Dispatch on the Switzerland-EU Package (Bilaterals III)
On 13 March 2026, the Federal Council adopted the dispatch on the package “Stabilisation and further development of relations between Switzerland and the EU (Bilaterals III)” and submitted it to Parliament. The Switzerland-EU package aims to secure the future functioning of the proven bilateral approach, which has been pragmatically developed over the last 25 years. It is considered to be central to Switzerland's prosperity, innovation and security.
The Switzerland-EU package aims to consolidate sectoral participation in the EU single market and strengthen jobs, research, energy supply and consumer protection. The agreements and their domestic implementation, including accompanying measures, offer Switzerland the advantages of participating in the EU single market while preserving its political room for manoeuvre.
The package includes adjustments to existing single market agreements, rules on state aid, participation in EU programmes, Switzerland's cohesion contribution and new agreements in the areas of electricity, food safety and health. In addition, a high-level political dialogue at ministerial level and more intensive parliamentary cooperation are to be established. In negotiations with the EU, Switzerland was able to secure exceptions to safeguard key interests, for example in the areas of free movement of persons, land transport, electricity and food safety.
In total, the package affects 94 EU legal acts and will result in the amendment of 36 federal laws and the creation of three new federal laws. In addition, there are four commitment credits. The domestic political process was transparent and broadly supported: the cantons, Parliament, social partners and interested parties were closely involved. The Federal Council considers the package to be a forward-looking basis for ensuring Switzerland's long-term stability, competitiveness and institutional independence.
Message on the package “Stabilisation and further development of relations between Switzerland and the EU (Bilaterals III)”
Press release and media conference
Press release, 13.03.2026
Media conference, 13.03.2026
History: From exploratory talks to the dispatch
Negotiations with the EU and consultation process
Negotiations with the EU began on 18 March 2024, were concluded in substance at the end of 2024 and formally concluded with the initialling of the agreement in May 2025. The negotiations were conducted over 200 rounds in 14 areas (tracks). Six federal departments and 20 offices with 70 experts were involved. The cantons were represented in the Swiss negotiating delegations in eight tracks.
At the same time, discussions were held at the domestic political level with institutional partners (cantons and Parliament) as well as social and economic partners. Since the beginning of the process, the Federal Council has discussed the Switzerland-EU package more than 40 times. During the negotiations, over 100 parliamentary commission meetings and 26 Europe dialogues with the cantons took place on this topic. In addition, 28 meetings of the Sounding Board, an advisory committee that enables the direct involvement of the cantons, social partners and the business community, were held.
In June 2025, the Federal Council approved the agreements with the EU and opened the consultation process, which lasted until the end of October. An explanatory report published at the start of the consultation process describes the results of the negotiations and the necessary legislative amendments in Switzerland (domestic implementation). An interim report provides information on the results of the consultation process.
Switzerland and the EU have established transitional rules governing the scope of their partnership for the period from the end of 2024 until the package enters into force. The agreement on Switzerland's participation in EU programmes (EUPA) was signed by the Federal Council on 10 November 2025. The signing enables Switzerland to be retroactively associated with Horizon Europe, the Euratom programme and the Digital Europe Programme as of 1 January 2025.
The remaining agreements were signed by the Swiss President and the President of the European Commission on 2 March 2026. The Federal Council adopted the dispatch to Parliament on 13 March 2026, thus initiating the parliamentary phase.
Documents
Exploratory talks
The negotiations were preceded by a phase of exploratory talks. These talks began in March 2022 and were concluded at the end of October 2023. The results were recorded in a document entitled “common understanding”. It sets out the lines of mutual understanding agreed by the Swiss and EU delegations in the individual areas of the Switzerland-EU package. The solutions outlined in the document created favourable conditions for the start of negotiations between Switzerland and the EU. The fact that possible solutions could be outlined for all components of the package is attributable to the eleven rounds of exploratory talks and 46 discussions at technical level.
On the basis of the exploratory talks and the common understanding, the Federal Council adopted the negotiating mandate in March 2024. This marked the start of the negotiation phase.
Supplementary reports
Contact
State Secretariat STS-FDFA
Federal Palace East
3003 Bern