Danuta Hübner, the European Commissioner for Regional Policy, visited Berne and Lucerne on Tuesday to take part in a series of meetings on relations between Switzerland and the European Union (EU), and on Swiss participation in EU Regional Policy co-operation programmes in particular.
According to the European Commission, Switzerland's New Regional Policy is closely aligned with the aims of the EU's Regional Policy and Lisbon Strategy for Growth and Jobs, with its support for innovation, small businesses, training, knowledge transfer and for less favoured regions such as mountainous and rural areas.
Commissioner Hübner said ahead of her visit: "With its involvement over many years in hundreds of co-operation projects, Switzerland is a highly valued partner for the European Union, and I am pleased that Swiss partners are continuing their active involvement in the European territorial co-operation programmes for 2007-2013. We want to strengthen this co-operation and we hope that Swiss federal authorities will join the EU by investing more in cross-border programmes."
Commissioner Hübner will spend the initial part of her visit in Berne with the head of the Federal Department of Economic Affairs, who is also in charge of regional policy, and she will later meet the Swiss Minister for Foreign Affairs.
The discussions at both meetings will focus on Switzerland's New Regional Policy, the role of the cantons in cross-border co-operation with EU regions, and other issues such as the Swiss enlargement contribution to new member states.
Switzerland is currently involved in 10 territorial co-operation programmes with the EU, of which four are cross-border with neighbouring countries, Germany, France, Italy and Austria. The contribution from the European Regional Development Fund towards cross-border co-operation amounts to EUR215m, representing an increase of 120% from 2000-2006.
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