Relations between Switzerland and the European Union (EU) are very close and are based on a network of agreements made up of some 20 main bilateral agreements and around 100 other agreements.

Over the past few years, Switzerland and the EU have been negotiating an agreement on institutional matters, aimed at ensuring a more uniform and efficient application of existing and future market access agreements. On 7 December 2018 the Federal Council decided to launch a broad consultation on the negotiated text. It approved the report on the consultations at its meeting of 7 June 2019 and decided to demand clarifications.

Chronology

• 07.06.2019: Report on the consultations is approved, Federal Council demands clarifications
• 07.12.2018: Federal Council aknowledges the results of the negotiations, decision for consultations 
• 02.03.2018: Clarification of the negotiation mandate by the Federal Council
  
• 22.05.2014: Start of the negotiations
• 06.05.2014: Adoption of the negotiating mandate by the Council of the EU
• 18.12.2013: Adoption of the negotiating mandate by the Federal Council

_{Status June 2019}