Switzerland's participation in the Leonardo programme
Because of the Swiss people's refusal to join the European Economic Area (EEA), Switzerland was excluded in 1995 from the Community education and training programmes SOCRATES, YOUTH and LEONARDO DA VINCI.
Nevertheless, thanks to unilateral transitional measures and to the support of the State Secretariat for Education and Research SER, our country has the possibility to participate in the Leonardo programme as an "indirect partner".
The notion of indirect partnership means that Switzerland cannot receive any subsidy from the European commission and must fully self-finance its participation in the programme. Moreover, no Swiss entity can be the promoter or the co-ordinator of a Leonardo project. Participation opportunities are therefore restricted to the status of partner.