"Today we have reached a stage where the two contracting parties believe it is time to blow the final whistle," said Gilbert Casasus, a European studies professor at the University of Fribourg. The result of that match, he said, "while not brilliant, has the advantage of satisfying both Bern and Brussels." This statement underlines the mutual recognition of the importance of advancing negotiations between Switzerland and the EU, despite challenges.
Reaching a deal would "enable Switzerland to maintain the current conditions, allowing its economy to access the European market, and to develop them in important areas," the Swiss business federation Economiesuisse said. This highlights the significance of the negotiations for Switzerland's economic stability and future growth as it tries to solidify its relationship with the EU.
European Commission vice-president Maros Sefcovic this week described the efforts to "intensify" the talks. "So far, some 200 negotiation meetings. The last are always the hardest. Let's ensure the work pays off," he said on X. This illustrates the extensive efforts by both parties to reach a resolution, emphasizing the difficulty and importance of the final stages of negotiations.
Those relations are currently governed by more than 120 agreements. For nearly two decades, the two sides have been discussing the need to simplify and harmonise ties, but relations soured in 2021. This context indicates the long-standing complexity and the necessity for both sides to modernize their agreements to reflect current realities.
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