GENEVA: In a joint statement released on Friday, the Swiss government and the European Commission have expressed their intent to initiate talks on a cooperation agreement, marking a significant shift after Switzerland abruptly terminated prolonged negotiations two years ago. Both parties are optimistic about the prospect of a positive outcome, now deeming it “within reach.”
Accompanying the statement is a 13-page document outlining a detailed framework that will guide the forthcoming discussions. The primary objective is to forge an agreement enhancing Switzerland’s collaboration with the European Union across various domains, including the European internal market, transportation, electricity, Swiss involvement in European research programs, and fostering “high-level” dialogue. A key aspect of the negotiations will involve determining the financial contributions Switzerland will make to the EU as part of the agreement.
To expedite the process, the negotiation teams on both sides will work concurrently, holding regular meetings to update each other on internal processes.
EU-Switzerland Cooperation Talks
However, hurdles remain, notably from Switzerland’s hard-right Swiss People’s Party (UDC), which, despite winning a majority in the recent parliamentary election, remains wary of potential threats to the country’s sovereignty.
Concerns have also been raised by unions and the socialist party, expressing reservations about the impact on Swiss salaries. Given the significance of the agreement, it is expected that a referendum will be a requisite step in the approval process, in line with Swiss political traditions.
Relations between Brussels and Bern have been strained since Switzerland’s sudden decision in May 2021 to terminate discussions toward a comprehensive cooperation agreement with the EU. Talks had been ongoing for over a decade, with the aim of harmonizing the legal framework governing the relationship. The impasse arose when the EU rejected Swiss demands to exclude key issues related to state aid, wage protections, and freedom of movement.
Technical talks resumed in April 2022, and at present, EU-Swiss relations are governed by a patchwork of agreements. Switzerland, with its nine million inhabitants, finds the EU as its most significant trading partner, considering economic, political, geographic, and cultural ties. In 2022, Switzerland ranked fourth among the EU’s largest trading partners, following the United States, China, and the United Kingdom.
