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‘Europe’ initiative launched to strengthen Swiss-EU ties 

Swiss president Viola Amherd on the left, speaks to Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, on the right. Both stand in front of a blue European Commission backdrop behind their own podiums. Amherd wears a dark top and a red jacket and stands in front of the Swiss flag (a red square flag with a white plus). Von der Leyen wears a light top and a red jacket and stands in front of the EU flag, which is navy with a circle of 12 gold stars.
The initiative seeks to strengthen ties between the EU and Switzerland, just as negotiations between Bern and Brussels get under way.  KEYSTONE/© KEYSTONE / ALESSANDRO DELLA VALLE

Swiss relations with the European Union (EU) should be anchored in the constitution, according to a people’s initiative launched by Alliance Europe on Tuesday. 

The initiative seeks to strengthen ties between the EU and Switzerland, just as negotiations between Bern and Brussels get under way. 

Alliance Europe said in a press release that the “Europe” initiative anchored active participation in European cooperation in the Federal Constitution, “thereby enabling us to take a decision of principle on our relations with Europe”. The initiative has until October 2, 2025, to collect the necessary 100,000 signatures.  

+ What you need to know about Swiss-EU relations

“We are giving a voice to the silent majority who want Switzerland to work closely with Europe to tackle the climate crisis, the war in Ukraine and other geopolitical tensions,” said Sanija Ameti, co-president of Operation Libero, quoted in the release.  

Through the “Europe” initiative, civil society is declaring its support for ongoing negotiations between Switzerland and the EU at a critical time, the release added.   

Adapted from French by DeepL/kp/jdp

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