CHF45 million for Croatian water and education projects
Switzerland has set aside CHF45 million ($48.3 million) to help Croatia improve the quality of its water and to invest in vocational training. The agreement signed on Tuesday is part of the Swiss enlargement contribution to the newest EU member state.
The bilateral framework agreement lays out not only the size of the Swiss contribution, but also the objectives it is hoped it will fulfil and the key ways it will be implemented.
The foreign ministry said in a statement that Croatia, which joined the EU in July 2013, will be supported by Switzerland in “the areas of water treatment, supply of drinking water, research and vocational education and training”.
There are also plans to increase “exchange of knowledge” between the two nations. Landmines are another issue covered by the agreement – demining and helping victims of landmines find their way back into work are both areas which will be covered by projects set up or run with this funding.
Overall the enlargement contribution is supposed to bring new members of the EU up to a higher and more stable level, financially and socially. The Swiss economy also “benefits from access to the EU’s extended internal market”.
The sum of CHF45 million was approved by parliament last December as a framework. Since 2007, Switzerland has given CHF1.2 billion to similar projects in other countries which joined the EU.
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