On its meeting on 21 November 2023, the College of EU Commissioners endorsed the common understanding, confirming that the exploratory talks for future negotiations with Switzerland have now been ended, as the Swiss Federal Council communicated it on 8 November 2023. The common understanding will serve as base for the future negotiation mandates and the Swiss and EU side.
Executive VP Dombrovskis confirmed during the read-out of the College that “the Commission is ready to engage with Switzerland through dedicated exploratory talks notably on Union programmes”, stating as well that “formal negotiations can only start as part of a broad package, once both sides gave the mandates necessary to negotiate all elements of that package”.
The technical talks for the association to EU programmes will facilitate the formal negotiation rounds which will take place as soon as the negotiation mandates are adopted on both sides.
The Stick to Science campaign warmly welcomes this positive development and recalls that Switzerland’s association to Horizon Europe must be set as a priority. A full association has to be secure as swiftly as possible in order for Europe to regain its full scientific capacity.