Switzerland is stepping up talks with the European Union after a new treaty governing bilateral relations failed last year, the country's cabinet said Friday, Reuters reported.

Years of talks to tie Switzerland more closely to the European Union's single market ended last year when Bern rejected a 2018 draft treaty cementing ties with its largest trading partner.

The decision meant that more than 100 bilateral agreements that ensure seamless cross-border trade were in jeopardy, as Brussels promised not to grant Switzerland any new market access without a new comprehensive treaty.

In February, the Swiss Foreign Ministry began negotiations with the EU to break the deadlock.

After being briefed on the progress of the negotiations, the cabinet decided to intensify preliminary talks with the EU on this basis, the statement said.

Cabinet proposals include full application of internal market agreements such as free movement of people, rules governing land and air transport, agriculture and mutual technical recognition of products such as cars, medical and electrical appliances.

Other proposals include associate status for Switzerland in future EU programs in areas such as scientific research, and new agreements on electricity, food safety and health care.

The Swiss cabinet said a preliminary analysis showed that the EU is generally receptive to the Swiss proposals, although negotiations have been delayed because of the conflict in Ukraine, and only two rounds of discussions have taken place so far.

The Swiss government has said it wants talks to continue and has called on Brussels to be more flexible if an agreement is reached.