6–7 November 2017

​The Delegation for Relations with the French Parliament (Del-F) travelled to Paris on 6 and 7 November at the invitation of the French Senate. It attended talks with the Senate’s Franco-Swiss interparliamentary friendship group on cooperation between the two countries and France’s new territorial organisation. During the visit, the delegation learnt about current political change in France. Elected in a system of indirect universal suffrage by electoral representatives in the regions, many new members joined the Senate in September 2017, namely 171 out of 348. The right wing parties (Republicans and allied parties) nonetheless managed to preserve their absolute majority following this election.

While in Paris, the Del-F also met with Senator Daniel Dubois (Somme, Union Centriste), member of the economic affairs committee, and the Senate vice president Catherine Troendlé (Haut-Rhin, The Republicans) to discuss increasing cooperation in the field of science, research and technology transfer. The delegation also visited the SNCF headquarters in Saint-Denis and discussed with company representatives the issues of data transparency, crisis communication and digitalisation. Rail links between Switzerland and France were also addressed, and a presentation of the CEVA project (rail line between Geneva and Annemasse) was given by Armelle Laugier, the deputy director of LEMANIS, which is a joint undertaking between the CFF and the SNCF for CEVA. The CEO of LYRIA, Andréas Bergmann, also presented to the Del-F changes to the TGV service between Switzerland and France and the investments his company intends to make to renew the LYRIA fleet.

As its president, Fathi Derder (PLR/VD) headed the delegation, and was accompanied by delegation vice presidentLiliane Maury Pasquier (Council of States, SP/GE), Alice Glauser-Zufferey (National Council, SVP/VD), Manuel Tornare (National Council, SP/GE) and Olivier Français (Council of States, FDP/VD).

The Senate Franco-Swiss friendship group, comprising senators from all political groups, is chaired by Senator Cyril Pellevat (Haute-Savoie, The Republicans).