Switzerland agrees to regular payments to EU

European Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security Maroš Šefčovič has said that Switzerland will contribute 375 million euros ($391 million) annually to the EU starting in 2030 as part of a new agreement aimed at closer economic integration with the EU.

Šefčovič made these remarks during a press conference in Bern, Caliber.Az reports via Russian media.

He noted that smaller contributions will begin flowing into the European treasury at the end of 2024.

"Switzerland will make its first regular contributions to the EU member states between 2030 and 2036, with annual payments of 375 million euros from the start of the agreement package until 2036," he said.

He also added that starting from the end of this year, Bern has committed to paying around 140 million euros annually to Brussels until the agreements come into effect. The European Commissioner said that in exchange, Switzerland will gain access to new sectors of the single European market, including energy and healthcare markets. The sides have also agreed to cancel the increased tuition fees for citizens of the EU member states at Swiss universities.

Šefčovič urged not to focus on negative scenarios when responding to a question about whether the European Commission is concerned that the Swiss people might reject the agreements in referendums. He also avoided directly answering questions about the concessions Switzerland made during the negotiations and the compromises the EU accepted, stating only that all sides are satisfied with the deal. 

Earlier, the EU and Switzerland concluded negotiations on a package of agreements aimed at much closer economic integration, which now need to be signed and ratified. The talks began in March. The agreements cover such areas as transportation, agricultural policy, labour migration, science and innovation, and institutional matters.

The Swiss population will be asked to vote on the approval of these agreements in one or more referendums. Initially, bilateral agreements with the EU provided Switzerland with access to the EU's single market. The first package, signed in 1999, established the free movement of people and the removal of trade barriers. A second package in 2004 granted Swiss suppliers access to the food industry market. 

The sides also agreed on the free movement of people across borders, with migration and security rules supplemented by the Schengen and Dublin agreements. The EU is Switzerland's most important trading partner, accounting for approximately 59 per cent of the country’s trade volume in 2023, according to preliminary data.

By Naila Huseynova