European Committee of the Regions and Swiss cantons forge structured cooperation partnership

The European Committee of the Regions (CoR) and the Conference of Cantonal Governments of Switzerland (CCG) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on 2 July 2026, during the CoR plenary session. 

The MoU establishes a structured platform for high-level political dialogue between Europe's regions and cities and Switzerland's cantons. The agreement builds on the CoR opinion on strengthening the territorial dimension of the EU-Switzerland relationship, drafted by rapporteur Matteo Luigi Bianchi (IT/ECR).

The MoU rests on shared values: democracy, the rule of law, federalism, decentralisation and subsidiarity. From there, it sets out the objective to build a common framework for discussing political and legislative developments in the EU and Switzerland at an early stage, including EU programmes, strategies and policies of common interest and their regional and local impact. The two sides also aim to share views on EU and Swiss affairs from the standpoint of regions, cities and cantons, and to exchange best practices.

Areas of cooperation

The agreement maps out the fields where the two sides will work together. These range from multilevel governance to the free movement of people and the cross-border labour market, regional development, particularly in border areas, along with transport and mobility, innovation and research, and food safety and health. They also cover civil protection as well as the environment, biodiversity, climate change adaptation and mitigation, and energy.

The centrepiece of the MoU is an annual meeting that will take place alternatively in the EU and in Switzerland. The partners will also issue joint recommendations and statements, seek opportunities to act together in multilateral fora, and share information, expertise and good practice. The annual meeting will bring together the CoR’s political leadership, alongside the President of the CCG and a number of representatives from cantonal government. 

Quotes

Kata Tüttő (HU/PES), CoR President and Member of Budapest City Council: “This Memorandum of Understanding marks an important step in strengthening cooperation between Europe's regions and cities and the Swiss cantons. By working together more closely, we can better address shared challenges, notably in cross-border cooperation, managing transitions and promoting cohesive, competitive and sustainable territorial development, and thereby create new opportunities for our citizens.”

Markus Dieth, member of the Aargau cantonal government and President of the CCG: “Geographically speaking, Europe is not far away for the Swiss cantons. Europe often begins just a few kilometres away — sometimes on the other side of a bridge, a railway station, or a shared border. With the memorandum of understanding that we are signing today, we also aim to strengthen our political ties through dialogue. We are establishing a pragmatic political framework for regular contacts, thematic exchanges, and a better mutual understanding.”

Matteo Luigi Bianchi (IT/ECR), Member of the Local Executive of Morazzone and rapporteur on the opinion ‘Enhancing the territorial dimension of the EU-Switzerland relationship’: “As rapporteur, I have seen how strong the commitment is on both sides to deepen the territorial dimension of EU–Switzerland relations. This Memorandum is a concrete outcome of that shared ambition. By strengthening cooperation between European regions, cities and Swiss cantons, we are creating a structured framework to address common cross-border challenges and deliver tangible benefits for citizens, businesses and local communities.”

Background

• Video and photos of the CoR plenary session.
  

• The agreement reflects the close economic, social and cultural ties between European regions and Swiss cantons, already reinforced in many cases through cooperation structures such as Arge-Alp, the EU Strategy for the Alpine Region (EUSALP), the International Lake Constance Conference, the Regio Insubrica working community, the institutional structures of the trinational Upper Rhine region and various European groupings of territorial cooperation (EGTCs).
  

• The Conference of Cantonal Governments is the political platform of Switzerland's 26 cantonal governments. It coordinates and represents the shared interests of the cantons, in particular where cantonal competences are affected by developments in federal or European policy.

• CoR opinion on Enhancing the territorial dimension of the EU-Switzerland relationship, adopted in October 2025.

Contact

Víctor Moreno Morales de Setién
Tel: +32 475999662
victor.morenomoralesdesetien@cor.europa.eu