Agreements between Switzerland and the European Union

Following the refusal of the Swiss to ratify by Referendum the agreement on EEE the December 6th 1992, the Swiss Federal council undertakes a round of bilateral negotiations with the European Union. Those succeed the December 11th 1998 by the conclusion of the bilateral agreements I and their signature the June 21st 1999.

In June 2001, Switzerland and the European Union decide to open new bilateral negotiations on 10 topics. The 7 first are questions which cannot be treated during the preceding negotiations and for which Switzerland and the EU began, in the final act of the bilateral agreements I, to start negotiations. The topics of the Taxation of the saving and the fight against the fraud correspond to requests of the EU, the topic of the conventions of Schengen and Dublin to a request of Switzerland. The May 19th 2004, the bilateral agreements II are concluded and signed the October 26th. They mark the continuation of the bilateral way on which Switzerland engaged. It consists in for this one defending its interests and regulating the concrete problems encountered in its relations with the EU in a pragmatic way.

The bilateral agreements II must still be ratified by each country of the EU to enter officially into force (probably in 2007).

Bilateral agreements I

Freedom of movement of the people
Air transport
Surface transports
Agriculture
technical Obstacles with the Trade
Government contracts
Research

The whole of these agreements is subjected to the referendum optional and approved by 67,2% of the Swiss voters the May 21st 2000. They came into effect on June 1st 2002. The agreement on freedom of movement of the people, concluded at the origin with the 15 Member States from the EU, was to be wide to the 10 novel members having joined the EU in 2004. This extension is also subjected to the referendum optional and approved by 56% of the Swiss voters the September 25th 2005. The other agreements are wide without opposition.

Bilateral agreements II

Co-operation as regards Justice, of safety, asylum and migration with the EU (conventions of Schengen and Dublin)
Taxation of the saving: Switzerland operates a reserve of tax to the profit of the states of the EU who will be carried by successive steps with 35%. This reserve exclusively relates to the interests generated by the saving of natural persons having their domicile for tax purposes in the EU.
Fight against the fraud: The co-operation between Switzerland and the EU is intensified as regards fight against the Contrebande and other offenses concerned with the indirect taxation (rights of Douane, VAT, taxes on consumption), or in the presence of offenses related to the attribution of Subvention S or government contracts.
Agricultural produce transformed: The customs duties and the export subsidies are reduced considerably for a large range of products of food industry (Chocolat, cookies, Soupe S, Sauce S, pasta products, instant coffee, etc). This agreement is in force since the 2005.
Environnement: Switzerland becomes member of the European Agence for the environment.
Statistical: The collection of the statistical data is harmonized with an aim of having a broad panoply of statistical data comparable and reliable in support of the political decisions and economic.
MEDIA: The Swiss scenario writers will have fully access to the Community programs MEDIA aiming promoting and at making more competitive the European Cinéma.
Pension S: The double taxation of the reprocessed civils servant of the EU residing in Switzerland is removed.
Programs professional education /formation/youth: Collaboration in the programs of student mobility and the people in formation is reinforced after a simple exchange of letters.
Payment of assistances to the new entrants country memebres of the European Union (popular voting of November 26th, 2006).

The agreement on the participation of Switzerland in conventions of Schengen and Dublin is subjected to the referendum optional and approved by 54,8% of the Swiss voters the June 5th 2005, the other agreements not having been the subject of oppositions.

External bonds

Bilateral agreements I
Bilateral agreements II

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