The European Commission has submitted to the Council a proposal for an agreement with Switzerland to allow Swiss universities, schools, students and other young people to participate in the EU's programmes 'Youth in Action' and 'Lifelong Learning Programme'.

The signature of this agreement will mean that Switzerland will take part in these programmes alongside the Member States of the EU, the European Economic Area and Candidate Countries. Under the terms proposed Switzerland could participate from 2011 and would contribute a total of €50.1m in 2011-13.

Switzerland is surrounded by the European Union (EU). Over 900,000 EU citizens live and work in Switzerland, and many more cross the borders or transit the country on a regular basis. In addition to the Free Trade Agreement of 1972, the agreement on insurance (1989), bilateral agreements (1999) and Bilateral II (2004), more than 100 technical agreements govern relations between Switzerland and the EU.

The Lifelong Learning Programme of the EU 2007-2013 aims to foster interchange, cooperation and mobility between education and training systems within the Community, and achieves this through four sectoral programmes (Comenius, Erasmus, Leonardo da Vinci, and Grundtvig), a transversal programme and the Jean Monnet.

As for the"Youth in Action 2007-2013, it aims to promote active citizenship among young people in general and their European citizenship in particular. Switzerland is the only European country due to take part in these programmes without being a member of the EEA, a candidate country or a potential candidate country, and it would do it from the next financial year to the adoption of the definitive agreement, ie since 2011.

Switzerland shall be responsible for establishing or designating, and monitoring, an appropriate structure (National Agency) for the coordinated management of the implementation of the Programmes' actions at national level, shall assume responsibility for the sound management by the National Agency of the appropriations paid to it as aid for projects and shall take any measures necessary to ensure the appropriate financing, auditing and financial monitoring of the Agency, which shall receive from the Commission a contribution to its management and implementation costs. Switzerland shall take all other necessary steps for the efficient running of the Programmes at national level.

To participate in the Programmes, Switzerland shall make an annual financial contribution to the general budget of the European Union: it will reach 5,4 million euros in three installments for the “Youth in Action” programme, and it will rise to 44,7 million for the “Lifelong learning Programme”.