Cohesion policy is part of the EU’s approach to reduce disparities – in economic and social terms – between regions. Since 2005, Switzerland contributes to EU cohesion with funding from a separate framework credit implemented bilaterally with selected member countries of the EU. A second period of funding running from 2019–2029 is currently implemented in 13 countries, including the Czech Republic (CHF 76.9 mio) and Slovakia (CHF 44.2 mio). I served for three years in our Embassies in Bratislava and Prague to set up the operations. Our partner ministries developed programs in sectors like health, environment or research, which I then steered through the approval process. At the end of 2024, all seven programs for the two countries had been formally approved and were ready for implementation.
