The 32nd EU-Switzerland Interparliamentary Meeting was held in the European Parliament in Brussels today. The European Parliament (EP) delegation, led by Mr Pat the Cope Gallagher (chairperson, ALDE, Ireland), hosted the meeting with the Swiss delegation, led by its chairperson Mr Didier BERBERAT (Social Democratic Party).

The Delegations held an exchange of views with the Chief Operating Officer of the European External Action Service (EEAS), Mr David O'SULLIVAN and the Swiss Ambassador to the EU, H.E. Mr Roberto BALZARETTI, on the institutional issues in EU-Switzerland relations. The Delegations noted the progress made in the exploratory talks between the EU and Switzerland on the institutional issues. The Chairmen urged both sides to continue the constructive dialogue in order to find a mutually satisfactory solution.

In view of the important role of the interparliamentary dialogue in facilitating the discussions on the institutional issues between the EU and Switzerland, the two Chairmen announced their intention to convene an extraordinary interparliamentary meeting between the EP and the Swiss Federal Assembly in the second half of 2013 in Switzerland, which would be dedicated to the institutional issues. The Chairmen also welcomed the intention to set up a parliamentary framework to accompany the dialogue at Executive level in relation to the institutional issues, as expressed by the Presidents of the EP and the Swiss Federal Assembly during their meeting on 21 March 2013 in Bern.

The Delegations also discussed the EU-Switzerland agreement on the free movement of persons and the safeguard clause. The Chairmen highlighted that the agreement on the free movement of persons has been beneficial for both sides, by boosting the Swiss economy and providing jobs for many Europeans.

The Interparliamentary Meeting focused furthermore on the following topics:

 

  1. Enlargement of the EU: current situation and future perspectives
  2. EU-Swiss cooperation in the area of Schengen governance
  3. Dialogue on fiscal issues between the EU and Switzerland
  4. EU measures in the area of financial services and access by Swiss financial service providers
  5. Economic and financial crisis in the Euro area
  6. Recent developments in energy policies in the EU and Switzerland

Members of the Swiss Parliament present:

Mr Didier BERBERAT   Social Democratic Party (Chairperson)
Ms Kathy RIKLIN    Christian Democratic Party (Vice Chair)
Mr Thomas AESCHI    Swiss People's Party
Mr Ignazio CASSIS    RDP. The Liberals
Ms Karin KELLER-SUTTER   RDP. The Liberals
Mr Eric NUSSBAUMER   Social Democratic Party
Mr Carlo SOMMARUGA   Social Democratic Party

Members of the EP Delegation present:

Mr Pat the Cope Gallagher    ALDE, Ireland (Chairperson)
Ms Zuzana BRZOBOHATÁ   S&D, Czech Republic
Ms Jolanta Emilia HIBNER   EPP, Poland
Ms Sidonia Elzbieta JEDRZEJEWSKA EPP, Poland
Ms Silvana KOCH-MEHRIN   ALDE, Germany
Mr Petru Constantin LUHAN  EPP, Romania
Mr Paul RÜBIG     EPP, Austria
Ms Catherine STIHLER    S&D, UK
Mr Theodor Dumitru STOLOJAN   EPP, Romania
Mr Andreas SCHWAB   EPP, Germany
Mr Indrek TARAND     Greens/EFA, Estonia 
Mr Rafał TRZASKOWSKI   EPP, Poland
Ms Angelika WERTHMANN   ALDE, Austria

* * *
Abbreviations:

EPP European People’s Party Christian-Democratic Group
S&D Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats
ALDE/ADLE Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe
Greens/EFA Greens/European Free Alliance

 

Brussels, 23 April 2013  Parliamentary services