Second Swiss Contribution to selected EU member states 

The second Swiss contribution is an investment in Europe’s security, stability and prosperity. It seeks to strengthen cohesion in Europe and to support countries that face exceptional migration challenges. Through the second contribution, Switzerland is furthermore strengthening and deepening bilateral relations with the EU partner countries and the EU as a whole. 

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Projects in Greece

The second Swiss contribution is an investment in Europe’s security, stability and prosperity. It seeks to strengthen cohesion in Europe and to support countries that face exceptional migration challenges. The Swiss-Greek Cooperation Programme focuses on areas where the partner country has substantial needs and where Switzerland's own experience and expertise can bring added value. Hence, support measures under the Swiss-Greek Cooperation Programme will be implemented in areas such as asylum procedure, infrastructure, integration as well as voluntary return and reintegration.

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Safe Areas for Unaccompanied Migrant Children (Samos, Leros, Chios and Kos islands)

On the 22^nd of January, Ambassador Estermann and the Greek Minister of Migration and Asylum, Dimitris Kairidis, signed the fourth support measure agreement within the framework of the Swiss - Greek Cooperation program. In the framework of this support measure, Greece and Switzerland will support four Safe Areas in the islands of Kos, Chios, Leros and Samos.

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The Contribution of the General Secretariat for Vulnerable Citizens and Institutional Protection

The General Secretariat for Vulnerable Citizens and Institutional Protection, formerly the Special Secretariat for the Protection of Unaccompanied Minors, has been the responsible authority for the protection of unaccompanied and separated minors for the past three years, since February 2020. All necessary measures are taken to protect, ensure the well-being, and promote the social inclusion of unaccompanied children in the country, aiming to create a comprehensive framework for child protection and care. We implement the National Strategy for the Protection of Unaccompanied Minors, which was developed by the Secretariat itself, to ensure the rights of minors through actions, programs, and initiatives.

Specifically, the National Strategy is developed across four pillars as follows:

   (a) improving the reception and accommodation system and ensuring the rights of unaccompanied minors,
   (b) finding and implementing sustainable solutions for each child,
   (c) protecting from all forms of violence or exploitation, and
   (d) modernizing data collection concerning the population of unaccompanied minors.