Switzerland and the countries of ex-Yugoslavia have a longstanding special relationship: thanks to their geographical proximity, people from the region have long been migrating to seek employment in Switzerland (see Migration), making serbian/croatian/bosnian the first foreign language spoken in Switzerland.

For Switzerland as for other countries in Europe, the economic and social development of the countries in the West Balkan and their eventual integration in the European Union are political objectives in order to ensure long-term stability, security and prosperity over the continent.

Switzerland Cooperation with Serbia in Perspective

Amidst political crises and economic chaos, Switzerland’s cooperation with Serbia started in 1991 and continued throughout the NATO bombings and international sanctions period. The focus was set on emergency aid fulfilling humanitarian needs such as the supply of needed medicines and electrical appliances, the repair of infrastructure and the provision of housing for IDPs and refugees.

Immediately following the political changes in October 2000, the Swiss government launched a full-fledged bilateral cooperation programme with a medium-term perspective (transition support). This programme – complemented until 2006 with humanitarian aid – aimed at institutional reform, the provision of infrastructure, the development of the education system and of an economically viable private sector. Today, following an Evaluation conducted in 2005-06, Switzerland’s cooperation with Serbia follows the lines of a Cooperation Strategy Serbia 2007- 2009 formulated with Switzerland’s main partners in Serbia.

Since 1991, Switzerland’s cooperation with Serbia has amounted to over 170 million CHF (110 million EUR).

In addition, Switzerland participates in the efforts of multilateral donors, such as the World Bank, EBRD, UNHCR, UNDP, etc. This important contribution to international cooperation efforts with Serbia is in part due to Switzerland and Serbia’s participation in the same constituency at the World Bank and at the International Monetary Fund.