Brussels, 28/07/2014 (Agence Europe) - On Saturday 26 July, the Swiss authorities and the EU agreed on Switzerland's involvement in the Horizon 2020 research programme - involvement which had been put on ice following the Swiss referendum of 9 February on the reintroduction of quotas for European workers by 2017. Talks at technical level have concluded, the Swiss federal department of foreign affairs announced on 26 July.
The content of the agreement, which will now be analysed by both sides, was not clarified, but the hypothetical scenario of full Swiss involvement in the programme can now be ruled out. The EU has made the country's full involvement in the programme conditional on Switzerland's signature of the additional protocol extending the freedom of movement of individuals to Croatia.
Switzerland's participation in the EU's research programme was frozen at the same time as its participation in the student exchange Erasmus programme (this programme has not been the subject of further talks). Negotiations on electricity have also resumed.
As regards the Horizon 2020 programme, Switzerland will be able to continue its participation either in 2015 or retroactively, as neither option has been ruled out at this stage.
On the research dossier, the most important thing for the Federal Council is to ensure that Swiss researchers once again have access to European Research Council grants. In return, Berne is believed to be inclined to guarantee its financial involvement in three major EU research programmes, according to Swiss media. These projects concern the experimental nuclear fusion reactor ITER, Swiss cooperation with the European atomic community, Euratom, and with Galileo, the satellite navigation programme. (SP)