project Moldova

Water for Moldova - a Vision

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Gheorghe Şalaru, Minister of the Environment, Moldova

The Source of Prosperity - The SECO Water Projects in Albania



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Since 2001, SECO in Albania improves the water supply and sanitation in urban areas. In addition to investments for rehabilitation of the infrastructure, the public utilities are encouraged to run cost covering businesses. The film shows the course of the project in the three cities Lezha, Shkodra and Pograde.

Statements about water of two families in South Eastern Europe

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"We are ashamed to meet friends if we can't take a shower."
The Gega family from Lezha, Albania

„Today we have access to a much better quality of water. In the past the water that we pumped into the house from outside left a funny tasting film on dishes and saucepans.“
The Gutu family from Cioreşti, Moldova

Interview Pupils from the École des Métiers de la Terre et de la Nature



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„Fetching water with a bucket would take a lot of time. That means I have less time for work.“
 Pupils from the École des Métiers de la Terre et de la Nature (EMTN) in Cernier

Additional Information and Documents