Switzerland collaborates closely with the European Union (EU) on environmental matters. It has been a member of the European Environment Agency since 1 April 2006 and has succeeded in consolidating its relations with the EU in various sectors. Switzerland's environmental legislation has already been harmonised with EU regulations to a significant extent in a number of sectors.
The FOEN raises issues of concern to Switzerland in the context of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), particularly in the following priority areas: the strengthening of UNEP as a central pillar of the global environmental regime, chemicals and waste, the implementation of environmental conventions, the closing of gaps in international regulations, monitoring and assessment, as well as the implementation of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
