The President of the Confederation, Viola Amherd, and the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, officially opened negotiations between Switzerland and the European Union on Monday 18 March 2024, in the presence of the chief negotiators from both parties. The President of the Confederation gave a press briefing at the Press Club Brussels Europe following her meeting with President Ursula von der Leyen and the Executive Vice-President of the European Commission, Maroš Šefčovič. In addition to bilateral relations between Switzerland and the EU, the participants also discussed the geopolitical and security challenges facing Europe.