In a significant step towards normalising relations after years of stalemate, EU member states on 27 February 2026 formally authorised the European Commission to sign the comprehensive **Switzerland–EU package of agreements**, popularly dubbed **“Bilaterals III.”** Signature is scheduled for 2 March in Brussels, with Swiss President Guy Parmelin and Commission President Ursula von der Leyen presiding.
The package bundles six sectoral accords – on electricity, food safety, free movement of persons, state aid, land transport and air transport – under a new horizontal governance mechanism that will align future Swiss legislation more closely with single-market rules. Of immediate relevance to global mobility teams is the commitment to resume Swiss participation in **Erasmus+** and to extend simplified professional-qualification recognition for cross-border service providers.
![EU governments give green light for signature of ‘Bilaterals III’ package with Switzerland]()
For companies and individuals needing to secure the right travel documents under the re-energised bilateral regime, VisaHQ can provide fast, user-friendly assistance with Swiss visas and permits. Its digital platform offers step-by-step guidance, real-time tracking and expert support, helping HR departments remain compliant as rules evolve. More information is available at https://www.visahq.com/switzerland/
For employers, the deal promises greater legal certainty when seconding staff from EU states to Swiss entities (and vice-versa) and restores automatic updates of wage-protection measures that had lapsed after the collapse of the previous Institutional Framework Agreement in 2021. It also unlocks Swiss access to EU digital platforms such as the Internal Market Information System (IMI), reducing paperwork for short-term work notifications.
The accords still require ratification by both the Swiss and European parliaments and may face a domestic referendum – likely in 2027 – but business lobby group Economiesuisse has already welcomed the breakthrough, citing surveys showing 70 % of multinationals view regulatory uncertainty as the top risk to future Swiss investments.
The package bundles six sectoral accords – on electricity, food safety, free movement of persons, state aid, land transport and air transport – under a new horizontal governance mechanism that will align future Swiss legislation more closely with single-market rules. Of immediate relevance to global mobility teams is the commitment to resume Swiss participation in **Erasmus+** and to extend simplified professional-qualification recognition for cross-border service providers.
For companies and individuals needing to secure the right travel documents under the re-energised bilateral regime, VisaHQ can provide fast, user-friendly assistance with Swiss visas and permits. Its digital platform offers step-by-step guidance, real-time tracking and expert support, helping HR departments remain compliant as rules evolve. More information is available at https://www.visahq.com/switzerland/
For employers, the deal promises greater legal certainty when seconding staff from EU states to Swiss entities (and vice-versa) and restores automatic updates of wage-protection measures that had lapsed after the collapse of the previous Institutional Framework Agreement in 2021. It also unlocks Swiss access to EU digital platforms such as the Internal Market Information System (IMI), reducing paperwork for short-term work notifications.
The accords still require ratification by both the Swiss and European parliaments and may face a domestic referendum – likely in 2027 – but business lobby group Economiesuisse has already welcomed the breakthrough, citing surveys showing 70 % of multinationals view regulatory uncertainty as the top risk to future Swiss investments.
