Switzerland's bilateral approach to European integration

In recent years, several authors have considered the potential of some of the integration schemes with the European Union (EU), especially the European Economic Area (EEA), to become a ‘model’ for the countries of the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP). ¹ Most of these analyses led to the conclusion that the EEA could not constitute a model for third countries, owing to its particular economic and political features (Gould 2004; Gstöhl 2012; Pelkmans and Böhler 2013). Unfortunately, with one exception (Tovias 2006), the academic literature has never really examined the integration approach that Switzerland developed with the EU as a possible model for others. This omission is regrettable, for Switzerland has pursued a unique integration path. As a matter of fact, it is the only state in western Europe, other than the very small states, that has never started membership negotiations with the EU and never joined multilateral integration schemes such as the EEA. Instead, the Swiss government developed a peculiar integration approach based on far-reaching bilateral and sector-based agreements with the EU, the so-called Bilateral Agreements. Through them, Switzerland secured a deep integration with the EU’s internal market.