“The single market is a key strength of the EU. We would weaken the internal market if we allowed a friendly [non-member] country like Switzerland exceptions that the EU member states don’t have,” Mavromichalis told the Neue Zürcher Zeitung newspaper in an interviewExternal link.
“If we start doing that, other countries will ask for this as well. The internal market would become full of holes,” he said.
In the event of a dispute, the European Court of Justice interprets the rules and decides. This must also apply to Switzerland in areas where it participates in the EU internal market, the ambassador argued. The Swiss government has indicated it is in favour of a scenario in which Switzerland would not be subject to arbitration by the European court.
Ties between Brussels and Bern have been strained since Switzerland abruptly decided in May 2021 to end years of discussions on a framework agreement with the EU bloc.
“We were very disappointed that Switzerland broke off the negotiations after more than ten years,” said Mavromichalis. According to the diplomat, the EU is currently examining Switzerland’s proposal to resolve contentious issues on a sectoral basis in various agreements.
Brussels wants all market access agreements to include a legal mechanism for dispute settlement, said Mavromichalis. Some sectoral agreements could include regulations such as safeguard clauses, but this should be the exception. Institutional rules such as free movement of persons and the European directives shouldn’t be excluded from agreements, said Mavromichalis.
“Switzerland wants new access agreements to the common market. But this will only be possible if the institutional issues are resolved. You can’t build a house if the foundations are unstable.”
Is your place of origin, your Heimatort, important to you?
Every Swiss citizen has a Heimatort, a place of origin, but many have never visited theirs. What’s your relationship with your Heimatort? What does it mean to you?
Estates of Schwarzenbach and Maillart honoured by UNESCO
This content was published on
The estates of Swiss writers Annemarie Schwarzenbach (1908-1942) and Ella Maillart (1903-1997) are to be included in the Memory of the World Register.
Novartis announces billion-dollar investments in the US
This content was published on
Swiss pharmaceutical company Novartis plans to invest a total of $23 billion in the US over the next five years to expand production and research.
Money laundering and paedophile crime increase in Switzerland
This content was published on
The number of suspected cases of money laundering, reports of threats against officers and cases of paedophile crime increased last year, in some cases sharply.
Toblerone invests in Bern and puts new emphasis on Swiss cross
This content was published on
Since US multinational Mondelēz relocated part of Toblerone production to Slovakia in 2023, the company is no longer allowed to call its chocolate “Swiss made”.
Switzerland and 35 other members declare support for WTO
This content was published on
Switzerland and 35 other members have recommitted themselves to honouring the rules of the Geneva-based World Trade Organization (WTO).
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.
Read more
More
Why is Switzerland not in the European Union?
This content was published on
From money to direct democracy: we look at some of the main reasons behind Switzerland's decision not to join the 27-nation bloc.
This content was published on
The European Union assumed that Switzerland would one day join the club but instead it is moving further and further away. We find out why.
This content was published on
Citing “substantial differences”, the government has decided not to move ahead with a controversial institutional agreement on relations with the EU.
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.