The article presents the agreements, institutional structures, and mechanisms that govern cooperation between Switzerland and the EU in justice and home affairs. It starts with illuminating the main interests that guide and constrain the Swiss Government’s efforts to regulate cooperation. They have been moulded into a distinct political strategy which will be introduced and specified with respect to the cooperation model it has brought about. Against this background deficits and limitations of the present approach will be analysed to test its potential for becoming an option for the future UK–EU relationship. In this regard the special economic, political, and geographic position of Switzerland will be looked at and taken into account.