Chapter 2.13 of the dispatch (pp. 960-986) governs the new cooperation agreement on health. Unlike internal market agreements, this is a cooperation agreement - it is not about market access but about protection against cross-border health threats.
The COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated that Switzerland depends on cooperation with the EU in cross-border health crises. The health agreement gives Switzerland access to the EU4Health programme (EUR 5.3 bn), the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control ECDC and the Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority HERA.
| Feature | Internal market agreement | Health cooperation agreement |
|---|---|---|
| Objective | Market access | Cooperation |
| Legal adoption | Dynamic | Voluntary |
| Dispute settlement | CJEU role | Consultation |
| Example | Electricity, food | Health |
The EU4Health programme (2021-2027) is the largest EU health programme ever:
| Aspect | Detail |
|---|---|
| Budget | EUR 5.3 bn |
| Duration | 2021-2027 |
| Priorities | Crisis preparedness, health promotion, digital health |
| Swiss participation | Full association |
Programme priorities:
The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) in Stockholm is the EU's central authority for communicable diseases. Swiss access includes:
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Switzerland had no formal access to ECDC and relied on informal channels.
The Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority (HERA) was established in 2021 as a lesson from the pandemic. It coordinates:
The agreement specifically addresses:
The agreement also covers cooperation in:
Cooperation in Health Technology Assessment enables:
| Aspect | Detail |
|---|---|
| Agreement type | Cooperation agreement (not internal market) |
| EU4Health budget | EUR 5.3 bn (2021-2027) |
| ECDC access | Yes (epidemiology, rapid alert) |
| HERA access | Yes (emergency preparedness, procurement) |
| Legal adoption | Voluntary (cooperation) |
| COVID lesson | Formal access instead of informal channels |