News - Swiss

Integrated Social Services in Romanian Cities and the Implementation of Measures Promoting Non-Discrimination at National and Local Levels — Priorities of the Ministry of Labour, Family, Youth and Social Solidarity Financed through Swiss Funding

The Ministry of Finance, in its capacity as National Coordination Unit for the Swiss Contribution, and the Ministry of Labour, Family, Youth and Social Solidarity, acting as Programme Operator, have signed the Implementation Agreement for the Support Measure entitled “Social Inclusion Programme”, under the Thematic Area “Minorities and socially disadvantaged groups”, effective as of 30 May 2025.

The Programme is structured around two key components aiming to:
• Reduce economic and social disparities between communities by delivering integrated community services (social assistance/education/health), with a particular focus on vulnerable groups, including Roma populations living in urban areas;
• Promote non-discrimination at national and local levels, including through the valorisation of Roma culture and history.

The Programme will be implemented by April 2029, with a total budget of 23,012,110 CHF, of which 20,000,000 CHF represents the Swiss contribution, and 2,931,374 CHF is national co-financing.

For the implementation of the first component, the Ministry of Labour, Family, Youth and Social Solidarity will cooperate with the Council of Europe as strategic partner.

Details regarding the launch of the call for projects and other relevant programme information will be published on the Programme Operator’s website.

Romania’s Dual Vocational Education and Training System Strengthened through Switzerland’s Second Contribution

The Ministry of Finance, as the National Coordination Unit for the Swiss Contribution, and the Ministry of Education and Research, through the National Centre for the Development of Vocational and Technical Education (CNDIPT), have signed the Implementation Agreement for the Support Measure “Dual Education Programme (VET)” under the thematic area “Vocational Education and Training.” The agreement entered into force on 9 May 2025.

The programme aims to strengthen Romania’s dual vocational education and training system by engaging schools and private companies with relevant expertise. It consists of five components aligned with its main strategic directions:
• Policy dialogue on dual education;
• Revision of level 5 qualifications in line with the National Qualifications Framework (NQF);
• Piloting/testing level 5 NQF qualifications through competitive grant projects;
• Training of teachers and in-company tutors to deliver relevant dual programmes;
• Development of a public-private network of dual education facilitators.

The programme will run until April 2029, with a total budget of CHF 11,764,705.88 — of which CHF 10,000,000 represents the Swiss contribution and CHF 1,764,705.88 is national co-financing.

The Ministry of Education and Research, via CNDIPT, will act as the Programme Operator. Implementation will be carried out in partnership with the Swiss Federal University for Vocational Education and Training as the Swiss partner institution.

Details on the implementation of the Programme will be made available on the websites of the participating institutions.

Internal Affairs Funded Through the Second Swiss Contribution

The Ministry of Finance, in its capacity as the National Coordination Unit for the Swiss Contribution, and the Ministry of Internal Affairs have signed the Implementation Agreement for the Support Measure “Public Security and Safety Programme (Internal Affairs)” under the thematic area “Improving Public Safety and Security.” The agreement entered into force on May 21st, 2025.

The Programme aims to strengthen the role of the police in ensuring citizen safety—particularly for vulnerable groups—combat organized crime, with a special focus on human trafficking, and improve the support provided to populations facing emergency situations by enhancing the performance of SMURD aerial rescue services and further developing the concept of civil protection volunteerism.

The Programme is structured into three core components aligned with its overarching objectives:
• Community Policing
• Combating Organized Crime and Human Trafficking
• Aerial Rescue and Disaster Preparedness

The Programme will be implemented until April 2029, with a total budget of CHF 23,529,412, of which CHF 20,000,000 is provided through the Swiss contribution, and CHF 3,529,412 represents national co-financing.

The programme will be implemented by the General Inspectorate of Police and its Romanian partners—the “Nicolae Golescu” Police Training and Professional Development Centre in Slatina, the Ministry of Internal Affairs’ Psychosociology Centre, the National Agency against Trafficking in Persons, the “Dr. Aurel Greblea” Cynology Centre in Sibiu, and the International Organization for Migration. In parallel, the Department for Emergency Situations will implement its components in cooperation with the General Inspectorate of Aviation and the General Inspectorate for Emergency Situations. Both implementing structures will benefit from the expertise and recognised professionalism of Swiss partners: the SAVATAN Police Academy, the Federal Office of Police (FEDPOL), the Basel Institute on Governance, REGA (Swiss Air-Rescue), and COGINTA.

Details on the implementation of the Programme will be made available on the websites of the participating institutions.

Signing of the Support Measure Agreement and the Implementation Agreement for the “Infrastructure Programme for Emission Research and Monitoring”

On May 6th, 2025, the Ministry of Finance, in its role as the National Coordination Unit (NCU) for the Swiss Contribution, and the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) signed the second Support Measure Agreement (SMA) for the “Infrastructure Programme for Emission Research and Monitoring.” This initiative is part of the Romanian-Swiss Cooperation Programme, under the thematic area Research and Innovation.

Subsequently, on May 15th, 2025, the National Authority for Research (ANC), acting as the Programme Operator, and the Ministry of Finance, as the NCU, signed the corresponding Support Measure Implementation Agreement (SMIA), officially marking the launch of the Programme.

The Programme consists of two components:

• ACTRIS (Aerosol, Clouds and Trace Gases Research Infrastructure), with the National Institute for Research and Development in Optoelectronics INOE 2000 as the component operator and beneficiary. The project will be implemented in partnership with Babeș-Bolyai University and, on the Swiss side, the Paul Scherrer Institute – Laboratory for Atmospheric Chemistry.
• East European Methane Study (EEMS), focused on the study of methane emissions in Eastern Europe, with the National Institute for Aerospace Research “Elie Carafoli” (INCAS) as the component operator and beneficiary. Implementation will take place in partnership with the Research Institute for Materials Science and Technology – Air Pollution Laboratory/Environmental Technology, as the Swiss partner.

The Programme will run until the end of March 2029 and has a total budget of CHF 8,705,882 (approximately RON 47,821,410), of which CHF 7,400,000 (approximately RON 40,648,200) represents the Swiss contribution. Further information regarding the implementation of the Programme will be made available on the websites of the involved institutions.

2025 Annual Meeting of the Swiss-Romanian Cooperation Programme

Between 26 and 28 May 2025, the Ministry of Finance hosted the third annual meeting of the Swiss-Romanian Cooperation Programme, in close collaboration with the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO), and the Swiss Contribution Office (SCO).

The meeting opened with technical sessions reviewing the 2024 implementation progress and 2025 developments, followed by thematic discussions with Programme Operators, Component Operators, and other institutions involved in the Programme. Key issues were addressed, including administrative bottlenecks, operational challenges, and practical solutions identified to accelerate implementation and enhance inter-institutional coordination.

Main conclusions of the meeting included:
• All 11 Programmes were formally approved in 2024, setting a clear strategic framework for cooperation;
• By May 2025, all Support Measure Agreements and the majority of Implementation Agreements had been signed, paving the way for the operational phase;
• The effective implementation stage has begun, with beneficiary contracting, procurement launches, and strengthened partnerships with Swiss institutions;
• Institutional changes, staffing limitations and procedural complexities have been effectively addressed through structured dialogue and technical assistance from the Swiss side;
• Good practices in monitoring, reporting, and public communication were highlighted, with an emphasis on measurable, transparent outcomes.

Given the eligibility deadline of 3 December 2029, both sides agreed on the need to maintain a fast pace of implementation, a clear strategic vision, and timely decision-making regarding all relevant procedures.

The Swiss-Romanian Cooperation Programme remains a model of responsible institutional partnership, delivering concrete results in essential areas of public policy: social inclusion, health, justice, education, research, public safety, and regional development.

The Ministry of Finance expresses its appreciation to all Programme and Component Operators for their sustained commitment and professionalism throughout every stage of this shared effort.