Switzerland and the EU are nearing an agreement on the contributions Switzerland makes to access the EU’s internal market, according to senior diplomats involved in the discussions.
EU Commission Vice President Maros Sefcovic and Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis met on Wednesday in Bern as part of ongoing negotiations over Switzerland’s cohesion payment obligations.
Although not an EU member, Switzerland voluntarily contributes to EU cohesion funds as part of its bilateral relationship with the bloc, which grants it partial access to the EU internal market. Minister Cassis described the negotiations as being “on the last mile,” emphasizing that the talks now focus on resolving final details. Both sides aim to conclude the negotiations by the end of the year, as stated by a European Commission spokesperson.
The talks were held at the Lohn estate near Bern and were followed by a joint dinner. The meeting had originally been planned for the summer but was postponed at the last minute due to significant differences in negotiating positions.
Reports have also indicated that Switzerland is seeking future discussions on issues such as immigration and electricity. Swiss officials want clarity from the EU on implementing a safeguard clause to manage worker migration from the EU, although neither Sefcovic nor Cassis commented on this matter during the recent talks.
