2023-12-15 15:18:49
Switzerland and the European Union want to overcome their differences next year and conclude a framework agreement to regulate their relations. Both sides set this goal according to a joint statement published on Friday. Switzerland broke off negotiations on this cooperation agreement in 2021 due to disagreements over immigration and other issues. Now a new attempt should be made.
The representatives of the Swiss government and the EU Commission are of the opinion that “formal negotiations on a broad package should begin immediately so that the negotiations can be concluded in 2024,” it said. The framework agreement is intended to regulate, among other things, mutual access to labor markets, trade and Switzerland’s access to EU programs. Other areas concern electricity, food safety and health.
The Swiss government approved a draft negotiating mandate on Friday, which, however, still needs to be agreed with parliament and the cantons in the next two to three months.
Switzerland is the fourth largest buyer of goods from the EU. Half of all Swiss exports go to the EU. Last year the volume of goods trade between the two sides was around 333 billion euros.
Switzerland is not a member of the EU, but largely participates in the EU internal market. Without a framework agreement, the EU does not want to individually update its many existing bilateral agreements with Switzerland, which would mean that they would no longer be applicable at some point.
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