On May 15, 2025, an Annual Meeting of the Swiss-Croatian Cooperation Programme was held at the Ministry of Regional Development and EU Funds (MRDEUF). Representatives from the Swiss side included officials from the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), the Ambassador of the Swiss Confederation, and representatives from the Swiss Contribution Office at the Embassy. Croatian side was represented by the MRDEUF – National Coordination Unit members – Ms Iva Novak, Head of Directorate for Strategic Planning and Coordination of EU Funds, Ms Natalija Laštro, Head of the Sector, and other NCU members.
Head of the Directorate Ms Iva Novak, the Swiss Ambassador to Croatia H.E. Urs Hammer, and the Head of the Swiss Contributions Office to EU Member States Ms Laurence Mortier, in their opening speeches, expressed their satisfaction with the results achieved within the framework of projects funded under the First Contribution, their tangible impact on society and the strengthened bilateral relations between the two countries. Mutual trust between stakeholders on both sides served as the key to the successful completion of the irst Swiss Contribution, and it remains the guiding principle for the implementation of the Second Swiss Contribution in the Republic of Croatia.
As part of the first Swiss contribution, the safety of citizens in Sisak-Moslavina County has been increased by clearing 3.34 km2 of mine-suspected areas, and the lives of mine victims and their families have been improved through psychosocial support. The cooperation between Croatia and Switzerland in the field of science and research has been strengthened by implementing joint projects. Croatian companies have gained valuable experience and increased competitiveness by participating in the EUROSTARS program. The partnership between Croatian and Swiss non-profit organizations has been enhanced through training programs developed for students, acquiring knowledge and skills for sustainable development. Croatian students gained skills and competencies to meet labor market demands through the modernization of programs and equipping vocational schools. The municipal infrastructure for water supply and wastewater treatment in Delnice and the municipalities of Fužine and Brod Moravice has been improved, reducing the operational costs of the water supply network, water losses and the risk of contamination of existing drinking water sources. Funds from the Technical Assistance Fund have ensured effective and efficient management of the Swiss-Croatian Cooperation Program, as well as a higher level of awareness and visibility of the Swiss-Croatian Cooperation Program.
The implementation within the First Contribution has significantly strengthened the capacities for future implementation of the Cooperation Program by building the capacity for monitoring at the National Coordination Unit and ensuring that Croatian institutions and stakeholders are equipped with the skills and knowledge to tackle the challenges ahead. This capacity-building approach is crucial for fostering long-term growth, improving governance, and enabling effective management of future projects and resources.
As part of the Annual Meeting, field visits were organized to the MAPS (Multilateral Academic Projects) projects – ‘Becoming an Axolotl: Empathy, Simulation, and Embodiment in Medieval Narratives’ at the Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts and ‘Assessment of Wind Turbines’ Security from Lightning Strikes’ at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computing, as well as visits to the Health Center Zagreb-East in preparation for the Palliative Care program and the Institute for Water as part of the Water and Wastewater management programme.
