While the Swiss government has decided not to abandon its long-term goal of gaining membership to the European Union, ministers revealed this week that the issue is likely to remain on the backburner as different options for closer cooperation with the EU are thought out.
Speaking after the Swiss government met on Wednesday to discuss its European policy, Foreign Minister Micheline Calmy-Rey stated that Switzerland was determined to maintain a policy of "active cooperation" in Europe and rejected a purely defensive approach to the EU as counter to Swiss interests.
Meanwhile, Economy Minister Joseph Deiss told reporters after the meeting that the federal council "wants to keep all its options open," on the issue of Europe.
Switzerland's application to the join the European Union was put on hold by Brussels in 1992 after voters rejected a proposal to accede to the European Economic Area (EEA) in the same year. Instead, the country has pursued a policy of reaching bilateral agreements with the EU, of which 16 have been concluded in two rounds of negotiations.
A report detailing Switzerland's options in its relationship with the EU is expected to be published mid way through 2006. These options are likely to include at least five choices, such as: maintaining the status quo; pursuing a "consolidated bilateral route" which would strengthen institutional cooperation; advancing a multilateral form of cooperation; an EU 'lite' membership which would permanently exempt Switzerland from certain EU decisions; and full membership.
