Visit Swiss Cooperation Office websites.
www.contribution-enlargement.admin.ch
Project applications for the contribution to EU enlargement
Applications for projects are carried out exclusively in the partner countries. Summary of the process of selecting project proposals and the awarding of a contract for supplies and services.
Project proposal selection and contract awarding proceduresCooperation with Eastern Europe's mandat
Political change has so far represented a huge challenge for former socialist states. Some countries have completed the transition from Communism to constitutional democracy and have established market economics. Others still depend on the assistance of outside donors including Switzerland.
Objectives
The traditional cooperation with Eastern Europe and the CIS (transition assistance) for the former socialist countries of Eastern Europe and Central Asia has two objectives:
- Strengthening human rights and a pluralistic democracy by building political institutions that ensure the rule of law and citizens’ rights;
- Economic and social development that is based on free-market principles and the sustainable management of natural resources.
Through its enlargement contribution, Switzerland invests in the stability and prosperity of the expanded European Union and strengthens its relations with the EU, its most important economic and political partner.
Principles
The aim of the transition assistance is to transfer knowledge and modern technology as a means 
of supporting political, economic and social reforms. The transition is regarded as complete when democratic institutions are
in place and the foundation has been laid for sustainable economic and social development. Two-thirds of the CHF 150-180 million which Switzerland spends each year on transition assistance goes
towards programmes in the Western Balkans, and one-third to countries of the former Soviet Union.
Running in parallel to Switzerland’s enlargement contribution are project proposal selection and contract award procedures. All contracts are publicly tendered and project funding is allocated
according to a clearly defined distribution key.
Legal mandate
Cooperation with Eastern Europe is an integral component of Swiss foreign and foreign economic policy and is based on the Federal Law of 1 June 2007 [verlinken] on cooperation with the countries of
Eastern Europe. This legislation provides the foundation not only for transition assistance to the countries of southeast Europe and the former Soviet Union but also for Switzerland’s enlargement
contribution to the new EU member states.
Additional Information and Documents
- Coopération Suisse avec l'Europe de l'Est
Notre contribution à un continent stable et prospère
Download (PDF, 1892 KB) : [de] [fr] [it]
Order -
Loi fédérale sur la coopération avec les Etats d’Europe de l’Est
http://www.admin.ch/ch/f/rs/c974_1.html -
SECO - State Secretariat for Economic affairs
Economic Cooperation and Developmenthttp://www.seco-cooperation.admin.ch/index.html?lang=en -
Foreign policy report
http://www.eda.admin.ch/eda/en/home/doc/publi/ppol.html - Legal bases