ECOFIN - Economic and Financial Affairs Council

02/24/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 02/24/2026 04:07

Council greenlights signing of package of agreements with Switzerland 11:03 Council greenlights signature of package of agreements with Switzerland Council of the EU

Today, the Council gave its green light to the signature of a broad package of agreements between the EU and Switzerland aiming to deepen and expand their bilateral relationship.

The decision to authorise the signature of a broad package of agreements with Switzerland, taken by the Council today, is a natural step in strengthening our longstanding relationship. The Cyprus presidency has worked intensively to finalise these agreements, which will deepen and modernise the EU-Switzerland partnership. This fully reflects our commitment to work towards a stronger and more autonomous Union that remains open to the world.

Marilena Raouna, Deputy Minister for European affairs of the Republic of Cyprus

The broad package of bilateral agreements with Switzerland includes a wide range of elements:

  • the update of four agreements which already give Switzerland access to the EU internal market (air transport, land transport, the free movement of persons and conformity assessment)
  • the update of the agreement on trade in agricultural products
  • three new agreements on food safety, health and electricity
  • a new agreement on Switzerland's permanent and fair financial contribution to EU's economic and social cohesion
  • a new agreement allowing Switzerland's participation in several EU programmes
  • a separate agreement covering Switzerland's participation in the EU Agency for the Space Programme, for activities related to the Galileo and the European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service (EGNOS) components of the Union Space programme
  • a protocol on parliamentary cooperation
  • a joint declaration on the establishment of a high-level dialogue on the broad bilateral package and the possible further development of bilateral relations

The agreement on Switzerland's participation in EU programmes was signed on 10 November 2025 in Bern and was provisionally applied as of the beginning of 2025. Today's decision will allow for the signature of the rest of the package.

The package of agreements was negotiated between the EU and the Swiss Confederation in 2024 with talks concluding on 20 December 2024.

The conclusion of this broad package of agreements is foreseen only if Switzerland will complete its procedures necessary for the entry into force of the package.

Next steps

Following today's adoption, the Commission is authorised to sign the agreements with the Swiss authorities. Signature is planned to take place in March 2026. Once the European Parliament provides its consent, and subject to Switzerland completing the procedures necessary for the entry into force of the package, the Council will complete the process on the conclusion of the broad package of agreements allowing for its entry into force.

Background

On 20 December 2024, EU and Switzerland officially confirmed the completion of the negotiations for a broad package of agreements that aim to deepen and expand their bilateral relationship. On 14 April 2025, the Commission submitted to the Council a proposal for a Council decision on the signing and provisional application of the agreement on Switzerland's participation in EU programmes together with a recommendation for a Council decision on the conclusion of this agreement, by the European Commission, for matters falling under the Euratom Treaty. The rest of the agreements together with the respective draft Council decisions on signing and conclusion reached the Council in June 2025.

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