Switzerland, EU bid to end deadlock on deal

GENEVA: Switzerland and the European Union were to hold talks Wednesday on efforts to thrash out a deal by the end of the year to recalibrate their ties.

Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis is to host European Commission vice-president Maros Sefcovic at a working meeting at the 18th-century Lohn manor house in Bern, to be followed by a dinner.

"The objective of this meeting is to take stock of the political situation in the various areas of negotiation, and to exchange information on the next steps," the Swiss Foreign Ministry told AFP.

A planned meeting earlier this year was cancelled at the last minute.

The EU and Switzerland want to seal an agreement to "stabilise and develop" relations, which are currently governed by more than 120 agreements.

Relations have been strained since Switzerland -- without warning -- slammed the door on the negotiations with its main trading partner in 2021.

And while the talks tentatively resumed this year, Switzerland's efforts to secure an exemption to the EU's free movement of people between countries could make a deal difficult.

EU ministers discussed links with Switzerland on October 15.

"Europe is not an a la carte menu," Luxembourg's Foreign Minister Xavier Bettel insisted, adding: "We have common rules for everyone," including Switzerland.

Any agreement would have to be submitted to Switzerland's parliament, and pass a referendum.

Negotiations "are continuing at an intense pace," the Swiss Foreign Ministry's spokesman Nicolas Bideau said Friday on X.

Since 2008, Brussels has been demanding an overarching accord to harmonise the legal framework of its tangle of agreements with Switzerland.

The negotiations since March have concentrated on updating five agreements -- free movement of people; land transport; air transport; agriculture; and mutual recognition of conformity assessments -- and to forge new accords on electricity, food safety and health.

Switzerland's participation in European programmes, including research, culture and sports, is also at stake, while the EU is demanding the opening of the Swiss rail market.

Compromise will also be needed on other topics, including the treatment of seconded workers and social benefits paid to foreigners.

Brussels meanwhile wants Switzerland to pitch in more to its Cohesion Fund, aimed at reducing economic and social disparities in the bloc.

By RSS/AFP