Glossar

¶ List of abbreviations and glossary

Annex to the dispatch (pp. 1053-1073) contains the alphabetical list of abbreviations and a glossary of key technical terms. This reference page summarises the central terms.

¶ List of abbreviations

Abbreviation	Full form	Explanation
AFMP	Agreement on the Free Movement of Persons	Free movement of persons CH-EU
CCA	Cohesion Contribution Act	Legal basis for the Swiss contribution
CBRN	Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear	Hazard categories
CCG	Conference of Cantonal Governments	Cantonal coordination
CFSP	Common Foreign and Security Policy	EU foreign policy
CJEU	Court of Justice of the European Union	EU court (Luxembourg)
ECDC	European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control	EU disease authority (Stockholm)
ECHR	European Convention on Human Rights	Fundamental rights protection
EFSA	European Food Safety Authority	EU food safety authority (Parma)
EFTA	European Free Trade Association	CH, NO, IS, LI
EIC	European Innovation Council	Innovation promotion under Horizon Europe
ElCom	Federal Electricity Commission	Electricity market supervision
ENTSO-E	European Network of Transmission System Operators for Electricity	European grid operator association
ERC	European Research Council	Excellence research promotion
ETS	Emissions Trading System	EU emissions trading system
EU	European Union	27 member states
EUPA	European Union Programmes Agreement	Programme agreement CH-EU
EUSPA	European Union Agency for the Space Programme	EU space agency (Prague)
FAC	Foreign Affairs Committee	Parliamentary committee (FAC-N = National Council, FAC-S = Council of States)
FC	Federal Constitution	SR 101
FD	Federal decree	Parliamentary enactment
FDFA	Federal Department of Foreign Affairs	Foreign policy
FFA	Federal Finance Administration	Financial planning
FOPH	Federal Office of Public Health	Health policy
FSVO	Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office	Food control
FTE	Full-time equivalent	Staffing measure
GNSS	Global Navigation Satellite System	Satellite navigation (GPS, Galileo etc.)
GNI	Gross National Income	Economic indicator
GBER	General Block Exemption Regulation	EU regulation on state aid
GMO	Genetically Modified Organisms	Genetic engineering regulation
HERA	Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority	EU health emergency authority
HTA	Health Technology Assessment	Medical technology evaluation
InstA	Institutional Agreement	Failed predecessor (abandoned in 2021)
iRASFF	Interactive Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed	Interactive rapid alert system
JPC	Joint Parliamentary Committee	CH-EU parliamentary body
LSVA	Distance-related heavy vehicle charge	Heavy goods vehicle toll
MFF	Multiannual Financial Framework	EU budget planning (7 years)
MFN	Most Favoured Nation	WTO principle
MoU	Memorandum of Understanding	Statement of intent
MRA	Mutual Recognition Agreement	Mutual recognition
PRS	Public Regulated Service	Encrypted Galileo service
RASFF	Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed	Food rapid alert system
SDC	Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation	Development cooperation
SECO	State Secretariat for Economic Affairs	Economic policy
SEM	State Secretariat for Migration	Migration policy
SEMP	Swiss-European Mobility Programme	Swiss Erasmus alternative (since 2014)
SERI	State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation	ERI policy
SFOE	Swiss Federal Office of Energy	Energy policy
SME	Small and medium-sized enterprises	Companies <250 employees
SNSF	Swiss National Science Foundation	Research promotion
SPS	Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures	Health/plant protection measures
SR	Systematic Collection	Swiss law collection
TRACES	Trade Control and Expert System	EU traceability system
WTO	World Trade Organization	Global trade

¶ Glossary

Term	Explanation
Bilateral path	Switzerland's strategy of managing relations with the EU through individual sectoral agreements rather than through accession
Internal market agreement	Agreements granting Switzerland access to the EU internal market (e.g. free movement of persons, technical barriers to trade)
Decision Shaping	Switzerland's participation in the development of new EU legal acts before they are adopted
Dynamic adoption of law	Mechanism by which Switzerland continuously adopts relevant EU law, with a sovereign decision and consequences for non-adoption
Unbundling	Separation of grid operation and energy marketing in electricity companies
Accompanying measures (FlaM)	Swiss measures to protect wage levels under the free movement of persons
Universal service	Guaranteed supply of essential goods (electricity, water, post) at reasonable prices
Guillotine clause	Mechanism by which all Bilateral I agreements simultaneously cease to apply if one is terminated
Reversion	Return of a hydropower concession to the public authority upon expiry
Cooperation agreement	Agreement on cooperation without internal market access (e.g. health)
Package approach	Negotiation strategy where all elements are negotiated and decided as an overall package
Proportionality measures	Proportionate consequences for non-adoption of EU law
Arbitration tribunal	Parity-composed body for dispute settlement between Switzerland and the EU
Safeguard clause	Unilaterally activatable mechanism for temporarily limiting immigration
State aid	State subsidies and support liable to distort competition
Transversal agreement	Agreement applying across multiple areas (e.g. EUPA for all programmes)
Full association	Complete participation in an EU programme with identical rights and obligations

¶ References

Dispatch of the Federal Council on the Switzerland-EU package, list of abbreviations (pp. 1053-1073), FedGaz 2025
Federal Chancellery: CH-EU terminology directory
EUR-Lex: European Union glossary