¶ Political and Economic Assessment
Source: Dispatch 26.023, Chapter 1.6 (pp. 56--65)
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¶ Summary
The Federal Council considers the negotiating mandate to have been fully fulfilled and partially exceeded. It requests Parliament to approve the agreements and protocols as well as the corresponding implementing legislation and accompanying measures.
¶ Political assessment
¶ The bilateral path as the most proven option
Switzerland has pursued the bilateral path with the EU for more than 25 years. Of all options (doing nothing, free trade, EEA accession, EU accession), it offers the most balanced ratio between economic benefit and political room for manoeuvre. The experience of these 25 years confirms that the bilateral path has proven its worth.
¶ Core objective achieved
Switzerland has succeeded in achieving its core objective: optimal participation in clearly defined areas of the EU internal market as well as cooperation in selected areas of interest -- whilst preserving the greatest possible political room for manoeuvre.
¶ Domestic accompanying measures
In addition, domestic measures are provided in the areas of:
- Decision shaping in the framework of the dynamic adoption of law
- Wage protection
- Immigration
- Tuition fees
- Electricity and land transport
These measures are not strictly necessary for implementing the international treaties, but were developed by the Federal Council in favour of domestic acceptability -- in a broad, inclusive and transparent process with the cantons, committees, social partners and parties.
¶ Economic assessment
¶ Importance of EU internal market access
- The EU is, with approximately 60 per cent of trade in goods, the most important trading partner
- Every day, goods and services worth more than one billion francs cross the borders
- External studies show overall positive effects on the Swiss economy
¶ Stabilisation vs. erosion
Without the package, existing agreements risk gradual erosion. Avenir Suisse estimated the erosion costs at CHF 1.7 billion one-off and CHF 1.3 billion annually. The package safeguards and updates existing market access.
¶ New opportunities
The development component opens additional possibilities:
- Electricity agreement: Security of supply, estimated savings of approximately CHF 2 billion/year (ETH study)
- Research and education: Full association with Horizon Europe and Erasmus+
- Health: Access to EU early warning systems and pandemic preparedness