Switzerland’s Federal Council has signed off an agreement that will allow it to rejoin the EU’s research Framework Programme
Guy Parmelin, Swiss Federal Councillor and head of the Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research. Phot credits: Swiss government
Switzerland’s Federal Council has signed off an agreement that will allow the country to join Horizon Europe, another step towards ending a diplomatic stalemate over association that has dragged on since 2021.
On April 9, the council approved the EU Programmes Agreement, which allows association to Horizon Europe, the Euratom atomic research programme and the Digital Europe Programme.
Brussels and Bern struck a broader deal in December 2024, finalising agreements in areas including electricity, health and disease control, finally unblocking the path to Horizon Europe association. But it still needs to go through various stages of ratification in Switzerland and in the EU before it can take effect.
Swiss researchers have been allowed to apply for most Horizon Europe calls since the beginning of the year under a transitional agreement, although to receive any money they win, they first need association to be officially signed off.
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This week’s agreement by Bern paves the way for a formal signing of the deal by the EU and Switzerland in November, according to a statement from the Swiss Federal Council. This will finally allow association to be officially agreed. Meanwhile, the country should be able to join the Erasmus+ higher education programme from 2027, the statement said.
“The successful outcome of negotiations with the EU means that Switzerland can now pursue and maintain this cooperation. This will benefit Switzerland directly as a location for education and research, and indirectly as a business location,” a factsheet from the Swiss government said.
Despite the sign-off from the Federal Council, the overall agreement will likely have to be approved by the Swiss population in a referendum. The right-wing Swiss People's Party, which topped a federal election in 2023, is already campaigning against it.
A no vote shouldn’t eject Switzerland from Horizon Europe, but it could scupper Bern’s hopes of joining Horizon Europe’s successor programme, set to start in 2028.
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