news_2021027 - Swiss

Solid Partnership for Development: Romania and Switzerland Continue Cooperation under the Swiss-Romanian Cooperation Programme

On 23 October 2026, the National Coordination Unit (NCU) hosted the final meetings with the delegation of the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) and the Swiss Contribution Office (SCO) at the Ministry of Finance headquarters, concluding the Swiss partners' mission to Bucharest held between 21 and 23 October 2026.

During this mission, official meetings and technical discussions were conducted regarding the implementation of programmes under SECO management, namely: the Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) Programme, the SME ECO-TECH Programme, the Programme for Improving Access to the Bucharest Subway Network (Metrorex), and the Emissions Research and Monitoring Infrastructure (ERMI) Programme.

The discussions were chaired by the NCU, with the participation of the Programme Operators: the Ministry of Development, Public Works and Administration for the Energy Efficiency and Metrorex programmes; the National Authority for Scientific Research for the ERMI programme; and the Ministry of Economy, Digitalization and Entrepreneurship for the SME ECO-TECH programme, alongside the Ministry of Investments and European Projects as component operator within the Energy Efficiency programme, project beneficiaries, and key institutional stakeholders.

The meetings provided an opportunity to review progress across the four programs, address operational implementation challenges, refine activity timelines, and reinforce institutional partnerships. Participants highlighted the necessity of continuous coordination among coordinating structures, Programme Operators, beneficiaries, and Swiss partners. The discussions reconfirmed the robust nature of the bilateral cooperation between Romania and Switzerland, grounded in institutional trust, financial accountability, and a focus on tangible results.

Additionally, on the margins of the mission on 22 October 2026, the NCU, together with Swiss partners, the Audit Authority within the Ministry of Finance, and other relevant institutional actors, attended the launch event in Măgurele for the International Research Cooperation Programme and the Emissions Research and Monitoring Infrastructure Programme, both funded under the Swiss-Romanian Cooperation Programme. A key highlight of the event was fostering a constructive dialogue among public entities, implementing agencies, research institutes, NGOs, and private companies operating in the sector, leveraging the Swiss contribution as a catalyst for cross-sector collaboration. The event was organized by the Programme Operator, the National Authority for Scientific Research, with the support of the participating research institutes: the "Horia Hulubei" National Institute for R&D in Physics and Nuclear Engineering (IFIN-HH), the "Elie Carafoli" National Institute for Aerospace Research (INCAS), and the National Institute for R&D in Optoelectronics (INOE 2000).