On 20 December 2024, the President of the European Commission Ms. Ursula von der Leyen and the President of the Swiss Confederation Ms. Viola Amherd confirmed the completion of negotiations on a broad package of agreements that aim to deepen and expand the EU-Switzerland relationship.
The broad package includes a wide range of elements and updates five agreements which already give Switzerland access to the EU internal market.
1. A new agreement on food safety that will establish a Common Food Safety Area covering all dimensions of the food chain.
2. A new agreement on health that will allow Switzerland to take part in EU mechanisms and bodies addressing serious cross-border threats to health, notably the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control and the Early Warning and Response System.
3. A new agreement on electricity that will allow the participation of Switzerland in the EU internal electricity market.
4. A new agreement on Switzerland’s permanent and fair financial contribution to economic and social cohesion within the Union, reflecting the level of partnership and cooperation between the parties.
5. A new agreement that will allow Switzerland to participate in several Union programmes open to association of third countries: Horizon Europe, Euratom Research and Training, ITER/F4E (Fusion for Energy), Digital Europe, Erasmus+, as well as EU4Health. The Commission will ensure transitional arrangements are in place from 1 January 2025 so that Swiss entities are able to participate in calls from that date.
A separate agreement will cover Switzerland’s participation in the EU Space Agency, for activities related to the Galileo and EGNOS components of the Union Space programme