​The delegations responsible for mutual relations from the Swiss Federal Assembly and the European Parliament met today for talks in Strasbourg. Matters discussed at the meeting, chaired by Kathy Riklin (CVP/ZH) and Jørn Dohrmann (ECR, Denmark), included bilateral relations between Switzerland and the EU.

​On 18 December, members of the EFTA/EU Delegation, together with the vice-presidents of the foreign affairs committees of the National Council and Council of States met at the European Parliament in Strasbourg for the first time with the members of the newly elected SINEEA Delegation responsible for relations with Switzerland.

The members of the two delegations discussed bilateral relations and the future institutional framework with the Head of the Western Europe Division at the EU External Action Service, Gianluca GRIPPA, and the Head of the Swiss Mission to the EU in Brussels, Ambassador Roberto BALZARETTI. Special prominence was given to ongoing efforts to reconcile the Agreement on Free Movement of Persons with the autonomy over immigration policy demanded by the “Stop mass immigration” initiative. The heads of both delegations, National Councillor Kathy RIKLIN and MEP Jørn DOHRMANN, stressed the common interest of Switzerland and the EU in upholding the existing bilateral agreements and in continuing talks, in particular institutional negotiations, in parallel with the discussions on free movement of persons.

Migration issues in the context of Schengen/Dublin were also raised. The delegations agreed that migration flows via the Mediterranean represent a special challenge for both the EU and Switzerland. The current Italian Council presidency has made dealing with persistently high migratory pressure, especially in the Mediterranean region, a priority issue. In the context of cooperating on Schengen/Dublin, solutions will be sought for dealing with migratory pressure and for bolstering existing systems.

In addition, cooperation on research under the Horizon 2020 and Erasmus programmes was discussed. Members of both delegations welcomed the signature of the agreement associating Switzerland to the Horizon 2020 package, which allows researchers from Switzerland to participate fully in selected parts of the programme. They expressed the hope that a solution in relation to free movement of persons and its extension to include Croatia will be found by 9 February 2017, which would mean that the association agreement would automatically be extended to all parts of the Horizon programme from 1 January 2017.


Members of the Federal Assembly Delegation in attendance:

​Kathy RIKLIN ​Christian Democratic Party (President)
​Thomas AESCHI ​Swiss People's Party (Vice-President)
​Didier BERBERAT Social Democratic Party
​Konrad GRABER ​Christian Democratic Party
​Jacques-André MAIRE ​Social Democratic Party
​Eric NUSSBAUMER Social Democratic Party
​Roland Rino BÜCHEL ​Swiss People's Party (Vice-President Foreign Affairs Committee)
​Christian LEVRAT Social Democratic Party (Vice-President Foreign Affairs Committee)
 

Members of the European Parliament Delegation in attendance:

​Jørn DOHRMANN ​ECR, Denmark (Chair)
​Michel DANTIN EPP, France
​Norbert LINS EPP, Germany
​Julia PITERA ​EPP, Poland
​Fançoise GROSSETÊTE ​EPP, France
​Paul RUBIG EPP, Austria
​Andreas SCHWAB EPP, Germany
​Mercedes BRESSO ​S&D, Italy
​Catherine STIHLER ​S&D, United Kingdom
​Kerstin WESTPHAL ​S&D, Germany
​Kay SWINBURNE ​EFDD, United Kingdom
​Jill EVANS ​Greens/EFA, United Kingdom

 

Abbreviations ​
​ECR ​European Conservatives and Reformists
​EPP European People’s Party Christian-Democratic Group
​S&D Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats
​EFDD ​Europe of Freedom and Direct Democracy
​Greens/EFA Greens/European Free Alliance

 

 

Strasbourg, 18 December 2014 Parliamentary Services