Western Balkans Week: Three countries, three cooperation programmes
From 27 to 29 April 2026, the Western Balkans stood at the centre of Swiss development cooperation. Three consecutive days of events in Kosovo, Serbia and North Macedonia brought Switzerland's long-standing cooperation in the region into focus and looked ahead to future cooperation with the countries of the Western Balkans.
From 27 to 29 April 2026, the Western Balkans stood at the centre of Swiss development cooperation. Three consecutive days of events in Kosovo, Serbia and North Macedonia brought Switzerland's long-standing cooperation in the region into focus and looked ahead to future cooperation with the countries of the Western Balkans.
Kosovo: A partnership with impact across all 38 municipalities
On 27 April, SDC Director General Patricia Danzi presented the new cooperation programme 2026-2029 in Pristina, worth CHF 64.5 million. The programme builds on a cooperation that began in 1998 with humanitarian aid and has since grown into a broad partnership. It is centred on supporting reform processes with a view to Kosovo's European integration and alignment with European standards and values. Substantively, the programme addresses democratic governance, sustainable economic development as well as climate change, water and health.
Progress is tangible. The Municipal Performance Grant, jointly supported by Switzerland, the European Union and Sweden, has significantly increased citizen satisfaction with municipal services. More than 740'000 citizens have benefited; across 33 municipalities, 376 projects have been delivered, with a total volume of around EUR 46 million. Citizen participation and civil society engagement have grown, and public trust in institutions has improved. Anti-corruption mechanisms have also been strengthened: Kosovo's Transparency International score rose from 36 to 44 between 2020 and 2024.
These advances are first and foremost achievements of Kosovo. Switzerland has supported them through capacity building and technical expertise. The government has integrated the performance-based municipal financing system into its own administration and co-finances it from its own resources.
Serbia: A new programme for the economy, governance and climate
On 28 April, Swiss President Guy Parmelin launched the new cooperation programme 2026-2029 in Belgrade, worth CHF 87 million. The launch coincided with the 110th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Switzerland and Serbia.
The programme rests on three pillars: economic development with a focus on innovation and vocational training; climate resilience and sustainable urban development; and the strengthening of local governance and civil society. In recent years, Switzerland has improved municipal service delivery in numerous municipalities, facilitated local companies' access to international markets and supported more than 240 technology companies at the Swiss-backed Science and Technology Park Belgrade. Labour market programmes have reached 12'000 young women and men.
In the course of the visit, a SECO innovation agreement worth CHF 10 million was also signed.
North Macedonia: A historic first visit
On 29 April, Swiss President Parmelin visited North Macedonia as the first Swiss president since the country's independence in 1991. The cooperation programme 2025-2028, worth CHF 56 million, forms the backbone of the bilateral relationship. Switzerland works with North Macedonia on reforms in the areas of governance, sustainable economic development and environmental protection.
Specifically, Switzerland has been supporting the North Macedonian parliament since 2010 in strengthening its institutional capacity. It promotes dual-track vocational training modelled on the Swiss system and implements in the Bregalnica region a nature conservation programme that combines biodiversity protection with economic development.
Three countries, one common framework
The three programmes illustrate Switzerland's partnership approach in the Western Balkans: accompanying reforms, fostering the exchange of expertise, and co-financing projects that strengthen institutions, social cohesion, economic prospects, environmental sustainability and peace promotion. The aim is to advance the region's European integration and improve living conditions for the population. The programmes are jointly implemented by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) and the Peace and Human Rights Division (PHRD).
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