The European Economic Area, the bilateral agreements and Switzerland

This contribution analyses the relationship between Switzerland and the EC/EU through the process of EEA negotiations and the later bilateral agreements. It firstly discusses the path leading to the rejection of the EEA treaty by the Swiss citizens. Secondly, it deals with the bilateral agreements between Switzerland and the EU (1999-2002, 2004-...). For Switzerland, the Agreement on the European Economic Area (EEA) is the most comprehensive treaty ever negotiated and signed by Switzerland, a..