Switzerland and the EU formally conclude negotiations
Bern/Brussels - The parties involved in the negotiations between Switzerland and the EU have initialled the package agreed for the bilateral approach. In a next step, the Federal Council will vote on the package before the summer and open the consultation process.
(CONNECT) The chief negotiators of Switzerland and the EU, Patric Franzen and Richard Szostak initialled the agreements of the package of measures to stabilize and further develop the bilateral path in Bern on 21 May 2025. With this confirmation that the text corresponds to the results of the negotiations, the negotiation process between Switzerland and the EU has been formally concluded, according to a statement dated 21 May 2025.
The Federal Council will decide before the summer whether to approve the agreements and whether to open of the consultation process. The texts will then be published in their original versions as part of the consultation documents, along with translations in Switzerland’s official languages and the domestic legislative measures. If the Federal Council's decision is positive, and the Council of the EU approves it, the agreements are expected to be signed in the first quarter of 2026.
The EU programmes agreement (EUPA) had already been initialled on 2 April and approved by the Federal Council on 9 April 2025. It regulates Switzerland's participation in various EU programs such as Horizon Europe, Euratom, ITER, Digital Europe, Erasmus+, and EU4Health. Federal Councilor Guy Parmelin was authorized to sign this document in November 2025. This will enable Switzerland to participate in Horizon Europe, the Euratom and the Digital Europe program retroactively from 1 January 2025. ce/mm
