Switzerland will provide Hungary with CHF 87.6 million (more than HUF 34 billion) to support development projects across the country, the Hungarian President’s Office announced on Wednesday following talks between President András Baka and his Swiss counterpart, Guy Parmelin, in New York.
According to a statement sent by the Sándor Palace to Hungarian news agency MTI, the two presidents discussed the Swiss-Hungarian Cooperation Programme during their meeting on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly.
The programme will support ten measures across eight areas, including energy efficiency, vocational training and efforts to combat human trafficking.
The two leaders also marked the 80th anniversary of the restoration of diplomatic relations between Hungary and Switzerland.
What will the Swiss funding support?
The CHF 87.6 million contribution is part of Switzerland’s second funding programme for selected European Union member states. The agreement with Hungary was signed in November 2022, and the programme will run until 2029. Its main aim is to reduce economic and social disparities in Hungary.
The funding covers several areas, including education, healthcare, environmental protection and economic development.
Some projects will focus on improving drinking water quality and wastewater treatment, while others will support geothermal energy and energy efficiency. The programme also includes measures to develop vocational training, support small and medium-sized businesses, and improve healthcare services.
At least half of the Swiss contribution will go to Hungary’s less developed regions, including the Northern Great Plain, Northern Hungary and Southern Transdanubia. The Hungarian government will also contribute to the programme, bringing its total budget to more than CHF 100 million.
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Hungary and Switzerland mark 80 years of diplomatic ties
The presidential meeting also provided an opportunity to reflect on the longstanding relationship between Hungary and Switzerland.
According to the Sándor Palace, the two countries restored diplomatic relations almost exactly 80 years ago. Baka and Parmelin commemorated the anniversary during their talks in New York, highlighting the historical ties between the two nations.
The statement also recalled Switzerland’s role in helping Hungarians who fled their homeland following the 1956 Hungarian Revolution. Around 14,000 Hungarian refugees found a new home in the Alpine country, marking an important chapter in bilateral relations.
The Swiss-Hungarian Cooperation Programme represents another area of cooperation between the two countries, with funding directed towards projects aimed at addressing economic and social challenges in Hungary.
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