Council greenlights Switzerland’s association to EU programmes

On Tuesday 21th, the Council gave its green light to Switzerland joining Union programmes, such as Horizon Europe, Euratom Research and Training, ITER/Fusion for Energy (F4E), Digital Europe, Erasmus+, as well as EU4Health.

Our partnership with Switzerland is longstanding and based on common values. In the current complex and evolving geopolitical context, our relationship needs to be expanded and modernised to be better fit for the future. This is exactly what we achieved today with our decision on Switzerland’s association to EU research and innovation programmes as of the beginning of this year.

Marie Bjerre, Minister for European affairs of Denmark

This agreement regarding Switzerland’s association to EU programmes is part of a broader package of bilateral agreements negotiated between the EU and the Swiss Confederation in 2024. It is the first agreement of the package that will be signed and retroactively implemented as of the beginning of this year.

Provisional application is foreseen with effect from 1 January 2025. This approach will allow to give effect to the transitional arrangements that the Commission granted to Switzerland during the negotiations of the broader package of agreements, for award procedures implementing the 2025 commitment appropriations.

The conclusion of the agreement regarding Switzerland’s participation in EU programmes is foreseen as part of the wider package only if Switzerland will complete its procedures necessary for the entry into force of the package by the end of 2028.

Next steps

Following today’s adoption, the Commission is authorised to sign the agreement with the Swiss authorities. Signature is planned to take place in Bern on 10 November 2025. Following the completion of the signing of the entire package of agreements, the Council will request the consent of the European Parliament. Once this is provided, and subject to Switzerland completing the procedures necessary for the entry into force of the package by the end of 2028, 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.

The package includes a wide range of elements: the update of five agreements which already give Switzerland access to the EU internal market (air transport, land transport, the free movement of persons, conformity assessment and 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 and a new agreement that will allow Switzerland to participate in several EU programmes. A separate agreement covers Switzerland’s participation in the EU Space Agency, for activities related to the Galileo and EGNOS components of the Union Space programme.

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 and are currently discussed at its preparatory bodies.

More information: European Council