EU-Switzerland agreement on Switzerland’s participation in Union programmes

AGREEMENTBETWEEN THE EUROPEAN UNIONAND THE EUROPEAN ATOMIC ENERGY COMMUNITY, OF THE ONE PART,AND THE SWISS CONFEDERATION, OF THE OTHER PART,ON THE PARTICIPATION OF THE SWISS CONFEDERATIONIN UNION PROGRAMMES The European Unionandthe European Atomic Energy Community (hereinafter jointly referred toas the"Union"), of the one part,and the Swiss Confederation (hereinafter referred to as"Switzerland"), of the other part, hereinafter jointly referred to as the"Contracting Parties", REAFFIRMING the high priority they attach to the special relations between the Union, itsMember States and Switzerland, based on their proximity, shared values and European identity; BUILDING ON the common goals and strong links between the Contracting Parties stemming fromthe1978 Cooperation Agreement between the European Atomic Energy Community and theSwissConfederation in the field of controlled thermonuclear fusion and plasma physics1, the1986Framework Agreement for scientific andtechnical cooperation between the European Communitiesand the Swiss Confederation2, the 2007 Agreements in the form of an Exchange of Letters betweenthe European Atomic Energy Community and the Swiss Confederation on the application of theITER Agreement3, the Agreement on Privileges and Immunities of the ITER International FusionEnergy Organization for the Joint Implementation of the ITER Project4,and theBroader ApproachAgreement5to the territory of the Swiss Confederation and on Switzerland's membership in theEuropean Joint Undertaking for ITER and the Development of Fusion Energy6, and the 2014Agreement for scientific and technological cooperation between the European Union and EuropeanAtomic Energy Community and the Swiss Confederation associating the Swiss Confederation toHorizon2020–the Framework Programme for Research and Innovation and the Research andTraining Programme of the European Atomic Energy Community complementing Horizon2020,and regulating the Swiss Confederation's participation in the ITER activities carried out by Fusionfor Energy7; WHEREAS theEuropean Atomic Energy Community (Euratom) concluded the"ITERAgreement", the Agreement on the Privileges and Immunities of ITER and the BroaderApproach Agreement; CONSIDERING Council Decision 2007/198/Euratom1establishing the European Joint Undertakingfor ITER and the Development of Fusion Energy and conferring advantages upon it; RECOGNISING the common desire of the Contracting Parties to further develop, strengthen,stimulate and extend their relations andcooperation in ITER related activities, on the basis ofequality, reciprocity and an overall balance of benefits, rights and obligations; CONSIDERING the Union's efforts to lead the response by joining forces with its internationalpartners to address global challenges in line with the United Nations'plan of action for people,planet and prosperity entitled"Transforming our World: the 2030 Agenda for SustainableDevelopment"; DESIRING the conclusion of a long-lasting agreement on the participation of Switzerland in Unionprogrammesand providing the legal basis for such cooperation; CONSIDERING the Contracting Parties'shared objective of consolidating and deepening theirlong-standing and successful cooperation, in particular in research and innovation, space, nuclearfusion and fission, and education, training, youth, sport and culture, as well as other areas ofcommon interest, such as digital transformation and action in the field of health, enablingSwitzerland's more systematic participation in Union programmes in the future; RECOGNISING the general principles set out in Regulation (EU)2021/695 of the EuropeanParliament and of the Council1establishing Horizon Europe ("Horizon Europe Programme") and inCouncil Regulation (Euratom) 2021/765 establishing the Research and Training Programme of theEuropean Atomic Energy Community for the period 2021-2025, complementing Horizon Europe2("Euratom Programme"); ACKNOWLEDGING the objectives of the renewed European research area–namely to build acommon scientific and technological area, create a single market for research and innovation, fosterand facilitate cooperation between organisations in the field of research and innovation, includinguniversities, and the exchange of good practice and attractive research careers, facilitate the cross-border and intersectoral mobility of researchers, foster the free movement of scientific knowledgeand innovation, promote respect for academic freedom and freedom of scientific research, supportscience education and communication activities, and encourage the competitiveness andattractiveness of participating economies–and that countries associated with the Union frameworkprogrammes for research and innovation are key potential partners in this endeavour; EMPHASISING the role of European Partnerships, which address some of Europe's most pressingchallenges through concerted research and innovation initiatives contributing significantly to theUnion's priorities in