EU and Switzerland signed a broad package of agreements to deepen its relationship

On 2 March 2026, the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen and the President of the Swiss Confederation Guy Parmelin signed a broad package of agreements aiming to deepen and expand the EU-Switzerland relationship.

The package establishes a modern framework for the EU and Switzerland, enabling frictionless access to a market of 460 million consumers in key sectors, delivering economic benefits to both sides. By aligning standards and rules in closely integrated areas, it will provide legal certainty, simplify trade in goods like medical devices and food products, and ease cross-border supply for businesses on both sides of the border. Additionally, it will ensure more consistent rules for individuals who live, work, or study across the EU-Swiss border. Switzerland will contribute to the development of legislation in the areas covered by the package and will have the opportunity to influence these rules as they are being designed.

President Ursula von der Leyen said: “This landmark package reflects the strategic importance of the partnership between the European Union and Switzerland. And it means our cooperation is fully aligned with the realities and ambitions of the 21st century. By modernising and deepening our ties across key sectors – from trade and transport to health and energy – we are strengthening legal certainty, fostering innovation, and creating new opportunities for our citizens and businesses.” 

The package includes updates to four already existing agreements, which already give Switzerland access to the EU internal market, regarding air transport, land transport, the free movement of persons and mutual recognition of conformity assessment. Bringing these agreements to a modern standard will enable citizens and businesses on both sides to fully benefit from the rights the agreements provide and will create a level playing field for business.

Moreover, it introduces the following new agreements:

• A new agreement on food safety will establish a common food safety area covering all dimensions of the food chain.
• A new agreement on electricity will allow the participation of Switzerland in the EU internal electricity market.
• A new agreement on health will allow Switzerland to take part in EU mechanisms and bodies addressing serious cross-border threats to health. That concerns notably the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control and the Early Warning and Response System.
• A new agreement introduces a permanent and fair financial contribution by Switzerland to economic and social cohesion within the Union, reflecting the level of partnership and cooperation between the parties.
• A new agreement will cover Switzerland’s participation in the EU Agency for the Space Programme, for activities related to the Galileo and European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service (EGNOS) components of the Union Space Programme.

As part of the package, both sides update the dispute resolution provisions in the agreement on trade in agricultural products to bring them in line with the latest free trade agreements to which the European Union and Switzerland are respective parties.

Each agreement allowing participation of Switzerland in the EU market, will reflect the evolution of EU legislation in the area concerned and will ensure Switzerland dynamically applies it. The agreements will include dispute resolution provisions and State aid disciplines will apply where relevant.

Apart from a protocol on parliamentary cooperation, the package includes also a Joint Declaration on the establishment of a high-level dialogue on the broad bilateral package and the possible further development of the bilateral relations between the European Union and Switzerland.

In addition, the package includes an agreement on Switzerland’s participation in Union programmes which Commissioner Zaharieva and Federal Councillor Parmelin signed separately on 10 November 2025 in Bern. The agreement opened the way for Switzerland to take part in the activities of Horizon Europe, Euratom Research and Training, ITER/F4E (Fusion for Energy), Digital Europe, Erasmus+, as well as EU4Health. Its early signature and provisional application enabled the EU and Swiss entities to engage in cooperation on research already in the current work programmes.

Background

President Ursula von der Leyen launched the negotiations together with Viola Amherd, the then President of the Swiss Confederation, in March 2024. The negotiations, conducted under the political leadership of Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič, were concluded in December 2024.

The signature is an important step towards completing the ratification of the broad package. It will enable both sides to advance their respective ratification processes.

For more information: European Commission