Brussels, 26/06/2008 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday 25 June, in Brussels, the EU and Switzerland signed a political declaration of intent to provide support for Bulgaria and Romania that joined the EU on 1 January 2007. In the declaration, Switzerland sets its enlargement contribution at CHF 257 million (nearly €160 million) for socio-economic development projects in the two countries over the next five years. The declaration of intent takes effect subject to approval by the Swiss parliament. Bulgaria will receive about 30% (CHF 76 million, i.e. nearly €47 million) and Romania about 70% (CHF 181 million, i.e. nearly €113 million) of the overall amount of the contribution. Switzerland thus comes into line with the distribution scale of the other EFTA states in favour of these two countries. The political declaration of intent takes the legal form of an addendum to the existing memorandum of understanding between EU and Switzerland which sets the general modalities of Switzerland's enlargement contributions to the 10 central and eastern European and Mediterranean states that joined the EU in 2004. (H.B./transl.jl)