Business · Trade · 5 hrs ago
Germany and France back Switzerland joining ‘Made in Europe’ under conditions
Germany and France have proposed including Switzerland in the EU’s ‘Made in Europe’ plan under strict conditions.
The proposal appears in a joint position paper, but Germany’s governing coalition partner, the SPD, still needs to approve it.
Switzerland would be treated like European Economic Area countries and the United Kingdom under the proposal.
The EU is discussing a preference for European suppliers in public procurement, meaning government purchasing.
Whether non-EU European countries should qualify has been disputed, and Switzerland has lobbied neighbouring countries for months.
Swiss participation would require formal association and would not be automatic.
The paper sets out a possible route, but the sources do not say when the EU will decide.
Germany and France support allowing Switzerland to join the “Made in Europe” initiative under strict conditions.
The proposal would put Switzerland on an equal footing with European Economic Area states and the United Kingdom.
Switzerland’s participation would require formal association.
A German-French position paper outlining the proposal was reported on Thursday.
The initiative concerns a European preference in public procurement, which the EU is currently discussing.
- Who
- Germany and France support Switzerland joining the initiative under conditions.
- What
- Switzerland could participate in “Made in Europe” on an equal footing with European Economic Area states and the United Kingdom, subject to formal association.
- When
- The position paper was reported on Thursday, 15 October 2026.
- Where
- Brussels.
- Why
- The initiative concerns a European preference in public procurement; the sources do not state why Germany and France back Swiss participation.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The Swiss federal government lobbied European neighbours over participation.
A German-French position paper supporting Swiss participation under conditions was reported.
- Supporting countries
- Germany and France
- Conditions
- Strict conditions and formal association
- Proposed status
- Equal footing with European Economic Area states and the United Kingdom
- Initiative
- European preference in public procurement
- Report date
- 15 October 2026