In 2019, parliament refused to release the payment – intended to reduce economic and social inequalities between old and new EU countries – until the EU ended discriminatory practices against Switzerland.
Switzerland is not part of the EU but contributes to the cohesion fund as part of its bilateral agreements with the 27-nation bloc. A long-running spat between the Brussels and Bern over the future of bilateral ties led to the payment being suspended after the EU banned the Swiss stock market from selling EU company shares.
Exactly how it will frame the request is unclear, but it will hinge on the EU agreeing to sign a memorandum of understanding “which sets out the parameters for the implementation of the second contribution”.
“In implementing the contribution, the Federal Council wishes to underscore, following its decision to end the negotiations on the institutional agreement, that Switzerland will remain a reliable partner of the EU in the future,” a press releaseExternal link declared on Friday.
“The Federal Council remains committed to ensuring that Switzerland is not discriminated against and, among other things, is not treated differently from other third countries in EU equivalence processes.”
In a newspaper interview last weekend, Swiss president Guy Parmelin urged the EU to play fair following the end of official negotiations between the two sides.
Most Read Swiss Abroad
More
Why cars still reign supreme in ‘rail-nation’ Switzerland
Swiss price watchdog slams excessive prices for generic medicines
This content was published on
The cheapest generic medicines available in Switzerland are more than twice as expensive as in other countries, according to a study by the Swiss price watchdog.
Nature should not figure in net zero calculations: academic study
This content was published on
The natural removal of CO2 from the atmosphere by forests or oceans should not be included in the net-zero balance of climate protection measures, argue researchers.
This content was published on
None of the 15 major Swiss retail banks is meeting international climate and biodiversity targets, according to a ranking by WWF Switzerland.
This content was published on
Nestlé's new CEO Laurent Freixe, has presented plans for the future of the world's largest food company, after his first few weeks in office.
Swiss foreign minister calls on Moscow to end Ukraine war
This content was published on
It's high time Moscow ended its war against Ukraine, Swiss foreign minister Ignazio Cassis tells the UN Security Council.
This content was published on
The only alternative to the UN Palestinian agency’s work in Gaza is to allow Israel to run services there, Philippe Lazzarini, UNRWA Commissioner-General, told reporters in Geneva on Monday.
Study reveals food culture differences between Switzerland and neighbours
This content was published on
Three-quarters of Swiss people consider eating to be a pleasurable, social activity, a new survey reveals. Healthy eating, however, plays a much less important role, it found.
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
Parliament sets conditions on further EU payments
This content was published on
Switzerland should only make another billion-franc “cohesion” payment to the EU if the EU doesn’t discriminate against Switzerland, says parliament.
Swiss prepare for EU chill after quitting market access talks
This content was published on
After the Swiss government shelved an institutional agreement on relations with the EU, there are many questions about what happens next.
Swiss president warns against EU reprisals over collapsed talks
This content was published on
“The EU would harm itself by torpedoing trade relations with one of its most important trading partners,” Guy Parmelin told the NZZ am Sonntag newspaper on SundayExternal link. On Wednesday, Switzerland ended a seven-year effort to craft an overarching treaty to replace the more than 120 bilateral deals which have regulated relations for the past…
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.