Sweet Swiss aid package on its way

If the Swiss government approves an EU proposal, Poland could receive some CHF490 million (zł.1.2 billion) within five years from a Swiss governmental contribution to the EU's Cohesion Fund.

The deal comes after the Swiss Federal Council (Swiss Government) decided to support the social and economic development of the weaker regions in the new member states for a period of five years with CHF1 (zł.2.47) billion. This contribution will be made in the form of bilateral projects in the 10 beneficiary countries.

"The amount foreseen for Poland is some CHF490 million within five years. The memorandum between the EU and the Swiss government still has to be signed. Then, negotiations on a bilateral basis with the receiving countries will take place," says Hanspeter Mock, spokesperson for the Swiss Mission to the EU.

Switzerland has been ready to splash the cash for several months but some of the old member states, such as Portugal and Spain, had laid early claims to the cash. However, Bern insisted that only the 10 new countries should have access to the money.

"We hope this development will give a push to the ratification of the second set of bilateral accords," says Mock. The first set of bilateral agreement came into force in 2002.

Switzerland has made over CHF3 billion (zł.7.4 billion) in contributions to the former communist states of Central and Eastern Europe since 1991.