Swiss-EU negotiations ‘will be difficult’

Switzerland’s association to EU programmes is being reconsidered after deal collapses

The Swiss government’s decision to walk away from talks on a broad trade deal with the EU has imperilled its chances of securing the fullest possible participation in the bloc’s education and R&D programmes, a former adviser to the EU’s chief Brexit negotiator has warned.

 “My political reading is that this would be difficult,” Georg Riekeles, associate director at the European Policy Centre think tank and a diplomatic adviser to Michel Barnier during the Brexit talks, told Research Europe.