Important step towards the development of the bilateral agreement

scienceindustries welcomes the fact that the Federal Council today adopted the key parameters for a negotiating mandate with the European Union (EU). A sustainable long-term relationship with our most important trading partner and the largest export market for the chemical and pharmaceutical industry is crucial. The outstanding points must be clarified quickly so that the Federal Council can prepare the adoption of a negotiation mandate by the end of the year.

Today, the Federal Council adopted the key parameters for a negotiating mandate with the EU and thus created the basis for a possible continuation of the talks. With the choice of a broad package approach, an entire package of internal market and cooperation agreements is to come up for negotiation. This represents an important step towards the early commencement of negotiations with Switzerland's most important trading partner and the largest export market for the chemical-pharmaceutical industry.

The package approach chosen by the Federal Council also provides for solutions in important dossiers that are currently blocked, such as the EU's Horizon Europe research programme or the electricity agreement, which are of great importance for the chemical, pharmaceutical and life sciences industries. It is therefore all the more welcome that progress has been made on key open issues such as state aid, the EU Citizenship Directive and the accompanying measures. What is now needed is rapid clarification of the remaining open issues, including in the areas of health and electricity. It is important that the package is not overloaded and that negotiations are thus further delayed - rather, what is needed is the rapid adoption of a negotiating mandate.

The Federal Council and the EU Commission are now called upon to conclude the exploratory talks this year and to adopt a corresponding negotiating mandate by the end of the year. On the basis of the detailed exploratory talks, it is to be expected that the subsequent negotiations can proceed quickly.

For the chemical-pharmaceutical industry, swift action is crucial, because without a regulated relationship with the EU and without legal certainty, the bilateral path threatens to erode further - with lasting negative consequences for the Swiss economy and society.

Further information:

Stephan Mumenthaler, Director
stephan.mumenthaler@scienceindustries.ch, +41 79 593 91 63

Pia Guggenbühl, Head of Public Affairs & Communications, Member of the Executive Board
pia.guggenbuehl@scienceindustries.ch, +41 79 566 60 10