Swiss financial assistance aims to help reduce economic and social disparities within the expanded European Union, as well as between the various development regions of the beneficiary countries.

The second Swiss financial contribution, approved by the Swiss Parliament in December 2019, allocates a total of 1.102 billion Swiss francs (CHF). In September 2021, the Swiss Parliament approved the release of these funds, and in June 2022, the European Union and the Swiss Federal Council signed a Memorandum of Understanding to provide the second non-reimbursable financial contribution.

This second contribution seeks to strengthen political, economic, and cultural ties between Switzerland and the EU member states. In Romania, the cooperation program focuses on funding interventions in the social sector, with priority given to rural areas and less-developed regions. It also supports sectors such as education and research, small and medium-sized enterprises, public safety and security, health, sustainable development, and energy efficiency.

Romania has been allocated a non-reimbursable financial contribution of 221.5 million CHF, from the total of 1.102 billion CHF dedicated to reducing economic and social disparities. These funds are available to the 13 EU member states that joined after 2004. The Ministry of Finance, serving as the National Coordination Unit, is responsible for overall coordination of the Swiss financial assistance.

The framework agreement for the Swiss-Romanian Cooperation Program, signed on December 12, 2022, between the Government of Romania and the Swiss Federal Council, provides the legal basis for implementation. It defines the responsible institutions in both countries, the applicable mechanisms and principles, and the thematic areas in which support measures (programs) will be developed.

The thematic areas covered by the Swiss-Romanian Cooperation Program include dual vocational education and training (VET), research, support for SMEs, public safety and security, energy efficiency and renewable energy, improved access to the Bucharest metro network, health services, social inclusion, and civic engagement.

Presentation of the Public Safety and Security Program (Internal Affairs)

The Public Safety and Security Program (Internal Affairs) is one of the 11 thematic programs launched under the Swiss-Romanian Cooperation Program, as part of the second Swiss Contribution aimed at reducing economic and social disparities within the EU and Romania. The Agreement for the Internal Affairs Support Measure was concluded on February 20, 2025, between the National Coordination Unit and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation.

Subsequently, the Implementation Agreement for the Support Measure was signed between the National Coordination Unit and the Program Operator – Ministry of Internal Affairs – Directorate for Non-Reimbursable External Funds.

The program is implemented in collaboration with the component program operators acting as beneficiaries, namely the Romanian Police General Inspectorate and the Department for Emergency Situations.

The total budget of the program is 23,529,412 Swiss francs, of which 85% represents the Swiss contribution and 15% represents national co-financing.

The program implementation period concludes on December 31, 2028.

The Public Safety and Security Program (Internal Affairs) consists of the following components:

Community (proximity) policing;

Combating organized crime and human trafficking;

Air rescue and disaster preparedness.