On their own against the EU dictate: Swiss companies lobby in Brussels more than most Europeans

Against the EU dictate on one's own: Swiss companies lobby in Brussels more than most Europeans The Confederation cannot directly bring the interests of its economy to the EU. To curb Brussels bureaucracy, Swiss companies and associations are taking the initiative themselves. Politicians and officials possess a quality that journalists and writers can only dream of: even with dry and cumbersome wording, they evoke great emotions in their readers. Bureaucrats in Brussels have a special talent for this. Their regulations not only drive entrepreneurs out of EU member states into a frenzy but also business representatives from Switzerland. "I can write a book about EU norms, laws, directives, and regulations that have brought administration, cost increases, and a lot of bureaucracy," says Dieter Brunner, CEO and co-founder of the machine manufacturer Eprotec in Regensdorf ZH. The company produces high-precision melting pumps for the recycling industry and supplies manufacturers of packaging films. The pumps ensure that liquefied plastic flows constantly and prevent thickness fluctuations, cracks, or quality losses. Since August, the new Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) is in force in the EU, which aims to increase the recycling rate in packaging. Brunner welcomes the goal but is annoyed by the design by the EU bureaucrats. "The regulation turns every plastic end product into its own documentation project." Since Eprotec generates around half of its revenue in the EU, it is also strongly affected by the PPWR as a Swiss company. However, the company could not participate in the creation of the new regulation. This is expected to change in the future. Brunner does not want to simply accept EU regulations but wants to try and influence them where they originate: in Brussels. The small company with five employees therefore registered itself in the EU transparency register a few weeks ago. Brunner can now exchange views with EU parliamentarians and officials about future regulations – in the hope that they will listen to him. 387 Swiss companies and associations in Brussels Eprotec is not an isolated case. According to Lobby Facts, an organization that analyzes lobbying in the EU, 387 companies, associations, and other organizations from Switzerland are registered in Brussels. Among them are numerous large corporations such as Novartis, Roche, Nestlé, and UBS, which spend millions annually on their lobbying in Brussels. Economiesuisse, Swissmem, the Swiss Bankers Association, as well as the associations of the watch and textile industries, car dealers, and electricity companies are also registered. In addition, there are non-governmental organizations and sports associations such as FIFA, UEFA, and the International Olympic Committee (IOC), which are based in Switzerland. They all have the same goal: to influence EU regulations before they arise. Given that Switzerland is not an EU member and its laws are fundamentally made in Bern, this presence is very high. Only nine EU countries have more registered organizations. Belgium leads with 2784 registered actors. As the political center of the EU and home to numerous interest associations, the country plays a special role. This is followed by Germany (2192), France (1661), Italy (1155), and Spain (1086). Medium-sized EU countries like Austria (400) and Sweden (399), which are relatively economically strong, have approximately the same number of company and association representatives in Brussels as Switzerland. Other countries like Poland, Romania, Czechia, Greece, and Portugal, which have significantly more inhabitants than Switzerland but are economically weaker, show a lower presence. High Exposure, Zero Say Andreas Dür, who has been involved in EU legislation and lobbying for years, explains the high presence of Swiss economic representatives mainly with exposure: About half of Swiss exports go to the EU. "Whoever supplies the internal market must comply with EU rules," says the political scientist from the University of Salzburg. Furthermore, Switzerland takes over a lot of EU law through bilateral agreements or in "autonomous replication." Official Switzerland has no say in the development of new laws in Brussels and has no members in the European Parliament. "Switzerland adopts rules without a vote. That is why direct presence in Brussels is often the only channel for influence for Swiss economic actors," says Dür. Numerous business representatives confirm this assessment. Companies from EU member states could bring their interests through national governments, writes a spokeswoman for the steel group Swiss Steel, which is also present in Brussels. "Swiss companies do not have this access because Switzerland is not an EU member." The export-oriented Swiss economy must do this work itself, says Stephan Jäggi, managing director of the Association of Free Automobile Dealers Switzerland (VFAS): "So, the exposure is high, the say is zero." Stefan Brupbacher, director of Swissmem, also speaks of an "institutional disadvantage" that needs to be compensated for. EU laws for Switzerland The high lobbying demand shows how many areas of EU regulations affect Swiss companies. A spokeswoman for Swiss Textiles, the association of the textile and clothing industry, says: "EU regulations have a direct impact on Swiss companies." The EU is the most important market for the industry with over 75 percent of its sales. If companies want to sell there, they must comply with EU laws, for example, on product safety, packaging, and labeling. Swiss car dealers also depend "almost entirely" on rules from Brussels, according to the VFA. The basis is the agreement on mutual recognition of conformity assessments from bilateral treaties: "For this recognition to work, Switzerland adopts the EU regulations on vehicle technology practically one-to-one," says VFA manager Jäggi. If they want to influence the framework conditions, they must therefore also act where they originate – in Brussels, not only in Bern. These are remarkable statements, especially against the backdrop of the debate on the new EU treaty package "Bilateral III." They are said to secure market access to the EU for Swiss companies in the long term and create the necessary stability for companies operating across borders. Monika Rühl, head of the business association Economiesuisse, is convinced that Switzerland can gain more influence when adopting the treaty package: "Thanks to the 'Decision Shaping' provided in the package, Switzerland gains additional opportunities to participate in the EU legislative process at an early stage and to place its concerns before the European institutions." The "Starting Disadvantage" Remains However, how much attention Swiss inputs receive in Brussels remains unclear. Business representatives do not agree on whether and how EU officials consider input from Switzerland. Andreas Dür knows no scientific study that compares the lobbying success of Swiss actors with that of actors from EU member states. He suspects a "starting disadvantage": "In Brussels, it is often seen that there are national coalitions." Governments feel responsible for their own business actors and represent their interests. "If that is gone, as in the case of Switzerland, the possible influence is almost necessarily lower." However, there are also points that speak in favor of the Swiss actors. Financial strength is important in lobbying, says Dür. "And in this regard, Swiss actors are very well positioned." Those who have the necessary financial means at least have the opportunity to gain access to the key decision-makers. This was also shown about a year ago outside Brussels, in the White House in Washington. A Swiss business delegation managed to get into the Oval Office there and gave President Donald Trump a Rolex watch and a engraved gold bar in November 2025. This contributed significantly to the US reducing tariffs on Swiss products from 39 to 15 percent. An article from the "NZZ am Sonntag"