Skip to content
Politics — Navigating Air Safety Regulations

Switzerland and EU seal landmark treaties to modernise decades-old partnership

A historic deal reshapes Europe's ties with Switzerland. From Schengen to energy, these treaties could redefine cross-border collaboration—but voters will have the final say.

,   and  Administrator
2 min read
The image shows three men sitting at a table, signing papers with pens in their hands. On the table...
The image shows three men sitting at a table, signing papers with pens in their hands. On the table there are books and other objects, and in the background there are flags, curtains, and candles on the wall. The men appear to be signing a memorandum of understanding between Lithuania and Poland.

Switzerland and EU seal landmark treaties to modernise decades-old partnership

Switzerland and the EU have finalised a new set of treaties to deepen cooperation across multiple sectors. The agreements, signed on 2 March 2026, cover areas like electricity, food safety, and health—topics not included in previous deals. Negotiations wrapped up in December 2024 after months of discussions.

The package also updates existing agreements, adding stronger institutional rules such as dispute resolution and automatic adoption of EU law changes. Both sides see this as a major step in modernising their long-standing partnership.

Talks between Switzerland and the EU concluded in December 2024, leading to the initialling of the treaty text by lead negotiators in May 2025. The final signing took place on 2 March 2026, following approval by the EU Council of Ministers the previous week.

The new agreements fall into two categories. Bilateral I covers free movement of people, air and land transport, agriculture, trade rules, research, and public procurement. These deals include interlinked clauses, meaning the termination of one could affect others. Bilateral II adds Schengen/Dublin cooperation, Creative Europe, statistics, education, vocational training, and youth programmes. Security and asylum policies remain closely tied to these arrangements.

For the first time, dedicated treaties on electricity, food safety, and health cooperation have been introduced. Unlike earlier agreements, these include mechanisms for dynamic alignment with EU regulations and clearer dispute settlement. Swiss researchers also regained full access to EU funding programmes in November 2025, with participation backdated to January 2025.

The European Parliament will review the package in the coming weeks, with little opposition anticipated. Switzerland's Parliament will begin its own debates by the end of March 2026, though formal discussions in the National Council and Council of States won't start until summer. A public referendum on the agreements is almost certain, though it won't occur before 2027—likely in 2028.

The treaties now move to legislative approval in both Brussels and Bern. If passed, they will expand market access while introducing stricter institutional frameworks. The referendum in Switzerland will ultimately decide whether the agreements enter into force, with implementation dependent on public support.

Read also:

Related

Latest