Switzerland to launch public consultations on its ties with EU

The Swiss government said Friday it wants public consultations before deciding on a draft treaty outlining the ties with the European Union (EU) aimed at locking in future relations between the two.

The Swiss Federal Council, which operates as the cabinet, released a statement on Friday saying it, "will carry out consultations on the draft text to define a consolidated position on the outstanding issues and to re-examine if needed, dialogue with the EU."

The EU had wanted Switzerland by Friday to agree to an accord aimed at streamlining relations that are currently spelled out in some 120 bilateral agreements.

Switzerland's Federal Council said it has asked the Foreign Ministry to carry out a national consultation with relevant players such as political parties, cantons, parliament, and associations.

"These consultations will serve as a basis for a thorough analysis of the political interests to a possible signature of the agreement," said the Federal Council.

"We can't sign a final deal until we've reached our goal 100 percent," said Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis at a Friday press conference in Swiss capital.

"The plan we presented today enables deepest market integration while maintaining the highest possible level of sovereignty."

Since 2014, Switzerland and the EU have been working to formalize their relations in accords negotiated since a referendum in 1992, when the Swiss rejected joining the European Economic Area.

The EU wants Switzerland to agree to a treaty before granting greater access to its markets.

It has been pushing Switzerland to approve an agreement this year during the ongoing Brexit talks with Britain, and before elections in Switzerland scheduled for 2019, the Swiss news agency Keystone SDA reported.

Further talks can take place, but not before 2020, and there is no guarantee that the EU will continue with the same mandate and the existing draft agreement, said the Swiss side.