Switzerland’s landmark package of agreements with the European Union has moved from the signing table to Parliament. The Spring Session of Parliament, which ran until 20 March, was the first sitting after the dispatch was received, meaning the package is now active business in Bern. On 13 March 2026, the Federal Council adopted the dispatch on the package “Stabilisation and Further Development of Relations between Switzerland and the EU (Bilaterals III)” and submitted it to Parliament, formally initiating the parliamentary phase. The signing of the broad package of agreements in Brussels took place on 2 March 2026, marking a significant development in a bilateral relationship that has been built up over more than 25 years. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Swiss Confederation President Guy Parmelin signed the package, which aims to deepen and expand the EU–Switzerland relationship.
The signing brought to a close a negotiation process that had been years in the making. Negotiations began in mid-March 2024 and were substantially concluded in December 2024. Chief negotiators initialled the agreements, protocols, and declarations on 21 May 2025, and the Federal Council approved them on 13 June 2025.
Package Switzerland-EU (Bilaterals III)
The package has two parts. It includes updates to four existing agreements covering air transport, land transport, the free movement of individuals, and mutual recognition of conformity assessments. It also introduces three new agreements: one on food safety, establishing a common food safety area; one on electricity, allowing Switzerland to participate in the EU internal electricity market; and one on health, enabling Switzerland to take part in EU mechanisms addressing serious cross-border health threats.
In total, the package affects 94 EU legal acts and will result in the amendment of 36 federal laws and the creation of three new federal laws. Switzerland has also agreed to financial contributions as part of the deal. The package also includes a joint declaration on the establishment of a high-level dialogue on the bilateral relationship and a protocol on parliamentary cooperation.
What Next?
Parliamentary debate in Switzerland is expected to begin in spring 2026. Ratification is a two-way process. In Brussels, political groups in the European Parliament have begun analysing the package under the leadership of rapporteur Christophe Grudler. EU Parliament consent is also required, likely in autumn 2026. The package will ultimately require approval from the Swiss Parliament and, subject to a referendum, from Swiss voters. The agreements are expected to enter into force by the end of 2028 if ratification procedures are completed on time.
