The Swiss government has expressed its support for resuming talks. This step aims to give new momentum to the relations between Switzerland and the EU. Switzerland says that unlimited mutual access to the EU market is the cornerstone of the plan.
As a non-EU country, Switzerland has many forms of cooperation with the European Union. For example, it is part of the European Economic Area (EEA), where Brussels has various trade contracts with other European non-EU countries. Switzerland follows most European rules regarding food, climate, environment, and trade. Due to this structure, the agricultural policy has not been 'transferred,' but the Swiss parliament still has significant say over it. As a result, angry Swiss farmers cannot always portray Brussels as the main villain.
Three years ago, Brussels updated those kinds of agreements to include the latest EU standards, not only regarding environment, climate, agriculture, and food, but also on issues such as labor rights, minimum wage, and waste and packaging.
The wealthy, neutral Switzerland long faced strong opposition from political parties, trade unions, and business sectors against closer integration with the EU. Supporters say the country cannot expect to benefit without making concessions itself.
A sensitive point at the time was that (Swiss) companies were not allowed to exclude foreign EU workers to protect domestic employment.
The rejection of the negotiation agreement three years ago led to somewhat tense relations between Brussels and Bern. Switzerland feared that the population would reject it in a referendum. According to recent polls, Switzerland’s initiative to resume negotiations with the EU is now widely supported.
Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis has announced that negotiations with the EU will begin later this month. The plan is for Federal President Viola Amherd to travel to Brussels mid-March. Together with the European Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen, she is expected to open the talks that should finally bring the long-awaited end to the relationship crisis between Switzerland and the EU.