Noting a “positive dynamic” in the discussions with the European Union at the technical and political levels, the Swiss Federal Council instructed its Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Justice on Wednesday 29 March to prepare, by the end of June, “a negotiating mandate” with a view to establishing renewed bilateral relations with the EU27.
The discussions held so far have enabled both parties to reach “a detailed understanding of the positions” and to consider “possible solutions in the various dossiers”, the Swiss authorities said in a statement. They continue to favour a “package approach” with new sectoral agreements, including on electricity, food safety and health, “instead of a single horizontal agreement dealing with institutional issues” such as law enforcement, surveillance and dispute settlement. Each of the existing or new sectoral agreements should contain solutions to the institutional issues in their respective areas, the Federal Council adds.
Further exploratory talks are scheduled for Thursday 20 April in Brussels. (Original version in French by Mathieu Bion)