Uncertainty about Switzerland's framework agreement with the EU is fueling more company lobbying in Brussels.
Keystone
Swiss companies have sharply increased their lobbying in Brussels in the face of uncertain relations with the European Union.
This content was published on
2 minutes
swissinfo.ch/jc
Switzerland has more companies lobbying in Brussels than many other European countries, writes the SonntagsBlick newspaper, citing the EU’s latest transparency registerExternal link.
According to this register, there are 259 Swiss organisations defending their interests at the European Union. This puts Switzerland in tenth place overall, behind some European countries and the US, but ahead of others. It compares, for example with 244 for Austria, 223 for Poland, 191 for Portugal and 102 for Romania.
The 259 Swiss companies together spend between CHF45 million ($45 million) and CHF60 million ($60 million) a year on their lobbying activities in Brussels. This compares with 171 Swiss companies that spent some CHF35 million to CHF44 million in 2016 when the register was first published.
As well as large multinationals like Novartis, Syngenta and Crédit Suisse, they also include Swiss organisations like the Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich, the labour organisation Travail Suisse, Swiss Railways, the Swiss National Science Foundation and the Swiss Council for Accident Prevention.
This sharp increase in EU lobbying activities by Swiss companies can be attributed mainly to uncertainty surrounding a future framework agreement between Switzerland and the EU, according to the paper. “More Swiss firms feel the need to explain their position to the EU,” Swiss Business Federation chairman Heinz Karrer told SonntagsBlick.
More
More
Swiss government wants public consultation on EU framework deal
This content was published on
The Swiss government says it wants a public consultation before taking a final position on an “institutional framework” agreement with the EU.
Two decades after tsunami, Swiss tourists flock to Southeast Asia
This content was published on
Twenty years after a catastrophic tsunami in Southeast Asia, the region is again a top destination for Swiss, including at Christmas.
Swiss forests better equipped for storms 25 years after Lothar
This content was published on
Twenty-five years after Hurricane Lothar wreaked havoc in Switzerland, the country’s forests are now better prepared, experts say.
Media: Swiss medical services done abroad are billed at Swiss rates
This content was published on
In Switzerland, some medical services carried out abroad are still billed at Swiss rates, despite costing less, RTS reports.
This content was published on
Sophie Hediger, a member of the Swiss national snowboard cross team, has died in an avalanche in Arosa. She was 26 years old.
This content was published on
Several Swiss films exceeded the 100,000 admissions mark worldwide in 2024 and received widespread praise at international film festivals.
Swiss Alpine resorts covered in white gold for Christmas
This content was published on
Many areas at low altitudes in Switzerland are enjoying a blanket of snow. In the mountains, intense precipitation has delighted skiers.
SWISS makes emergency landing in Austria after smoke in cockpit
This content was published on
Swiss International Airlines (SWISS) made an emergency landing of an Airbus in Graz, Austria on Monday evening after engine problems.
‘The EU will not renegotiate the framework treaty with Switzerland’
This content was published on
As signs increasingly suggest that a framework agreement with the EU is heading for failure, a political analyst warns that Brussels will not budge.
This content was published on
Emblematic conservative figure Christoph Blocher told People’s Party members that accepting the EU accord would be disastrous for Switzerland.
This content was published on
The EU is imposing limits on steel coming into the bloc from Saturday in response to US President Donald Trump’s metals tariffs.
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.