On December 15, the Federal Council adopted the draft of the negotiation mandate for the Bilaterals III. The negotiation package of the Bilaterals III includes, among other things, the update of the five existing singlemarket agreements (Agreement on the Free Movement of Persons (AFMP), Agreement on dismantling technical barriers to trade (MRA), overland transport, air transport and farming). In addition, two new internal market agreements for electricity and food safetyare to be concluded. In the areas of research, education and health, the package envisages cooperation with the European Union (EU). The financial dialogue is also to be resumed with immediate effect.

economiesuisse welcomes the start of the negotiations with the EU. The institutional rules for the internal market agreements should be found/defined in the process. The package approach with vertical, sectoral solutions is supported. There is no doubt that the main goals of the Swiss economy with the Bilaterals III can be achieved. These include, in particular, securing Switzerland’s long-term participation in the EU single market, strengthening security of supply through the conclusion of an electricity agreement, as well as the participation in the European research program “Horizon Europe”. Without a regulated relationship with its most important trade partner, however, there is a risk of further erosion of the bilateral path to the detriment of Swiss companies and with serious consequences for Switzerland as a business location.