This is the first working meeting between the European Parliament’s newly constituted SINEEA Delegation and the Federal Assembly’s EFTA/EU Delegation. The first meeting was originally planned for October but was postponed until December so that the inaugural meeting of the SINEEA Delegation could take place beforehand. The working meeting on 18 December will be held in the European Parliament in Strasbourg.
The talks will focus on bilateral relations between Switzerland and the EU and the future institutional framework for these relations. In addition, the free movement of persons, migration issues and cooperation on research will be discussed. Ambassador Roberto Balzaretti, Head of the Swiss Mission to the EU in Brussels, and Gianluca Grippa, Head of the Western Europe Division at the EU External Action Service, will make introductory statements on the current status of bilateral relations and prospects for the future.
The Federal Assembly’s EFTA/EU Delegation is led by Delegation President, National Councillor Kathy Riklin (CVP/ZH). The other members of the Delegation are: National Councillor Thomas Aeschi (SVP/ZG), Delegation Vice-President, Councillor of States Didier Berberat (SP/NE), Councillor of States Konrad Graber (CVP/LU), National Councillor Jacques-André Maire (SP/NE) and National Councillor Eric Nussbaumer (SP/BL). In addition, the two vice-presidents of the Foreign Affairs Committee, National Councillor Roland Rino Büchel (SVP/SG) and Councillor of States Christian Levrat (SP/FR) will attend the working meeting in Strasbourg.
Bern, 17 December 2014 Parliamentary Services