International agreements and memberships

Switzerland is not a member of the EU, but pursues close relations with it under a bilateral approach governed by over 100 bilateral agreements primarily concluded in two packages:

The first series of bilateral agreements was accepted by 67% of Swiss voters in 2000. The 7 agreements mainly cover economic matters. The main aim is to facilitate market access for both sides (goods, services, labour). The EU member states and especially the neighbouring countries are Switzerland's most important trading partners. Switzerland is the fourth most important trading partner for the EU.

The second series of bilateral agreements govern further economic aspects, as well as cooperation in the fields of asylum, security, the environment and culture. There are 9 agreements, including the Schengen-Dublin agreement, which was approved by 55% of voters in 2005. Schengen facilitates transnational mobility and cooperation on justice and police. Dublin facilitates coordination on asylum proceedings.

The Federal Council wants to stabilise and further develop the bilateral approach. It is doing so by pursuing a package approach. Negotiations with the EU on this took place from March to December 2024. The package includes several thematic elements, including three new agreements (electricity, health, food safety) and the updating of five existing agreements to continue to ensure unhindered access to the EU single market for the Swiss economy. On 20 December 2024, the Federal Council took note of the substantive conclusion of negotiations between Switzerland and the EU.

27 member states
Headquarters in Brussels
Since 1951 (formerly ECSC, EEC from 1957)

EFTA
The European Free Trade Association promotes free trade between its members Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Iceland and Norway. Together with the EU countries, the EFTA countries - excluding Switzerland - form the European Economic Area (EEA). Swiss voters rejected membership of the EEA in 1992.

4 member states
Headquarters in Geneva
Founded in 1960, Switzerland a founding member



Council of Europe
The Council of Europe focuses its work on promoting human rights, democracy and the rule of law. The European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) is one of the Council of Europe’s major achievements. It gives every citizen the right to lodge a complaint with the European Court of Human Rights if rights guaranteed by the ECHR have been violated – provided that all judicial avenues in Switzerland have been exhausted.

46 member states
Headquarters in Strasbourg
Secretary General: Alain Berset (CH)
Founded in 1949, Switzerland a member since 1963

UN
193 states of the world belong to the United Nations. It is committed to promoting peace and international security, worldwide cooperation in solving international problems and respect for human rights. Switzerland has been a member of the UN since 2002: In a referendum, accession was accepted by 55 % of Swiss voters.

193 member states
Main headquarters in New York, European headquarters in Geneva and Vienna
Founded in 1945, Switzerland a member since 2002



OSCE
The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, with its participating states in North America, Europe and Asia, is the world’s largest regional security organisation. As a political forum for dialogue, it addresses a broad range of regional security issues encompassing politico-military matters, economic and environmental issues and human rights.

57 participating states
Headquarters in Vienna
Founded in 1975, Switzerland a founding member



UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation, also active in the field of communication, is a forum for international cooperation and the development of global standards. Its aim is to promote solidarity among people and thereby contribute to peace, security and sustainable development.

194 member states
Headquarters in Paris
Founded in 1945, Switzerland a member since 1949



WTO
The World Trade Organization regulates and promotes global trade relations. The aim of the WTO agreements is to ensure transparent, functioning and non-discriminatory trade. WTO members undertake to comply with certain basic rules in shaping their trade relations. 

166 member states
Headquarters in Geneva
Founded in 1995, Switzerland a founding member



OECD
The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development is a forum for exchanging knowledge in a wide variety of fields. Its goal is to promote prosperity, quality of life and equal opportunities. The OECD develops international standards and regularly publishes international statistics and studies, including the PISA studies.

38 member states
Headquarters in Paris
Founded in 1961, Switzerland a founding member

NATO Partnership for Peace
Switzerland is not a member of NATO, but has cooperated with it since 1996 within the framework of the Partnership for Peace and the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council. NATO is a political and military defence alliance of 32 European and North American countries. Together with partner countries, it works for security and peace in the transatlantic area.

32 members
Headquarters in Brussels
Founded in 1949