21.06.2010 - Article
Switzerland to support the Macedonian parliament

For the next three years, Switzerland will help finance the creation of a Parliamentary Institute in the Republic of Macedonia with a sum of up to CHF 3.65 million. The task of the Parliamentary Institute is to provide professional support to Macedonian parliamentarians. As part this cooperation project a delegation of eight Macedonian parliamentarians led by the President of the Parliament, Trajko Veljanoski, will visit Bern from 21-23 June 2010.

Promoting democracy is a thematic focal point of Switzerland’s cooperation with Macedonia. The task of the Parliamentary Institute is to support the political process in Macedonia with analyses and reports that are politically neutral and independent of the government. The overall aim is to strengthen the independence of the legislature, which is an essential precondition for establishing a constitutional democracy. The project has been approved by all the political parties in Macedonia.

The Swiss contribution will be put towards setting up the Institute as well as the recruitment and training of qualified personnel. Initially, the Macedonian parliament will share in the costs of the Institute through the provision of office space and infrastructure. As from 2013, it will take over full responsibility for financing the Institute.

While in Switzerland, the Macedonian delegation will find out in particular about the work of the Parliamentary Services in Bern. The Macedonian parliament, where both Macedonian and Albanian are official languages, is in the process of setting up a professional translation and public information service. In addition, the programme of the visit will include meetings between the President of the Macedonian Parliament, Trajko Veljanoski, and the president of the Council of States, Erika Forster-Vannini, as well as further meetings between Macedonian and Swiss parliamentarians.