- Published: 30.06.2015.
Croatia to receive grant of 45m CHF for projects within the Swiss-Croatian cooperation programme
Croatia today becomes the 13th country to formally participate in the programme that aims at reducing the social and economic disparities in the European Union.
The Vice President of the Government of the Republic of Croatia and Minister of Regional Development and EU Funds Branko Grčić and the Ambassador of Switzerland to the Republic of Croatia Stefan Estermann signed today the Framework Agreement between the Swiss Federal Council and the Government of the Republic of Croatia on implementing the Swiss-Croatian cooperation programme aimed at the reduction of economic and social disparities within the enlarged European Union. The programme sees for a grant to Croatia in the amount of 45m CHF for projects implemented in the period between 2016 and 2024.The Swiss Confederation established on 26 June 2006 a cooperation programme called The Swiss Contribution to the EU Enlargement. The mechanism has so far been used by twelve new EU members.
Croatia today becomes the 13th country to formally participate in the programme that aims at reducing the social and economic disparities in the European Union.
The Swiss – Croatian Cooperation Programme represents a continuation of the Swiss solidarity with which Switzerland joins the efforts of the EU with the aim of diminishing the economic and social disparities in the youngest member state of the EU.
The signing of the Framework Agreement is the result of common efforts of the Government of the Republic of Croatia represented by the Ministry of Regional Development and EU Funds and the Swiss FederalCouncil, represented by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO). A special role in the preparation of all necessary activities for the signing of this Agreement was played by the Embassy of Switzerland in the Republic of Croatia.
The Swiss – Croatian Cooperation Programme will support activities which will directly contribute to the betterment of Croatian citizens through following projects:
- Demining and socio-economic integration, consisting of demining of a protected forest area and the socio-economic integration of mine victims. For these purposes, a grant of 3m CHF has been provided.
- Improvement of the water supply infrastructure as well as waste water management on several locations in Gorski kotar. The implementation of these projects will depend on the final approval of the project documentation. Since the project value is limited to 21,5m CHF, the Framework Agreement defines the financing of the projects according to a priority rule from one to six, until the funds have been exhausted. Activities concerning the preparation of the project documentation represent eligible costs and are valued at 1,07m CHF of the whole grant. The cities/municipalities covered by the Framework Agreement are:
- Priority 1: Delnice and Fužine,
- Priority 2: Brod Moravice,
- Priority 3: Mrkopalj,
- Priority 4: Lokve,
- Priority 5: Skrad
- Priority 6: Ravna Gora.
- Providing for a favourable career environment for researchers in Croatia through cooperation with a Swiss partner (Ecole polyethnique fédérale de Lausanne, EPFL). For this project 4m CHF were granted.
- Providing for preconditions for successful scientific and research projects which aim at establishing close cooperation links between Croatia and Switzerland as well as enabling transfer of knowledge, skills and technologies. The value of this grant is 4m CHF and it will be implemented by the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF).
- Support of future EUROSTARS projects with a grant of 1m CHF. EUROSTARS is a publicly financed programme, currently supported by 34 EUREKA member countries. It aims at supporting small and medium-sized enterprises, active in the research field and striving to develop innovative products, processes and services.
- Promoting the contribution of the civil society to the economic and social cohesion through a grant of 4,8m CHF.
- Promoting the partnership and bilateral cooperation of the Croatian and Swiss non-profit organisations. The value of the grant is 2m CHF.
- The rest of the grant is dedicated to the support of the effective and competent management of the Swiss-Croatian cooperation programme within the Framework Agreement.
With the implementation of the Swiss – Croatian Cooperation Programme, Croatia expects further strengthening of the bilateral relations with Switzerland, creation of new institutional partnerships between Croatia and Switzerland, a contribution to the reduction of social disparities and promotion of economic development.