Agriculture, transport, energy: EU Council gives green light to signing agreements with Switzerland

Brussels – From transport to agricultural products, from the space programme to electricity, via research and space: these are the areas in which relations between the European Union and Switzerland are developing and deepening. In times of geopolitical tensions and trade, Brussels continues to pursue its policy of forging alliances and strengthening existing ties. And today (24 February), the Council of the European Union approved a comprehensive package of agreements that further expand bilateral relations between the EU and Switzerland. “The decision taken today by the Council to authorise the signing of a comprehensive package of agreements with Switzerland is a natural step towards strengthening our long-standing relations,” said Marilena Raouna, Deputy Minister for European Affairs of Cyprus, which currently holds the six-month presidency of the EU Council. “The Cypriot Presidency has worked hard to finalise these agreements, which will deepen and modernise the EU-Switzerland partnership. This fully reflects our commitment to working towards a stronger and more autonomous Union that remains open to the world,” she added. 

The package comprises eight elements. On the one hand, it includes updating certain agreements under which Switzerland continues to have access to the EU internal market (air transport, land transport, free movement of persons, and agricultural products), as well as the agreement on trade in agricultural products. On the other hand, new agreements on a wide range of topics: three new agreements on food safety, health and electricity; a new agreement on Switzerland’s fair and permanent financial contribution to the EU’s economic and social cohesion; a new agreement allowing Switzerland to participate in various EU programmes, such as Horizon Europe and EU4Health; a separate agreement governing Switzerland’s participation in the European Union Agency for the Space Programme, for activities related to the Galileo components, and the European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service (EGNOS) of the Union’s space programme; a protocol on parliamentary cooperation; a joint statement on the establishment of a high-level dialogue on the comprehensive bilateral package and the possible further development of bilateral relations. In particular, the dialogue provides for annual meetings, alternately in Switzerland and Brussels, to review progress and discuss future cooperation. 

The negotiation phase of this package of agreements aimed at deepening and broadening bilateral relations was concluded in December 2024, after having startedin March 2024 with the prospect of Switzerland’s association with a series of EU programmes rather than a single framework agreement: the underlying logic was to ensure fair competition between companies from both sides operating in the internal market and to protect the rights of EU citizens working in Switzerland. The negotiation phase came to an abrupt halt in May 2021 when the parties failed to reach an agreement on an institutional arrangement that would allow for a dynamic update of the agreements between the two parties on access to the European Single Market, which were stuck at agreements made between 50 and 20 years ago and risked creating regulatory divergences. Therefore, with today’s decision (24 February), the Council has formally authorised the European Commission to proceed with the signing of the documents together with its Swiss counterparts. The official signing of the package of agreements is scheduled for March. Only after the European Parliament has given its consent and the Swiss procedures have been completed, which may include parliamentary ratifications or direct democracy processes typical of the Swiss system, will the Council be able to finalise the act of conclusion. At that point, the package of agreements will formally enter into force.