 As a consequence, the Swiss Government suspended negotiations for EU accession until further notice.With the ratification of the "second" round of "bilateral treaties", the Swiss Federal Council downgraded their characterisation of a full EU membership of Switzerland from a "strategic goal" to an "option" in 2006.Membership continued to be the objective of the government and was a "long-term aim" of the Federal Council until 2016, when Switzerland's frozen application was withdrawn.