Brussels: Europe and the Arabs
After reaching an agreement between the two sides, Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, said that

This agreement between the European Union and Switzerland is historic. It not only allows us to strengthen our permanent partnership, but this strong bond is also very important in the broader context.

After all, we are responding together to the global reality that we all have to deal with. We live in times of rapid change. The global balance of power is constantly changing.

Competition is becoming fiercer. Technological progress is having a greater and greater impact on how we do business and how we live together in our democratic societies. Today's world is highly interconnected. Geopolitical tensions from Ukraine to the Middle East to Asia are immediately leaving their mark, in Switzerland as in our 27 member states. In these difficult circumstances, strong partnerships like ours are not just a benefit; they are a necessity. Switzerland and the European Union share common values, such as democracy, the rule of law and the social market economy. We are committed to the rules-based international order. We share our European continent. Our companies rely on the same transcontinental network of roads, railways and waterways. We benefit from closely intertwined scientific networks, supply chains and export markets. We share the same languages, the same cultural roots and often also family ties. In short, we are as close as you can be.

With this EU-Switzerland agreement, we recognise what has historically grown between us. Today, we are taking our cooperation to a new level and modernising the foundation of our rich relations. This agreement ensures that our partnership is fit for the future, enabling both sides to fully exploit the potential of our close cooperation.

These intensive negotiations have succeeded in finding a fair balance between the interests of Switzerland and the EU. This agreement creates a level playing field, regardless of whether operators are based in the EU or in Switzerland. They all enjoy unrestricted access to the EU single market. At the same time, we have secured our high standards for each other. In air and road transport, in trade, in the electricity market, in renewable energies and in other new sectors. This creates certainty for companies and consumers on both sides.
Secondly, we guarantee the free movement of people and workers for all EU citizens in Switzerland, and conversely, for Swiss citizens in the EU. Here too, we have succeeded in finding practical solutions to issues that have been discussed for a long time, such as how to maintain a decent level of wages and the rules for permanent residence. These points were very important. Because the reality is that people, above all, support our close partnership. For hundreds of thousands of our citizens, the border between us has long been an imaginary border. They study on both sides of the border. They commute every day to work, whether by car, train or bicycle. They shape their lives regardless of the colour of their passport. With the new agreement, the rights of citizens on both sides are protected. Thirdly, we note that Switzerland, by contributing to EU integration, has achieved what is important for us, because it is in the common interest of the EU and Switzerland, this single market. I am pleased that, with this agreement, we are moving forward in new areas and unlocking very important potential. We are doing this in the field of health protection, for example, or in cooperation in the field of satellites and space research. We intend to deepen our long-standing and highly successful cooperation in research and innovation. For a long time, countless bright sparks on both sides have longed for continuity and clarity, including the Horizon programme, but also for other programmes beyond it. Today, they all have good news: the Commission is ready to put in place transitional arrangements for Swiss companies – as soon as 1 January 2025 – giving them immediate access to European programmes. This agreement is timely on another level too, as it strengthens our common global position. Together, we can find better solutions in an increasingly complex world. Our common interests are at stake: resilient energy supplies and healthcare, safe food, freedom to travel, work and study, and fairer global trade. Our shared goal is to foster innovation and economic synergies. The agreement will keep us at the forefront of progress. Public universities in Switzerland will charge EU students the same fees as their Swiss counterparts and vice versa. Renowned Swiss research capabilities, excellent infrastructure and the EU’s unique single market will work in perfect harmony. We are building a great power that can stand up to the world’s leading economies. Artificial intelligence, renewable energy, biotechnology are just a few areas I could mention. Europe’s strength lies in its ability to form equal partnerships and we rely on mutual understanding, trust and win-win outcomes. My sincere thanks to our negotiators, and to all those who have worked tirelessly behind the scenes to push these negotiations forward with determination. Nine months of intense negotiations. More than 200 meetings. This agreement lays the foundation for many good years together for the people of Switzerland and the EU. Among other things, we thank you, the negotiators, for that. We know that the completion of the negotiations is not the end of the story. It is the beginning of the next stage: ratification by both sides. I hope that the constructive spirit that has brought us this far will continue to guide us in the weeks and months ahead. Let us show the world what is possible when good neighbours work together confidently towards a bright shared future in a democratic and economically strong Europe.