8./9.11.1993

The General Council of the EU announces the following decisions: 

- agreement to begin negotiations in four sectors (road transport, free movement of persons, research, free market access for agricultural products) and as far as possible in two other sectors (technical barriers to trade, public procurement) 

- negotiating instructions to be prepared by the Commission 

- appropriate parallelism. The various dossiers are to be negotiated and completed together. They will be valid only as a whole.

03.09.1993

The "Born on 7 December" committee makes an official presentation of its popular initiative "For our future in the heart of Europe" (110’703 valid signatures).

05.02.1993

Proposal made to open negotiations with EU in 15 sectors. Sectors linked to the Free Trade Agreement of 1972:

- country of origin rules

- outward processing of textiles

- processed agricultural products

- technical barriers to trade (TBTs)

- public procurement markets (in the context of GATT/WTO regulations)

- product liability

- animal protection legislation

- plant protection legislation;

- intellectual property (above all geographical designations and labels of origin).

Sectors not linked to the Free Trade Agreement of 1972:

- civil aviation

- overland transport

- research

- MEDIA audio-visual programme

- statistics

- education, vocational training, youth

13.01.1993

The Federal Council states that until further notice Switzerland will not start membership negotiations with the European Community.

01.01.1993

Entry into force of the the Insurance Agreement

06.12.1992

The population of Switzerland refuses to join the European Economic Area (EEA) with 50.3 % No-votes.

Participation: 79%

26. 05.1992

Switzerland requests the commencement of membership negotiations with the European Community.