Switzerland grants Malta 1.8m euros

Switzerland has given Malta 1.8 million euros in terms of a bilateral agreement which implements Switzerland’s undertaking to provide cohesion funds to the new member states of the EU in return for for access to the EU internal market.

The agreements by Switzerland with the 10 states which joined the EU in 2004 follow a Memorandum of Understanding between Switzerland and the European Union in February 2006 which laid down the manner of compensation which Switzerland had to make for being allowed to participate in the EU internal market even though it is not a member of the EU.

The funds granted to Malta are to be used in the health sector. Foreign Minister Michael Frendo, who was in Berne for the agreement, said: “These funds, coming from Switzerland, which has a special relationship with the European Union, are an expression of solidarity and partnership and of a commitment to greater cohesion in Europe”, Other EU countries which have benefited from the Swiss are Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Lithuania, Slovakia, Latvia, Estonia, Slovenia, and Cyprus.

Picture: Foreign Minister Michael Frendo, signing the agreement with the President of the Swiss Federation who is also Foreign Affairs Minister of her country.