Federal Council adopts the ‘Stabilisation and further development of Swiss–EU relations’ package

The Federal Council reaffirms that the bilateral approach remains the best option for shaping Switzerland's relations with the EU. This path has been built up gradually and pragmatically over the past 25 years and has contributed significantly to Switzerland's economic and scientific success. Bilateral Agreements I and II form the basis of this cooperation. This third package builds on this and supplements the existing agreements, particularly in the areas of electricity, health and food safety. By consolidating its sectoral participation in the EU single market, Switzerland is creating reliable framework conditions for its export-led economy and thus strengthening its prosperity. The package also ensures participation in key research programmes such as Horizon Europe and thus strengthens Switzerland as a location for innovation. Without stabilisation and further development of the existing agreements, the bilateral approach would gradually decrease in substance.

At its meeting today, the Federal Council took note of the report on the results of the consultation and adopted the dispatch, which also contains the adjustments based on the policy decisions taken at its meetings of 5 December 2025 and 28 January and 11 February 2026. At the same time, it approved and published the necessary federal decrees, including the corresponding enactments.

Prosperity, security, independence

Prosperity, security and political independence are central pillars of Swiss foreign policy. Particularly in an increasingly fragmented and uncertain geopolitical environment, it is crucial for Switzerland to give its relations with its most important partner a stable and lasting legal basis. With the Switzerland–EU package, the Federal Council is submitting a balanced and strategically coherent bill to Parliament. In the negotiations with the EU, Switzerland was able to achieve targeted exemptions and safeguard clauses to protect essential national interests – including in the areas of free movement of persons, land transport, electricity and food safety. The agreements signed on 2 March 2026 and their domestic implementation, including accompanying measures, will secure the benefits of sectoral participation in the EU single market in the long term. At the same time, they preserve Switzerland's political room for manoeuvre and strengthen the country's institutional independence.

Package strengthens Switzerland's ability to act

In the current international environment, diversification and securing economic relationships are becoming increasingly important. The Switzerland–EU package is a central component of this strategy. It creates reliable and predictable framework conditions for companies and continues to closely align the free movement of persons with the needs of the labour market. A new, effective safeguard clause supplements the existing instruments. At the same time, the package modernises wage protection and strengthens Switzerland as a location for innovation and education. It strengthens the security of energy supply, improves consumer protection in the food sector and increases precautions against cross-border health risks. It creates planning certainty for researchers, students and young people and opens up long-term prospects. Public service remains intact. Overall, the package strengthens Switzerland's ability to act in an unstable global environment.

Structure of the Switzerland–EU package

The Federal Council proposes a clear and appropriate structure for the bill. The agreements to stabilise the bilateral approach – namely the adaptation of the existing single market agreements, the regulations on state aid, participation in EU programmes and the Swiss contribution – will be included in a federal decree on stabilisation. The three new agreements on the further development of the bilateral approach in the areas of electricity, food safety and health are the subject of separate federal decrees.

In addition, the Federal Council is seeking a regular high-level dialogue with the EU at ministerial level as well as institutionalised parliamentary cooperation.

Three new federal laws

As part of the package, 94 EU legislative acts are relevant for Switzerland. The dispatch provides for three new federal acts: on the monitoring of state aid, on administrative cooperation in the recognition of professional qualifications and on Switzerland's contributions to strengthening cohesion in Europe.

In addition, the Federal Council is proposing four commitment appropriations and the amendment of a total of 36 federal acts, 15 of which are substantial and 21 of which are minor. Four further laws will be amended compared to the terms of the consultation draft. These relate amongst others to the participation rights of the cantons, Parliament and the public in what is known as ‘decision shaping’.

Based on its decision of 30 April 2025, the Federal Council is proposing an optional treaty referendum for the Switzerland–EU package.

Transparent and broad-based process

The dispatch is the result of a transparent and broad-based foreign and domestic policy process. The negotiating mandate with the EU was the subject of detailed consultation with the parliamentary committees, the cantons and the social partners. The negotiations themselves were conducted with the active participation of six departments and around 20 federal offices as well as the cantons. Work on the domestic implementation of the package was carried out with the close involvement of the cantons and the umbrella organisations affected by the individual areas of the package. Since the decision on the new package approach in February 2022, the Federal Council has deliberated on over 40 proposals on the Switzerland–EU package.

Documents linked to the dispatch to Parliament on the Swiss–EU Package