{"id":1811,"date":"2026-02-12T01:47:18","date_gmt":"2026-02-12T01:47:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ch\/1811\/"},"modified":"2026-02-12T01:47:18","modified_gmt":"2026-02-12T01:47:18","slug":"swiss-eu-accords-have-more-support-in-strasbourg-than-in-bern","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ch\/1811\/","title":{"rendered":"Swiss-EU accords have more support in Strasbourg than in Bern"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"European<\/p>\n

The 720 MEPs will have to vote on the Switzerland-EU agreements this year, but most have not yet paid much attention to them. <\/p>\n

Ep <\/p>\n

In the European Parliament,\u00a0a\u00a0new package of agreements between Bern and Brussels is seen as\u00a0cementing\u00a0an essential partnership in the face of geopolitical tensions. Despite some criticism,\u00a0the members of parliament\u00a0involved\u00a0see no alternative to this compromise.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n

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January 24, 2026 – 10:17\n<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u00a0won\u2019t\u00a0punish Switzerland if it rejects the agreements negotiated with the European Union, but it will punish itself. And if Europe says no, it will deprive itself of treaties that would have\u00a0encouraged\u00a0economic\u00a0growth,\u201d said\u00a0Christophe\u00a0Grudler, a French liberal\u00a0member of\u00a0the European Parliament\u00a0and\u00a0the\u00a0rapporteur for relations with Switzerland.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Based in Belfort, just a stone\u2019s throw from Switzerland,\u00a0Grudler\u00a0is well acquainted with the country and its political system. This is an advantage, as\u00a0it is his task to\u00a0prepare\u00a0the report that will be\u00a0submitted\u00a0to the European Parliament for approval of the new framework\u00a0agreement\u00a0governing Swiss\u2013EU relations. Like their Swiss counterparts,\u00a0members of the\u00a0European\u00a0Parliament\u00a0will vote this year on the agreements concluded in 2024 to\u00a0manage\u00a0relations between Switzerland and the EU, known as\u00a0Bilaterals\u00a0IIIExternal link<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n

>> Switzerland is taking a more cautious approach in its negotiations with the EU than with the United States. What do MEPs think about this?<\/p>\n

When we met him on the sidelines of a European Parliament plenary session last November,\u00a0Grudler\u00a0was\u00a0about to chair the first meeting of MEPs tasked with examining the agreements. He struck\u00a0an optimistic tone: \u201cThere are some criticisms, but today a majority of\u00a0members want good, lasting relations with Switzerland.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

However, some concerns still need to be addressed. \u201cA minority of colleagues feel we are wasting time negotiating with Switzerland after the collapse of the framework agreement in 2021. They believe there are other priorities,\u201d\u00a0Grudler\u00a0said.\u00a0<\/p>\n

He mentioned\u00a0another criticism: some EU countries with lower GDP levels believe Switzerland pays too little\u00a0for\u00a0its\u00a0access to the European market. Switzerland has committed to contributing CHF130 million\u00a0($164 million)\u00a0per year to cohesion funding until 2029, followed by CHF350 million per year for the period 2030-2036.<\/p>\n

\n More<\/p>\n

\"ursula<\/p>\n

More <\/p>\n

Swiss Politics\n <\/p>\n

The Swiss-EU bilateral treaty updates, explained <\/p>\n

\n

This content was published on <\/p>\n

Jan 29, 2025 <\/p>\n

Switzerland has negotiated a new agreement with the EU, marking a new chapter in the history of a complex relationship. What is set to change? <\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Read more: The Swiss-EU bilateral treaty updates, explained
\n <\/a><\/p>\n

Crisis of multilateralism encourages closer ties\u00a0<\/p>\n

After this\u00a0initial\u00a0review of the agreements, we met\u00a0the\u00a0Croatian\u00a0Christian Democrat\u00a0MEP\u00a0\u017deljana\u00a0Zovko, whose country is among the EU\u2019s smallest economies.\u00a0She\u00a0echoed\u00a0this criticism: \u201cSwitzerland will have to demonstrate its willingness to contribute to the EU\u2019s cohesion fund, as it will benefit from deeper integration into the single market.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

She nevertheless confirms that the overall tone of discussions in the European Parliament is positive \u2013 much more so than in the past. \u201cGiven the new global geopolitical situation, everyone understands that we need to move closer to partners who share the same values and set aside our minor disputes.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"Zovko\"<\/p>\n

\u201cThe biggest concessions were made to meet Switzerland\u2019s expectations,\u201d said Croatian MP \u017deljana Zovko. <\/p>\n

Ep <\/p>\n

In her view, the compromise reached is the best possible outcome for both sides: \u201cThere is simply no alternative. The biggest concessions were made to meet Switzerland\u2019s expectations.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

Shock over 2021 failure has been\u00a0absorbed\u00a0<\/p>\n

Since the shock caused by the Swiss government\u2019s decision\u00a0to abandon\u00a0negotiations over\u00a0the framework agreement in 2021<\/a>, Switzerland appears to have restored its standing\u00a0inside\u00a0EU institutions.\u00a0Grudler\u00a0said\u00a0the days when\u00a0the country\u00a0was accused of \u201ccherry-picking\u201d \u2013 selecting only what suits it from the EU \u2013 are over.\u00a0<\/p>\n

He\u00a0said\u00a0the dossier is now a priority,\u00a0although he\u00a0acknowledged\u00a0that\u00a0it took time to rebuild\u00a0trust. \u201cWhen Switzerland withdrew from the negotiations overnight, without warning, we were disappointed,\u201d said\u00a0Grudler.\u00a0\u201cMonths of discussions had to be written off. For a while, people almost laughed in my face when I raised the issue.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"Schwab\"<\/p>\n

\u201cThe majority of my colleagues are not interested in this package of agreements,\u201d observes German MEP Andreas Schwab. <\/p>\n

Swissinfo \/ Katy Romy <\/p>\n

Andreas Schwab, president of the European Parliament\u2019s delegation for relations with Switzerland, put this into perspective: \u201cIt\u2019s\u00a0wrong to think that the abandonment of the framework agreement was known to all 720 MEPs. Most were not even aware that a debate on the issue had taken place.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

According to the German Christian Democrat MEP, interest in relations with Switzerland\u00a0remains\u00a0limited. \u201cMost of my colleagues are not interested in this package of agreements because they do not feel directly concerned. It is\u00a0mainly Switzerland\u2019s\u00a0neighbouring countries that are following the issue closely,\u201d he said.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u2018Mutual trust is growing\u2019<\/p>\n

MEPs\u00a0closely involved\u00a0in the dossier noted\u00a0that geopolitical upheavals have also changed Switzerland\u2019s attitude towards the EU. Zovko, who took part in a visit by a\u00a0foreign\u00a0affairs\u00a0parliamentary\u00a0committee to Bern, said\u00a0that for the first time,\u00a0\u201cthe exchanges were encouraging and there was a sense of optimism.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

The former special rapporteur on Switzerland,\u00a0the\u00a0Austrian MEP Lukas Mandl,\u00a0wrote\u00a0a reportExternal link<\/a>\u00a0calling for greater transparency and mutual trust adopted by the European Parliament in 2023. Sitting in the MEPs\u2019 caf\u00e9 next to the chamber, he\u00a0said he\u00a0welcomes\u00a0what he\u00a0sees as growing trust. \u201cI think relations between the EU and Switzerland are now taken more seriously than\u00a0in the past. The geopolitical and economic situation has made both sides realise that it is better to move forward hand in hand,\u201d\u00a0said Mandl, who is a\u00a0member of the Austrian People\u2019s Party.\u00a0<\/p>\n

These impressions contrast with the lack of enthusiasm within Switzerland itself. While only the Swiss People\u2019s Party continues to\u00a0firmly oppose\u00a0the package\u00a0and describes it as\u00a0a \u201csubmission treaty\u201d,\u00a0the other political camps support it, albeit with many caveats. \u201cIt\u2019s\u00a0a yes\u00a0to the agreements, but everyone wants them tailor-made,\u201d\u00a0wrote the daily\u00a0Le TempsExternal link<\/a>\u00a0when the consultation phase\u00a0ended.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u2018Switzerland is not going to disappear\u2019\u00a0<\/p>\n

In response to criticism, the MEPs we spoke to stressed\u00a0respect for Swiss sovereignty. \u201cThe diversity of opinions reflects a rigorous democratic process. The EU must under no circumstances lecture the Swiss, who will take a sovereign decision,\u201d said\u00a0David McAllister, chair of the European Parliament\u2019s\u00a0foreign\u00a0affairs\u00a0committee.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"McAllister\"<\/p>\n

\u201cThe EU must not under any circumstances lecture the Swiss, who will take a sovereign decision,\u201d emphasises David McAllister, Chair of the European Parliament\u2019s Foreign Affairs Committee. <\/p>\n

Swissinfo \/ Katy Romy <\/p>\n

The German Christian Democrat MEP, who also holds British citizenship, is still marked by Brexit \u2013 which he describes as a\u00a0\u201chistoric mistake\u201dExternal link<\/a>\u00a0\u2013 and wants to avoid repeating past errors. Bern and Brussels have found \u201ca good compromise, at the end of long and difficult negotiations,\u201d he said.\u00a0\u201cBoth sides went to the very limits of what was acceptable.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

Schwab downplayed\u00a0the\u00a0People\u2019s Party\u00a0opposition and the caution of other parties.\u00a0\u201cWe are not asking the Swiss to be enthusiastic or pessimistic, but to make a serious calculation,\u201d\u00a0he said.\u00a0He\u00a0believes the debate focuses too much on identity issues rather than\u00a0on\u00a0the substance of the agreements. \u201cSometimes it feels as though these agreements mean Switzerland will disappear \u2013 but Switzerland will remain Switzerland,\u201d he said.\u00a0\u201cIts sovereignty and its mountains are not going anywhere, and the snow will come back. We simply need to work more closely together in certain areas.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

No alternative<\/p>\n

MEPs involved in Swiss\u2013EU relations do not\u00a0anticipate\u00a0the package negotiated with Bern\u00a0to fail. But they warn that a rejection could have\u00a0serious consequences, especially for Switzerland. \u201cA number of existing agreements could be called into question, starting with the free movement of persons,\u201d Schwab\u00a0said.\u00a0<\/p>\n

In that case, Swiss citizens abroad could be particularly affected. Mandl recalled\u00a0the many challenges faced by British citizens living in the EU after Brexit. \u201cTheir residency status had to be redefined, even for people who had lived there for decades,\u201d he said.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"Mandl\"<\/p>\n

\u201cI think relations between the EU and Switzerland are now taken more seriously than before,\u201d says Austrian MEP Lukas Mandl. <\/p>\n

Swissinfo \/ Katy Romy <\/p>\n

Beyond administrative issues, failure would weigh heavily on neighbourly relations, Mandl warned. \u201cIt would be ground zero for relations between Bern and Brussels \u2013 a freezing point, a non-relationship that would have to be completely redefined.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cWithout the planned updates, the existing agreements between Switzerland and the European Union would gradually lose their effectiveness,\u201d\u00a0McAllister added.\u00a0He noted\u00a0that this would affect not only economic exchanges, but also areas such as international mobility and research.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The final say will rest with the Swiss people,\u00a0with a nationwide\u00a0vote\u00a0likely\u00a0in\u00a02027, if both the Swiss and European\u00a0parliaments\u00a0approve the agreements. \u201cOne thing is clear: a rejection would be a democratic decision that many would regret, but that would have to be respected,\u201d McAllister said.\u00a0\u201cIt takes two to tango.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

More <\/p>\n

How important are Swiss-EU bilateral agreements for Swiss nationals living abroad? <\/p>\n

\n

What are the pros and cons of the new agreement between Bern and Brussels? How might it affect your life?\n <\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

View the discussion
\n <\/a><\/p>\n

Edited by\u00a0Samuel Jaberg. Adapted from French by Catherine\u00a0Hickley\/gw<\/p>\n

Articles in this story <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The 720 MEPs will have to vote on the Switzerland-EU agreements this year, but most have not yet…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1812,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[101,301,2175,326,104,2176,1457,2177,334,2178],"class_list":{"0":"post-1811","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-bern","8":"tag-article","9":"tag-beat-foreign-affairs","10":"tag-beat-swiss-diplomacy","11":"tag-beat-swiss-politics","12":"tag-bern","13":"tag-democracy","14":"tag-give-me-perspective","15":"tag-parliament","16":"tag-production-type-adaptation","17":"tag-referenda"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ch\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1811","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ch\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ch\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ch\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ch\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1811"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ch\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1811\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ch\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1812"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ch\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1811"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ch\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1811"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ch\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1811"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}