The handshake between Ursula Von der Leyen (left) and Viola Amherd seals the end of negotiations between Switzerland and the European Union.
Keystone / Alessandro Della Valle
After 197 sessions, material negotiations with the EU are completed. And the objectives have been achieved in all areas, the Federal Council rejoiced on Friday. The Swiss should vote separately on the different agreements.
This content was published on
December 20, 2024 – 3:17 p.m.
swissinfo.ch/sj with RTS and Keystone-ATS
After the failure of the framework agreement in 2021, the Federal Council favored a sectoral approach for access to the EU internal market. The results of the negotiations meet Switzerland’s interests in all twelve areas.
In the area of free movement, Switzerland will be able to maintain immigration oriented towards the needs of the economy. The agreement provides for a safeguard clause. Salaries will be protected. Switzerland will also be able to protect its interests in land transport, agriculture and electricity.
From January 1, 2025, Swiss players will be able to access almost all calls for tenders from Horizon Europe and the Euratom and Digital Europe programs. This is possible thanks to an arrangement for the transitional period from the end of 2024 to the entry into force of the package.
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130 million per year for cohesion
Switzerland has also committed to making a contribution in the area of cohesion for the years 2025 to 2029. This financial commitment amounts to 130 million francs per year.
This sum will be directly allocated to programs and projects in Switzerland’s partner countries within the EU. It will be due as soon as the package agreements come into force.
For 2030 to 2036, the annual amount will be 350 million francs. These contributions will finance joint programs and projects, particularly in the field of migration.
Work continues
Between this Friday and the entry into force of the package, Switzerland and the European Commission will work together to preserve the security and proper functioning of electricity networks. Joint measures will be taken to protect citizens in the event of serious cross-border health threats.
Discussions on the implementation of the Mutual Recognition Agreement for Conformity Assessments and on the regulation of financial markets will also continue.
Switzerland and the EU are also continuing their work on legal and translation aspects in order to finalize the agreements next spring.
The Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, together with the other departments, is responsible for preparing the message on the overall Switzerland-EU package. This will cover the package of agreements, the adapted Swiss legislation and the accompanying measures.
The Federal Council would like to consolidate the agreements aimed at stabilizing the bilateral path in a federal “stabilization” decree. It would include updating existing agreements, rules on state aid, participation in EU programs and Switzerland’s contribution. The three new agreements, electricity, health, food security, will be presented separately in federal “development” decrees.
A consultation should be opened before the summer. The Federal Council will then decide on the structure of the package and the nature of the referendum. The final decision rests with the Federal Chambers, which will take up the matter from 2026.
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