© FDFA

I am delighted to welcome you to the internet site of the Mission of Switzerland to the European Union. Here you will find information about the Mission and its activities in Brussels. The site has been designed to guide you through Swiss European policy and the links will direct you to various sources of information within the Federal Administration.

Relations between Switzerland and the EU are deep and extensive. They are based upon numerous bilateral agreements entered into force since 1972. Current important negotiations should serve to strengthen these relations, improve our access to the EU market and enhance our cooperation in areas of mutual interest. Second-largest economic partner of the EU after the USA (in terms of trade, services and investments), Switzerland is also a country of transit, key in the construction of a European transport network. The breakthrough of the Gothard base tunnel in the spring of 2011, for example, is a strong symbol of the cooperation between our country and other European countries. Common values similarly unite the EU and Switzerland, and Switzerland is engaged in the European peace project and contributes towards the promotion of stability and prosperity in Europe and beyond. Furthermore, the human dimension, providing a structure for and facilitating exchanges and mobility are at the heart of our preoccupations (more than 240,000 cross-border workers cross the frontier into Switzerland every day for work, 400,000 Swiss citizens reside in the EU and approximately 1.1 million European citizens live in Switzerland). Additionally, Switzerland participates in various programmes, actions and EU agencies in areas as diverse as research, the environment, EULEX in Kosovo and EUFOR ALTHEA in Bosnia. 

I hope that you will enjoy browsing this site and find it useful. Please do not hesitate to contact us should you have any suggestions or questions. 

Thank you for your visit 

Jacques de Watteville
Head of the Mission of Switzerland to the EU