ABSTRACT
The chapter describes the institutional architecture of the bilateral agreements between Switzerland and the European Union signed since 1992. It outlines the different legal basis of the agreements, particularly between those reached as part of a so-called first package and those in subsequent rounds. It highlights how the negotiations on some of these agreements proceeded smoothly and on largely “technical” tracks while others proved to be highly politically salient and controversial. The chapter argues that the bilateral approach has in many ways served Switzerland well over the years but also that in many respects it may have reached the limits of what it can achieve, thus offering valuable insights on some of the issues the UK is also likely to face in the coming years.
