About a new agreement: Federal Council wants to negotiate with the EU

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Now the Federal Council wants to negotiate. After long exploratory discussions, the Federal Council now wants to decide on a negotiating mandate for a new framework agreement. There is time until the end of the year to do this.

“The exploratory talks between Switzerland and the EU, which started in April 2022, influenced all elements of the package approach,” the press release said. This also includes new agreements, for example in the areas of electricity, food safety and health, participation in EU programs such as the Horizon Europe education programme, the resumption of regulatory dialogue in the financial sector and the establishment of a structured political dialogue.

Long exploratory conversations

Switzerland and the EU have repeatedly held exploratory talks over the past two years. These are preliminary negotiations. “From the perspective of the Federal Council, the exploratory discussions have been completed,” the press release said. With today’s decision, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs must draw up a negotiating mandate around Ignazio Cassis (62).

It will finally be submitted for consultation to the foreign policy committees of Parliament (APKs) and the cantons in early 2024. The actual negotiations with the EU could then start in February or March.

Disputes within Switzerland

+++ more to come +++

Source:Blick