Bilateral Agreements I and II
Bilateral agreements - agreements between two partners - here Bilateral Agreements I and II between Switzerland and the EU, and in those areas only, in which they negotiate and put down in writing their coooperation.
Swiss voters so far did not agree - in obligatory referendums - with joining the European Economic Area (EEA), nore did they agree - in facultative referendums, called upon by popular initiative - to begin negotiations on Swiss EU accession.
The way of bilateral agreements - also subject to referendums - is at present considered by the majority of Swiss to be the only one respecting their interests and rights.
Instead of taking over the EU regulations and decisions, the Swiss negotiate the cooperation with the EU in the same way as most countries in the world do.
Links - see also
Bilateral Agreements I: http://www.europa.admin.ch/ba/d (de), http://www.europa.admin.ch/ba/e (en), http://www.europa.admin.ch/ba/f (fr), http://www.europa.admin.ch/ba/i (it)
Bilateral Agreements II: http://www.europa.admin.ch/nbv/d (de), http://www.europa.admin.ch/nbv/e (en), http://www.europa.admin.ch/nbv/f (fr), http://www.europa.admin.ch/nbv/i (it)
political rights, initiative, referendum
