Swiss-EU relations: negotiations begin on institutional issues

22.05.2014 — Press release EDA
Today in Bern the negotiations on an institutional agreement between Switzerland and the European Union (EU) have begun. With the planned agreement the Federal Council wishes to reconfirm and strengthen the bilateral approach, and so continue to guarantee Switzerland's prosperity and independence.

Flankierende Massnahmen: ein verstärktes und wirksames Instrumentarium

05.05.2014 — Press release DEA
Die Kontrolltätigkeit der Vollzugsorgane hat 2013 erneut zugenommen. Insgesamt haben die tripartiten und paritätischen Kommissionen die Lohn- und Arbeitsbedingungen bei über 40'000 Betrieben und 158'000 Personen kontrolliert. Dank verschiedener Verbesserungen auf Gesetzesebene und der Professionalisierung der Kontrollorgane können Lohnunterbietungen nun noch gezielter und effizienter bekämpft werden. Gleichzeitig mit dem Bericht über die Umsetzung der flankierenden Massnahmen hat das SECO am 5. Mai 2014 eine Standortbestimmung betreffend Gesamtarbeitsverträge veröffentlicht.

Concerted efforts for democracy and peace: President of the Swiss Confederation represents Switzerland at Council of Europe Ministerial Session

05.05.2014 — Press release EDA
The President of the Swiss Confederation and head of the FDFA, Didier Burkhalter, will be in Vienna on 6 May to attend the 124th Ministerial Session of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe.

Greek president Karolos Papoulias in Bern on official visit

02.05.2014 — Press release EDA
On Switzerland's invitation, the president of the Hellenic Republic visited the country on 2 May for the first time since diplomatic relations between Switzerland and Greece began 119 years ago. President of the Swiss Confederation, Mr Didier Burkhalter, and President Karolos Papoulias primarily discussed bilateral relations between the two countries and topics concerning European policy. Greece has held the rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union since the beginning of the year which will last until the end of June. Against this backdrop, Mr Burkhalter talked about the Federal Council's intended next steps regarding relations between Switzerland and the EU. The vice-president of the Federal Council, Simonetta Sommaruga (FDJP), the Greek deputy foreign minister, Dimitris Kourkoulas, and the Greek minister of tourism, Olga Kefalogianni, also took part in the meeting.

Federal Council notes recommendations of Commission of Experts on market access for financial service providers

01.05.2014 — Press release DEA
At its meeting yesterday, the Federal Council debated the interim results from the group of experts for the further development of the financial market strategy on questions concerning international market access. The experts recommended various measures to secure market access for Swiss financial service providers abroad.

Federal Council seeks to strengthen competitiveness with corporate tax reform

30.04.2014 — Press release DEA

The information was corrected or amended after publication. (01.05.2014)

Bern, 30.04.2014 - The Federal Council has acknowledged the results of the cantonal consultation on the reform of corporate taxation. The reform is designed to develop the Swiss tax system further and strengthen competitiveness while taking international developments into account. Switzerland should remain attractive as a tax location and companies should continue to make an important contribution to financing the tasks of the federal government, the cantons and the communes. This requires legal certainty, which only an internationally accepted tax system can deliver. The cantons support the thrust proposed by the project organisation. The Federal Department of Finance will draw up a corresponding consultation draft.

The Federal Council takes steps to re-launch discussions with the EU on Switzerland’s participation in EU programmes and market access

30.04.2014 — Press release DEA
The Federal Council wishes to re-launch negotiations and discussions on Switzerland’s participation in framework programmes and market access. To that end it approved a declaration envisaging a number of measures. These include a solution to the admission under quotas of Croatian citizens to the Swiss labour market. In addition, the Federal Council confirmed the enlargement contribution for Croatia.

The Federal Council takes steps to re-launch discussions with the EU on Switzerland’s participation in EU programmes and market access

30.04.2014 — Press release EDA
The Federal Council wishes to re-launch negotiations and discussions on Switzerland’s participation in framework programmes and market access. To that end it approved a declaration envisaging a number of measures. These include a solution to the admission under quotas of Croatian citizens to the Swiss labour market. In addition, the Federal Council confirmed the enlargement contribution for Croatia.

Switzerland and EU sign an agreement on participation in EUTM Mali

28.04.2014 — Press release EDA
Today, Switzerland and the European Union have signed an agreement on Switzerland’s participation in the European Union Training Mission in Mali (EUTM Mali). The agreement will enable Switzerland to support EUTM Mali with civilian expertise.

Interim solution for Erasmus+ in 2014

16.04.2014 — Press release DEA
Following the suspension of negotiations on Switzerland’s association to Erasmus+, the Federal Council tasked the EAER with drawing up an interim solution for 2014. This was approved at today’s Federal Council meeting. The interim solution gives priority to mobility activities and is based on the principle that Switzerland wishes to regain full associate country status.

Schweiz-EU: zehnte Sitzung des Gemischten Ausschusses für das öffentliche Beschaffungswesen

15.04.2014 — Press release DEA
Die Delegationen der Schweiz und der Europäischen Union (EU) haben sich am 15. April 2014 in Brüssel zur zehnten Sitzung des Gemischten Ausschusses des bilateralen Abkommens für das öffentliche Beschaffungswesen getroffen. Zentrale Themen waren das Inkrafttreten des revidierten WTO-Übereinkommens über das öffentliche Beschaffungswesen und die entsprechende Anpassung der nationalen Gesetzgebungen im Bereich des öffentlichen Beschaffungswesens.

Schweiz-EU: zehnte Sitzung des Gemischten Ausschusses für das öffentliche Beschaffungswesen

15.04.2014 — Press release EDA
Die Delegationen der Schweiz und der Europäischen Union (EU) haben sich am 15. April 2014 in Brüssel zur zehnten Sitzung des Gemischten Ausschusses des bilateralen Abkommens für das öffentliche Beschaffungswesen getroffen. Zentrale Themen waren das Inkrafttreten des revidierten WTO-Übereinkommens über das öffentliche Beschaffungswesen und die entsprechende Anpassung der nationalen Gesetzgebungen im Bereich des öffentlichen Beschaffungswesens.

Project submissions opened for Horizon Europe

25.06.2021 — Press release DEA
The European Commission has launched the calls for project proposals under Horizon Europe. Switzerland and the EU have not yet held negotiations on Switzerland's association to the programme. Researchers in Switzerland can nonetheless participate in the calls for proposals, albeit to a limited extent. If there is a delay or no association, Swiss researchers will have the possibility of receiving direct funding from the Confederation.

Number of cross-border commuters has grown steadily since the turn of the millennium

24.06.2021 — Press release DEA
At the end of 2020, some 343 000 cross-border commuters were working in Switzerland. This was twice as many as 25 years ago. Nearly all of them came from a neighbouring country and worked in a border canton. Although the canton of Geneva had the highest absolute number of these workers, their percentage share in total employment was largest in the canton of Ticino. These are some of the findings from the “Cross-border commuters in Switzerland 1996-2020” publication from the Federal Statistical Office (FSO).

Bilateral affairs and Swiss–EU relations high on the agenda for Ignazio Cassis' visit to Paris

18.06.2021 — Press release EDA
On 17 June, Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis met France's Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Yves Le Drian in Paris. Talks focused on Swiss–EU relations and relations between Switzerland and France. Various international issues of current concern were also discussed.

Ignazio Cassis to meet Jean-Yves Le Drian in Paris

16.06.2021 — Press release EDA
On Thursday 17 June, Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis will be in Paris to meet with French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Yves Le Drian. Talks will focus on Swiss–EU relations and relations between Switzerland and France.

President Parmelin in Sweden for bilateral exchange

14.06.2021 — Press release DEA
President Guy Parmelin was received by King Carl XVI Gustaf at the start of his visit to Sweden on Monday, 14 June 2021. He then met separately with Prime Minister Stefan Löfven, Minister for Business, Industry and Innovation Ibrahim Baylan and Minister for Higher Education and Research Matilda Ernkrans, and paid a courtesy visit to Speaker of the Riksdag Andreas Norlén. The innovation agencies of Switzerland and Sweden signed a memorandum of understanding to further deepen their cooperation, which has been ongoing since 2013.

Council of Europe Ministerial Conference: Switzerland advocates for the protection of journalists

11.06.2021 — Press release DEA
Federal Councillor Simonetta Sommaruga is concerned by the continued deterioration of working conditions experienced by journalists and media professionals. At the Council of Europe’s virtual Ministerial Conference on Media and Information Society on 11 June, she stressed Switzerland’s willingness to reverse this trend and support measures to strengthen freedom of expression and freedom of the media in Europe.

Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis visits Vienna: signing of memorandum of understanding on new strategic partnership between Switzerland and Austria

10.06.2021 — Press release EDA
Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis, head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, will travel to Austria on 11 June. In Vienna, together with his Austrian counterpart Alexander Schallenberg, he will sign a memorandum of understanding on the strategic partnership between the two countries. The following day, Mr Cassis will take part in the Europa-Forum Wachau and meet with Federal Chancellor Sebastian Kurz.

President Parmelin hails Slovenia trip a success

09.06.2021 — Press release DEA
Swiss President Guy Parmelin met with President Borut Pahor during his visit to Slovenia on Wednesday 9 June. He also held talks with Prime Minister Janez Janša, Minister of Economic Development and Technology Zdravko Počivalšek and Speaker of the National Assembly Igor Zorčič. Discussions focused on bilateral matters, including the development of economic relations, and issues of European policy. Slovenia will assume the six-month rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union on 1 July.

Erstes Treffen des Gemischten Ausschusses zum Handelsabkommen Schweiz–Vereinigtes Königreich

08.06.2021 — Press release DEA
Am 1. Januar 2021 trat das Handelsabkommen zwischen der Schweiz und dem Vereinigten Königreich (UK) in Kraft. Der zuständige Gemischte Ausschuss hielt am 8. Juni 2021 sein konstituierendes Treffen ab. Dabei wurden zentrale Themen für die Handelsbeziehungen zum Vereinigten Königreich wie die Ursprungskumulation und die Weiterentwicklung des Abkommens diskutiert.

European policy: Federal Council sets out next steps for second Swiss contribution

04.06.2021 — Press release EDA
The unblocking of the second Swiss contribution to selected EU member states is part of the Federal Council's European policy agenda, with a view to pursuing the bilateral approach. At its meeting on 4 June, the Federal Council decided to prepare a dispatch on the unblocking of the corresponding framework credits. The dispatch will be submitted to Parliament in the autumn session.

No signing of Swiss–EU institutional agreement

26.05.2021 — Press release EDA
At its meeting on 26 May, the Federal Council undertook an overall evaluation of the outcome of the negotiations on the institutional framework agreement (InstA). It concluded that there remain substantial differences between Switzerland and the EU on key aspects of the agreement. The conditions are thus not met for the signing of the agreement. The Federal Council today took the decision not to sign the agreement, and communicated this decision to the EU. This brings the negotiations on the draft of the InstA to a close. The Federal Council nevertheless considers it to be in the shared interest of Switzerland and the EU to safeguard their well-established cooperation and to systematically maintain the agreements already in force. It therefore wishes to launch a political dialogue with the EU on continued cooperation. Meanwhile, it has tasked the Federal Department of Justice and Police (FDJP) to consider how autonomous amendments to Swiss legislation might contribute to the stabilisation of Swiss–EU relations.

Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis receives Hungary's Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó

20.04.2021 — Press release EDA
On Tuesday 20 April 2021, Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis, Head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA), received Hungary's Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Péter Szijjártó, for an official working meeting in Bern. Their talks focused on bilateral relations, Hungary's upcoming chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, and the socio-political and economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Coronavirus: Further easing of entry restrictions from 8 June

27.05.2020 — DEA
The Federal Council is to further relax entry restrictions in connection with the coronavirus pandemic. The restrictions will be lifted in step with the reopening of the economy. From 8 June, the cantons will begin processing applications from workers from the EU/EFTA member states. In addition, Swiss companies will be allowed to employ highly skilled workers from third countries if this is in the public interest, or if they are urgently required. To benefit the domestic workforce, companies will again be required to give notification of job vacancies, a measure that was temporarily suspended during the lockdown. Lastly, the Federal Council plans to lift all travel restrictions and re-establish the free movement of persons across the Schengen area no later than 6 July. Border controls with Germany, Austria and France will be lifted as early as 15 June, as previously announced.

Securing access to research cooperation and funding programmes in Europe

20.05.2020 — DEA
Horizon Europe, the EU’s next Framework Programme for Research and Innovation, is due to start in 2021. Along with three other European initiatives, Horizon Europe forms the ‘2021–2027 Horizon package’. On 20 May 2020 the Federal Council adopted a dispatch on funding requesting Parliament to approve CHF 6,154 million in funding to secure Switzerland’s participation in the Horizon package. Provided Parliament approves this funding, the Federal Council and the EU will be able to renew their bilateral research agreement and secureSwitzerland’s continued and uninterrupted participation in the Horizon package as an associated state.

Coronavirus: Switzerland reaches agreement with Germany, Austria and France on opening borders

13.05.2020 — DEA
Switzerland plans to open all borders with Germany, Austria and France on 15 June 2020, if the epidemiological situation allows. Federal Councillor Karin Keller-Sutter has reached agreement on this move following talks with the interior ministers of these three neighbouring countries. She advised the Federal Council of the agreement at its meeting on 13 May 2020.

New slides provide handy, up-to-date information on Switzerland’s European policy

26.11.2019 — Article DEA
Switzerland enjoys close, important and diverse relations with the European Union. They are based on the bilateral approach and influence many aspects of citizens’ lives, both in Switzerland and in the EU.

Serbian Prime Minister Brnabić attends working meeting with President Maurer

03.09.2019 — DEA
On Tuesday, 3 September, President Ueli Maurer received Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabić at the Bernerhof for a working visit on the fringes of Swiss Digital Day. Discussions covered bilateral issues such as business and digital transformation, Serbia’s relations with the European Union, and the situation in the Western Balkans.

Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis visits Samos refugee camp and meets new Greek Minister of Foreign Affairs

10.07.2019 — EDA
Mr Cassis's visit to Greece has mainly been concerned with the situation of refugees and the challenges posed by migration. On Tuesday, the head of the FDFA visited the refugee camp on Samos and today met Nikos Dendias, who was appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs this week, and President Prokopis Pavlopoulos.

Switzerland and EU adapt their insurance agreement

05.07.2018 — DEA
Switzerland and the EU have been adapting their Direct Insurance Agreement which has existed since 1989 to the new regulatory requirements. The mixed committee with representatives from both sides adopted the changes on 3 July 2018 and brought them into effect. Thereby the agreement is also in line with the future requirements of the Swiss insurance business.

Switzerland and France give go-ahead to implementation of EuroAirport agreement

19.12.2017 — EDA
At their first meeting, Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis and French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian brought the issue of the tax regime at Basel-Mulhouse (EuroAirport) to a conclusion: the agreement regulating Swiss companies operating at EuroAirport will be applicable from next year. The two foreign ministers' working meeting also focused on other bilateral issues, the situation in Europe and Switzerland's policy with regard to the EU.

EU-Switzerland Financial Regulatory Dialogue held in Bern

19.10.2017 — DEA
The Swiss State Secretariat for International Financial Matters and the European Commission held their 2017 Financial Regulatory Dialogue on October 19 in Berne. The Dialogue was co-chaired by Jörg Gasser, State Secretary for International Financial Matters, and Olivier Guersent, European Commission's Director General for Financial Stability, Financial Services and Capital Markets Union. Participants included staff from the European Commission, European Supervisory Authorities, Single Resolution Board, the Swiss federal administration, the Swiss National Bank and the Swiss Financial Supervisory Authority FINMA.

European Parliament’s PANA Committee to visit Switzerland

15.09.2017 — DEA
The Swiss authorities will receive a delegation from the European Parliament's PANA Committee on 15 September. The focus of the talks will be the current system and the ongoing work to combat money laundering, terrorist financing and tax offences.

Switzerland once again a full member of partnership-funded EU innovation programmes

23.08.2017 — DEA
On 23 August, the Federal Council approved the agreements on Switzerland’s participation in the Eurostars-2 and the Active and Assisted Living research and development programmes. This means that Switzerland is once again a full member of both programmes and is co-financed by the EU. The programmes are particularly interesting for research-intensive SMEs looking to enter new European or global markets through cross-border cooperation. Switzerland’s participation in the AAL programme is one of the many measures that form part of the federal government’s Skilled Workers Initiative.

Linking of the Swiss and European emissions trading systems: big step forward

16.08.2017 — DEA
Switzerland and the European Union are preparing to link their emissions trading systems. The Federal Council approved the signing of the corresponding agreement at its meeting of 16 August 2017. The European Commission has also adopted proposals for the signature and ratification of the agreement and has submitted them to the Council of the European Union for approval. The agreement could be signed before the end of this year. Its ratification must then be approved by the Swiss and European parliaments.