Switzerland is physically and geographically closely integrated into the EU's electricity system, but it lacks legal guarantees. This is associated with disadvantages for Switzerland.
Negotiations with the EU on this matter started in 2007 and were interrupted in 2018 owing to the unresolved institutional issues at the time. Given that the negotiations are now to be resumed, the institutional issues will be anchored in the future electricity agreement whereby an equal footing both for Swiss stakeholders – to be able to participate in the internal electricity market – and for Swissgrid – to be integrated in the European grid operation processes, should be ensured. In addition, cooperation between Swiss authorities and institutions and their counterparts at European level is to be secured. The new agreement will also contain clearly defined rules on state aid and its accompanying monitoring mechanism.
