Switzerland is one of the main economic partners of the European Union (EU):
- The EU’s fourth biggest trading partner of EU goods, after the United States, China and the United Kingdom (representing about 7% of the EU’s foreign trade). 69% of Switzerland’s imports originate in the EU and the EU is the destination of 50% of Switzerland’s exports. The European Union is by far the most important market for the export-oriented Swiss industry.
- Switzerland is the EU’s third most important trade in services partner accounting for 9% of the EU's total trade in services.
- Switzerland is the third biggest investor in the EU.
An active European policy is therefore essential from an economic perspective. In order to facilitate trade, Switzerland and the EU have signed bilateral economic agreements. The 1972 Free Trade Agreement (FTA) paved the way for the development, in several stages, of a rapprochement with the internal market. After the Swiss people refused to join the European Economic Area (EEA) in 1992, Switzerland and the EU signed the Bilateral agreements I (five of the seven agreements are market access agreements) in 1999, in order to facilitate mutual access to markets and to minimize barriers to trade. The Bilateral agreements II (nine agreements, one of which on trade) were signed in 2004. These treaties guarantee to a large extent a reciprocal access to markets and avoid discrimination against Swiss operators in the EU’s internal market, as well as underpinning a tight cooperation in numerous other areas (research, safety, asylum, environment and culture).
The EU’s economic policies may directly impact Switzerland. They influence the economic and political relations between Switzerland and the EU. EU regulations directly affect Swiss exports. Switzerland closely follows the developments occurring in the EU and analyses their consequences for its economic operators.
Economic and monetary context
The European Union is Switzerland’s main economic partner. As a result, the macroeconomic and monetary stability of the EU is essential for Switzerland’s economy. Furthermore, the EU is by far the most important market for the export-oriented Swiss industry. The Bilateral agreements ensure that both parties benefit from the removal of trade barriers: the resulting conditions foster trade and competition, stimulate competitiveness, economic growth and employment. The positive economic effects of these agreements are undisputed: since their introduction, per capita economic growth in Switzerland has increased.
Following the financial crisis in 2008 and the subsequent euro crisis, the EU has taken several measures to strengthen the economic policy framework and the euro area (reform of the Economic and Monetary Union, Banking Union, Capital Markets Union). Work on these is still ongoing and is being pursued with increased necessity in the context of the economic impact of the COVID-19 crisis and the conflict in Ukraine. Such developments also have an impact on Switzerland, who is closely following the progress of these projects.
Various agreements considerably reduce the costs of the import and export of goods, as well as the technical barriers to trade in several industrial sectors.
The Free Trade Agreement guarantees fair conditions for mutual market access by eliminating tariffs and quantitative restrictions on industrial goods. This agreement is of high importance, given that bilateral trade in goods between Switzerland and the EU amounts to over 1 billion Swiss Francs (CHF) per working day. As a result of the agreement, importers and exporters on both sides save several billion euros each year. Cross-border freight traffic is also facilitated by a customs simplification and security agreement, which allows for the import and export of goods between Switzerland and the EU without additional customs security measures. Furthermore, an agreement on public procurement ensures good cooperation in this area and guarantees the non-discrimination of the Swiss and European economic operators.
The agreement on technical barriers to trade simplifies administrative procedures required to place industrial products on the market in twenty different sectors. The agreement is based on equivalent regulations and mutual recognition. Similar harmonization also prevails in the agricultural sector (agreement that comprises, inter alia, sanitary regulations or geographic indications). Switzerland’s access to the single market is thus commensurate to its level of harmonization. The Joint Committees foreseen by the existing agreements are dedicated platforms to solve market access and cooperation issues.
The cross-border provision of services by natural persons is facilitated by the Agreement on the free movement of persons (AFMP), which allows for a reciprocal, free market access of up to 90 days per calendar year.