In a written statement from the Swiss government, it was stated that the recent exploratory talks with Brussels showed positive dynamics.
More than 20 meetings between Swiss and EU officials helped clarify the situation in relations, the statement said.
The government wants to finalize the process necessary to re-start negotiations with the EU in the next three months.
Ambassador Livia Leu, State Secretary of the Swiss Ministry of Foreign Affairs, has been tasked with completing the common ground for negotiations as part of the ongoing talks with the EU.
The next round of consultative talks is scheduled for April 20 in Brussels.
Technical talks between the EU and Switzerland continue to be held on a weekly basis.
“The doors of the EU have always been open to Switzerland”
Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis discussed Switzerland-EU relations with EU Commission Vice President Maros Sefcovic on 16 March.
In a statement from the Swiss Foreign Ministry regarding the meeting, “Cassis and Sefcovic noted that despite the progress made so far, a number of unresolved issues remain that will require efforts by both sides to further narrow the gaps in common understanding. To this end, the next exploratory talks are on 20 April. It will be held in Brussels in 2023”.
Sefcovic, on the other hand, stated that Switzerland and the EU should reveal their full cooperation potential.
Using the phrase “The doors of the EU have always been open to Switzerland,” Sefcovic said that they hoped to complete negotiations with Switzerland by the summer of 2024.
Exploratory talks continue since March 2022
Exploratory talks have been ongoing between Switzerland and the EU since March 2022 to restart negotiations between the two sides.
The public in Switzerland, which is not a member of the EU, had rejected the offer to join the European Economic Area agreement in 1992.
The EU stands out as Switzerland’s main trading partner.