Commission advances on the modernisation of EU-Switzerland relations

This article is published in association with United Nations.

Today, the European Commission takes a significant step to strengthen and expand the relationship between the EU and Switzerland. It is submitting proposals to the Council to authorise the signature and conclusion of a comprehensive package of agreements, marking an important milestone towards the ratification of a modernised framework for cooperation.

Key Components of the Package

At the core of the package is the modernisation of five agreements originally signed in 1999, which grant Switzerland access to the EU internal market in air and land transport, free movement of persons, conformity assessment, and trade in agricultural products. Updating these agreements will bring them in line with current EU legislation, ensure Switzerland’s dynamic alignment with EU law, and establish clear dispute resolution mechanisms. State aid rules will apply to both the air and land transport agreements. These updates aim to ensure that citizens and businesses on both sides can fully benefit from their rights, while promoting fair competition.

In addition, the package introduces several new and cross-cutting agreements to further enhance bilateral cooperation. A food safety agreement will establish a Common Food Safety Area, covering all aspects of the food chain and ensuring dynamic alignment with EU standards. A health agreement will strengthen joint responses to serious cross-border health threats and enable Swiss participation in key EU bodies, including the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control and the Early Warning and Response System. A new electricity agreement will grant Switzerland access to the EU internal electricity market, with dynamic alignment and the application of State aid disciplines.

A financial contribution agreement will provide for Switzerland’s regular and fair contribution to economic and social cohesion within the Union, reflecting the level of partnership between the two parties. An agreement on Swiss participation in EU programmes will allow access to key initiatives such as Horizon Europe, Euratom Research and Training, ITER/F4E (Fusion for Energy), Digital Europe, Erasmus+, and EU4Health. Since 1 January 2025, transitional arrangements have allowed Swiss entities to participate in related calls.

An agreement on space cooperation will allow Swiss participation in activities under the EU Space Programme, specifically related to the Galileo and EGNOS components, via the EU Space Agency.

Institutional arrangements are also reinforced through a protocol on parliamentary cooperation, establishing a Joint Parliamentary Committee composed of members from the European Parliament and the Swiss Federal Assembly. Furthermore, a joint declaration sets the foundation for a high-level dialogue on the implementation of the package and potential future developments in bilateral relations.

Background

On 20 December, the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen and the President of the Swiss Confederation Viola Amherd confirmed the completion of negotiations on a broad package of agreements that aim to deepen and expand the EU-Switzerland relationship.

The negotiations were based on the Common Understanding agreed between the Commission and the Federal Council in October 2023 which outlined the key components of the package. The negotiations were launched on 18 March 2024, and conducted subsequently under the political leadership of Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič and based on the mandate given to the Commission by the Council on 12 March 2024. The agreements were initialled by the chief negotiators on 21 May 2025.

Next Steps

The EU and Switzerland will now proceed with ratification in accordance with their respective procedures. The EU remains fully committed to the successful completion of this process.