Hungary – A partner country for Switzerland’s contribution to EU enlargement

Between 2007 and 2017, Switzerland contributed CHF 124.2 million to the successful implementation of 39 projects in Hungary.

© 2014 Natural Earth
2014 Natural Earth

Projects in Hungary

Switzerland supports 39 projects in Hungary with its EU enlargement contribution

Results in Hungary

Switzerland uses its enlargement contribution to create jobs by taking part in a venture capital fund, extend the drinking-water supply and improve flood protection

Bilateral Framework Agreement with Hungary

Switzerland has concluded a bilateral framework agreement with Hungary. Switzerland decides in consultation with Hungary and independently of the EU which projects it will support

Focus area

In addition to the thematic focus indicated below, part of the enlargement contribution is also to be geographically concentrated. The regions «Northern Hungary» and «Northern Great Plain» are vested with priority. With a per capita gross domestic product lying at approx. 42% of the EU-27 average, these regions boast the lowest development indicators in Hungary. At least 40% of the enlargement contribution to Hungary is to go to the benefit of these regions either directly or indirectly.

Documents (10)

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Swiss Enlargement Contribution: Annual Report 2017

The ten countries that joined the EU in 2004 have completed their projects under the enlargement contribu-tion. SECO and the SDC have taken stock of the last decade and published the results in their 2017 annual report. The projects have made a significant contribution to reducing economic and social disparities in Europe. Switzerland was also able to use its expertise to make a meaningful contribution to a number of projects.



The Swiss Enlargement Contribution

The Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation SDC and the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs present an interim balance sheet on the first five years since the approval of the Enlargement Contribution to the new 10 EU-Member States. The projects are to be implemented within another five year period, i.e., by 2017.







Projects promoting social inclusion of the Roma people and other disadvantaged groups in four EU member states




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News (27)

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Successful Swiss support for research

15.03.2019 – Article
A research team in Hungary working on a Swiss-Hungarian research project has developed innovative technologies for the blind and visually impaired. Research continued in Hungary and Switzerland following the completion of the project in 2015, leading to successful results in both countries in the beginning of 2019: Hungary successfully launched an app for the visually impaired and in Switzerland Professor Botond Roska was awarded the Louis-Jeantet Prize for Medicine.


Mobile dam project in Hungary presented at the World Economic Forum in Davos

 Men inflating mobile dams

22.01.2019 – Article
The River Tisza in north-eastern Hungary regularly bursts its banks after heavy rains. In order to limit the devastation caused by flooding, Switzerland has financed several risk reduction measures by way of its contribution to the enlarged EU. Mobile dams from Swiss company Beaver Protection Systems Ltd have proven a viable solution for the situation there. It is therefore being presented as a model at the World Economic Forum in Davos.


One billion well invested

A man sitting in front of a remediation well at an industrial port

05.06.2018 – Article
The ten countries that joined the EU in 2004 have completed their projects under the enlargement contribution. SECO and the SDC have taken stock of the last decade and published the results in their 2017 annual report. The projects have made a significant contribution to reducing economic and social disparities in Europe. Switzerland was also able to use its expertise to make a meaningful contribution to a number of projects.


Consultation on a second Swiss contribution

Young man in a Slovakian vocational school.

28.03.2018 –
At its meeting on 28 March 2018, the Federal Council decided to initiate the consultation procedure on a second Swiss contribution to selected EU member states. With this contribution, Switzerland aims to continue to contribute to the reduction of economic and social disparities in the EU member states. Last year, the Federal Council set two priorities for this contribution: vocational education and training and migration.


10 years of contribution to the enlarged EU: efforts pay off

Workers installing solar panels in Niepolomice, Poland.

19.06.2017 – Press releases

The 10-year implementation period for Switzerland’s enlargement contribution to the 10 central and eastern European countries that joined the EU in 2004 came to an end on 14 June 2017. Under the contribution, Parliament approved a total of CHF 1 billion to implement 210 projects which have helped reduce economic and social disparities among broad sections of the population living in the EU.


Parliamentary delegation visits projects in Hungary

Delegation with mobile protection dam

04.05.2016 – Article
A delegation of Swiss MPs visited two projects from the Swiss-Hungarian cooperation programme in April 2016. Representatives from the Hungarian authorities showed their visitors how they use the measurement and analysis equipment and the protection dams co-financed by Switzerland.  



Successful completion of the NGO and scholarship funds in Hungary

A woman in her garden

16.11.2015 – Article

On 12 October 2015, a closing event was held for the NGO fund and the scholarship programme in Miskolc in Hungary. In total, 102 small-scale projects have been implemented, benefiting disadvantaged adults and children or promoting a responsible approach to the environment. In addition, 679 schoolchildren from disadvantaged backgrounds have benefited from a scholarship fund.


Sciex research programme comes to an end

a female researcher in a laboratory

28.09.2015 – Article

The closing ceremony of the Sciex scholarship programme was held on 25 September 2015. Thanks to this programme, more than 500 doctoral and post-doctoral students could visit Switzerland for a limited period to conduct and expand their research. 


Enhanced security at Hungarian courts

State Secretary Marie-Gabrielle Ineichen in front of a walk-through metal detector

18.08.2015 – Article

Switzerland is improving security at Hungarian courts all over the country with a contribution of CHF 4.2 million. Security checks at the entrances to courthouses are now state of the art, with 104 new walk-through metal detectors and 45 X-ray scanners. Innovative IT solutions now also allow secure and reliable electronic access to court files and central databases.


Federal Council opens consultation on the continuation of the Federal Act on Cooperation with the States of Eastern Europe

17.12.2014 – Press releases
The Federal Council has opened the consultation on the continuation of the Federal Act on Cooperation with the States of Eastern Europe (Eastern Europe Cooperation Act). The current act is still valid until the end of May 2017. A timely prolongation should enable the seamless continuation of cooperation with the countries of Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union. The consultation will last until 31 March 2015.


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Videos (2)

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Publisher DEZA/SECO

The Swiss contribution in brief

Information on Switzerland’s contribution to the enlarged EU: a brief presentation including project examples.


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