Poland will receive more than 320 million Swiss francs from the second Swiss-Polish Cooperation Programme. The agreement was signed in Warsaw by the Minister of Funds and Regional Policy, Grzegorz Puda, and the Swiss Secretary of State for Economic Affairs, Helene Budliger Artieda.

“This is another programme that we will be able to use for investments supporting Poland’s economic and social development. I am convinced that the activities of the Polish government within the framework of our partnership with the Swiss party will contribute to further development and increase the competitiveness of the Polish economy,” says Minister Puda.

Although Switzerland is not a member of the European Union (EU), it supports the development of several Community countries (including Poland) through a special pool of funds. The signing of the agreement for the second Swiss-Polish Cooperation Programme was preceded by agreements between Switzerland and the EU. In June 2022. Switzerland and the EU signed a Memorandum of Understanding which set out the amount of support for several countries, what the funds would be used for and who would benefit from them.

‘I am convinced that the second Swiss-Polish Cooperation Programme will further strengthen the existing excellent relations between our countries, improve the quality of life of the people of Poland and contribute to reducing social and economic disparities between the regions of Poland’, said Helene Budliger Artieda during the signing of the agreement.

There are two main programmes planned for the second Swiss-Polish Cooperation Programme. These are the Polish-Swiss Urban Development Programme with 278.7 million Swiss francs (and an additional CHF 49.882 million in national contribution) and the Scientific Research and Innovation Programme with 35 million Swiss francs (and an additional CHF 6.176 million in national contribution).

The agreement also provides for Technical Assistance (including the Preparatory Fund) of CHF 6.4 million.

Arkadiusz Słomczyński