ABSTRACT
Switzerland is not and, in the foreseeable future, will not become a member of the EU. The case is nevertheless interesting because it shows that institutions of non-member countries are also adjusting to the changing requirements of bilateral relations with the EU. Moreover, the experiences of other small European states in the integration process can provide a useful lesson for the current discussion on reforming the Swiss political system. This chapter examines the administrative, political and strategic adaptations that Switzerland has experienced in the course of its evolving relationship with the EU. It is based on an analysis of the existing literature, a study of official documents and a series of interviews with government officials. The conclusion is that while Swiss integration policy remains in a deadlock, a substantial adaptation of the institutional system can be observed over the last five years. The challenges of non-integration have profoundly transformed the political discourse and have helped to promote institutional reforms of the Swiss system.
