Poland uses not only European Funds. We received nearly half a million Swiss francs for disease prevention programmes, environmental protection, scientific cooperation, improvement of transport infrastructure in cities and support for local communities. Implementation of the Swiss-Polish Cooperation Programme has already reached the halfway point. All projects have been launched. The Programme will be implemented until mid-2017. Initial effects of the Polish-Swiss cooperation are already visible.
On the Swiss-Polish Cooperation Programme
The Swiss-Polish Cooperation Programme, or the Swiss fund, is a form of non-returnable foreign aid granted by Switzerland to countries that acceded the European Union from 1 May 2004 on. Poland is one of the 12 countries which use these funds. Pursuant to international agreements, over 1 billion Swiss francs were disbursed. Poland will receive nearly a half of this amount (ca. 489 million Swiss francs).
The Programme is implemented throughout Poland. It also envisages preferences for four voivodeships: Lubelskie, Podkarpackie, Świętokrzyskie and Małopolskie – about 43% of the pool of SPCP funds will be spent in these regions.
- The priorities of Polish-Swiss aid are:
• To develop peripheral and less-developed regions,
• To improve urban infrastructure services,
• To reduce emissions of greenhouse gases and hazardous substances,
• To improve public transport systems,
• To preserve biodiversity,
• To support the private sector,
• To improve health care,
• To stimulate scientific cooperation.
84 contests have been announced so far, under which support was granted for about 1,700 minor projects and 58 large projects, programmes and funds. The Programme benefits both public and private sector institutions, as well as NGOs. - Effects:
• 524 scientists using the Swiss fund,
• 1,600 schools and kindergartens participating in the programme for a healthy diet and physical activity,
• 25,000 patients tested for HCV, including 5,000 pregnant women,
• 2,900 kindergartens covered by the oral health protection programme,
• 37 social welfare organisational units co-financed with about PLN 65 million,
• 6,700 solar panel systems mounted on private buildings and on 37 public utility buildings,
• 44,591 tonnes of asbestos waste removed.