Photo exhibition by Jean-Pierre Grandjean showing Helvetas development projects in Africa, Asia and Latin America. Helvetas is among the ten Swiss NGOs that will no longer receive funding from Brussels.
Martial Trezzini/Keystone
Ten Swiss non-governmental organisations are set to lose key European Union funding for humanitarian operations, Swiss public radio, SRF, reported on Monday.
Just before Christmas, the European Commission sent letters to ten Swiss NGOs regarding the status of Framework Partnership Agreements (FPAs) concluded with Brussels for the funding of humanitarian operations. It has decided that Swiss organisations such as Médecins Sans Frontières Switzerland, Caritas and World Vision will no longer receive funding from Brussels worth over €50 million (CHF57 million) in the past, SRF has learned.
In the letterExternal link, the European Commission explained that in the preparation for a new FPA it had carried out an in-depth legal review of existing cooperation arrangements. The previous FPA had been drawn up based on the Council of Europe’s Convention 124, which recognised the “legal personality of international NGOs”. However, the commission said the EU had not ratified this convention, which doesn’t include rules regarding the eligibility of NGOs for EU funding.
Brussels therefore regrets that “it will no longer be possible for organisations based in states outside the Union to be considered eligible” and thus it will “no longer be possible to award an FPA to such organisations”. Although they will not be able to receive funds under the FPA, Swiss NGOs can continue to operate as implementing partners. Brussels added that ongoing humanitarian actions funded by the EU “remain unaffected”. The change reported by SRF has been in force since January 1, 2019.
‘Small shock’
“It was a small shock,” said Solidar Switzerland director Felix Gnehm. “It wasn’t totally unexpected, as we knew that the EU was examining future cooperation with Swiss organisations within the context of Brexit… but we didn’t expect it so quickly.”
Until recently, each Swiss NGO has had to secure individual accreditation with Brussels and prove that they meet certain conditions to be able to apply for tens of millions of euros of EU funding.
Gnehm believes Brexit – Britain is set to leave the EU on March 29 – has had an influence on decisions in Brussels, but the European Commission rejected this argument when probed by SRF, underlining the legal aspects.
According to the Swiss broadcaster, there has been a dispute on this issue within EU administration. It claims the directorate-general responsible for humanitarian aid did not want to end cooperation, but the legal service, linked to Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, has pushed for a tough stance.
Ties between the EU and Switzerland, which is not a member of the 28-nation bloc, have been complicated by recent efforts to conclude a deal on their long-term relationship. Both sides have been struggling for five years to finalise an institutional framework agreement aimed at cementing future ties. Current relations are covered by around 120 separate accords that have been negotiated since 1992.
Swiss appetite to finalise the agreement has been mixed, however, with politicians from both right and left recently calling for a renegotiation of the latest terms. A public consultation process involving those concerned is currently being prepared. The EU, on the other hand, is pushing for a prompt outcome.
More
More
Swiss government wants public consultation on EU framework deal
This content was published on
The Swiss government says it wants a public consultation before taking a final position on an “institutional framework” agreement with the EU.
Train vs plane: would you take a direct train between London and Geneva?
Eurostar is planning to run direct trains from Britain to Germany and Switzerland from the early 2030s. Would you favour the train over the plane? If not, why not?
Switzerland and Ivory Coast sign agreement on cultural assets
This content was published on
Culture Minister Elisabeth Baume-Schneider signed an agreement on cultural assets with Ivorian Culture Minister Françoise Remarck in Côte d'Ivoire on Monday. It is the first of its kind to be concluded with a country from the region.
This content was published on
A snake almost one-and-a-half metres long was discovered on Saturday in a garden in Veltheim, northern Switzerland. It was a red, black and white kingsnake.
This content was published on
The Swiss Broadcasting Corporation (SBC), Swissinfo's parent company, must restructure due to financial pressures and to stay competitive in the fast-moving media environment.
This content was published on
There has been a sharp decline in the consumption of single-use disposable plastic bags and reusable plastic bags in the Swiss retail sector.
This content was published on
A biometric Swiss identity card (ID) is expected to be available in Switzerland by the end of 2026. The Federal Office of Police and its federal and cantonal partners are working on a new ID card that features a chip.
Heatwave reduces output at Swiss nuclear power plant by 50%
This content was published on
The ongoing heatwave has forced the Beznau nuclear power plant, which relies on water from the River Aare, to halve its output.
Swiss continue to enjoy high social mobility, study shows
This content was published on
Opportunities for upward social mobility have remained intact in Switzerland since the 1980s. Social mobility is exceptionally high by international comparison, a study shows.
Swiss government affected by cyberattack on health foundation
This content was published on
Switzerland says a ransomware attack on the non-profit health foundation Radix that involved data being stolen and encrypted had also affected the federal administration.
Federal Council agrees to investigation into alleged Swiss-Russian spying affair
This content was published on
The Office of the Attorney General of Switzerland can open spying investigations into the Swiss Federal Intelligence Service (FIS).
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.
Read more
More
Swiss firms increase EU lobbying
This content was published on
Swiss companies have sharply increased their lobbying in Brussels in the face of uncertain relations with the European Union.
Swiss government wants public consultation on EU framework deal
This content was published on
The Swiss government says it wants a public consultation before taking a final position on an “institutional framework” agreement with the EU.
This content was published on
The EU is imposing limits on steel coming into the bloc from Saturday in response to US President Donald Trump’s metals tariffs.
This content was published on
Emblematic conservative figure Christoph Blocher told People’s Party members that accepting the EU accord would be disastrous for Switzerland.
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.