Swiss agreement signed but ad hoc cooperation continues
Swiss participation in cooperative research projects under the Fifth Framework Programme will continue to be possible on a project-by-project basis only for some time yet. While the agreement associating Switzerland to the Programme was signed on 21 June 1999, this is not expected to enter into force until early 2001, whereupon Swiss researchers will have essentially the same possibilities as EU researchers to participate in FP5. As they had during FP4, the Swiss authorities have put aside money - which will eventually form their contribution to the budget of FP5 under the terms of the association agreement - which is available to Swiss researchers to fund their participation in FP5 projects. So FP5 project consortia may include Swiss members, bringing their own funding, but this needs to be confirmed on a project-by-project basis. Under the terms of the agreement, Swiss researchers will be able to participate in the Fifth Framework Programme, including nuclear research activities under the Euratom Programme (Switzerland already participates in nuclear fusion research) under essentially the same terms as EU participants. This participation will result from a contribution from Switzerland to the Programme's budget. EU researchers will also be able to participate in Swiss research activities, but on condition that they fund themselves. The agreement will run to the end of FP5, but is expected to be extended for future Framework Programmes. Although negotiations with the Swiss authorities were launched early in the Fourth Framework Programme, the research agreement was linked with six other sectoral agreements, which have taken much longer to finalise. The conclusion of these agreements, and their entry into force, has also been linked. The research cooperation agreement is unlikely to present difficulties in ratification on either side, however other agreements, notably those concerning transport, and free movement of people may have a more contentious passage. On the Swiss side, the package of agreements will be discussed in the federal parliament in August, following which specific referenda may be required to conclude certain of the agreements. For the EU, the agreements have to be approved by the European Parliament (and for the free movement agreement only, also by national parliaments in the EU) then the Council. Once all seven agreements have been concluded they will enter into force at the same time.
Countries
Switzerland