Components of bilateral agreements with the EU

The Agreement on the free movement of persons between Switzerland and the EU came into force on 1 June 2002. Annex II to this agreement contains provisions on the coordination of social security schemes between Switzerland and EU member states.

The aim of the coordination provisions is to ensure that someone moving to another country to live or work is not disadvantaged as a result. They are based on the coordination provisions applicable within the EU, namely Regulation (EC) No. 883/2004 (similar to a social security agreement) and Regulation (EC) No. 987/2009 (implementing provisions).

Under the Agreement on the free movement of persons between Switzerland and the EU, relations with EU member states, since 1 April 2012, have been governed by the provisions of Regulation (EC) No. 883/2004 and its implementing provisions, Regulation (EC) No. 987/2009, which regulate the coordination of social security systems within Europe.

Information about Brexit can be found on the FSIO website.

Amendments to the social security provisions in Appendix 2 to Annex K to the EFTA Convention came into effect on 1 January 2016. Since then, Regulations (EC) No. 883/2004 and (EC) No. 987/2009 have also been applicable to relations between Switzerland and the other EFTA member states (Liechtenstein, Norway and Iceland).

Regulations (EEC) No. 1408/71 and No. 574/72 are now only applicable in certain cases (cf. transitional provisions of Regulations (EC) No. 883/2004 and No. 987/2009).

The links to the acts and the documents can be found on this page under ‘Legislation ’: