On December 28, 2022, the Minister of Regional Development and EU Funds, Nataša Tramišak, and the Ambassador of the Swiss Confederation to the Republic of Croatia, Urs Hammer, signed a Technical Support Agreement as part of the second Swiss-Croatian Cooperation Programme with a total value of CHF 1.58 million. Technical support consists of the Technical Assistance Fund and the Support Measure Preparation Fund.
The use of the Technical Assistance Fund in the amount of 0.68 million CHF is intended as aid for the authorities responsible for the management and control of the implementation of the Programme in the effective and efficient management of the Programme, while the Support Measure Preparation Fund in the amount of 0.9 million CHF is intended as assistance for the Programme Managers in the preparation of specific programmes and necessary programme documents that will be financed and implemented through the second Swiss-Croatian Cooperation Programme.
The signing of the Technical Support Agreement enables the mentioned institutions to start using the available funds from the technical support of the Programme. It is the first in a series of programme agreements that Croatia will conclude with Swiss donors for the use of CHF 45.7 million that Croatia made available by signing the Framework Agreement for the implementation of the second Swiss contribution on October 18, 2022 in Zagreb.
The aim of the second Swiss contribution is to continue with activities that contribute to the reduction of economic and social disparities within the European Union. The funds are intended to finance programmes and projects in accordance with national needs and strategies, such as investments in research and innovation intended for the business and scientific sector (CHF 8 million), water and waste-water management (CHF 23 million), health and social protection (5.5 CHF million) and civic engagement (CHF 7.62 million), in which bilateral cooperation with Switzerland will be achieved through partner exchange of knowledge and experience in selected areas. The relevant funds can be spent until the end of 2029.