The non-reimbursable finance programme for Romania has been approved by the Swiss Parliament in December 2009, but the two Governments are expected to sign the Memorandum only in July. The funds will go to local authorities, to be used for infrastructure, social projects, environment and a special fund for NGOs. New Member States department from the Swiss Development and Cooperation Agency chief Ulrich Sturzinger told EurActiv.ro/Hotnews.ro that the Programme's Coordination Unit will be with the Romanian Public Finance Ministry and that the Funds can be received until December 2014.
Sturzinger also explained during a press briefing organised by Forum Ost-West that the programme represents a Swiss contribution to the EU expansion and, not the least, a way to lobby for the Swiss companies that activate on the markets of these emergent states.
For Romania and Bulgaria, the last two countries to be granted EU accession, the Swiss Parliament approved a fixed finance of 257 million Swiss francs. The money will be shared between several priorities, like infrastructure, environment, social projects etc. Only after the bi-lateral treaty is signed but the two Governments are the finance details to be decided.
In principle, the calls for projects are open for three months, for the entire sum allocated to each department. "During this period, the projects submitted cover 10 times the allocated sum", Sturzinger told EurActiv.ro/HotNews.ro. Their evaluation is next.
How did the EU 10 states do up till now
The states that joined the EU in 2004 (EU 10) were allocated funds worth 1 billion Swiss francs through similar programmes. The programmes stared out in 2007. So far, 53 projects have been approved. Sturzinger explained for EurActiv.ro/HotNews.ro that the rate of fund collection has so far been 35%. This is because it tak
