EU Parliament pushes stricter rules for Swiss participation in public tenders

EU Parliament rapporteurs have drafted a proposal requiring non-EU states to fulfill certain benchmarks before gaining automatic access to EU public procurement procedures. The text highlights the importance of integrated value chains and specifically mentions Switzerland as a candidate for such scrutiny. This stance contrasts with the European Commission’s approach, which seeks to maintain Swiss participation based on the current public-procurement agreement between the two parties.

The discussion is linked to the industrial acceleration bill introduced by the Commission in March, which aims to strengthen strategic industries and introduce a European preference for selected products. If adopted, the Parliament’s criteria could reshape how third-country firms compete for EU contracts. The outcome will affect trade dynamics between the EU and Switzerland and could set a precedent for other non-EU economies.