On 23/24 November the delegations of the Swiss Federal Assembly and the European Parliament responsible for relations with one another will gather for their 35th inter-parliamentary annual meeting in Strasbourg. The talks will focus on institutional matters, the bilateral agreements, the implementation of the mass immigration initiative (free movement of persons), migration (Schengen/Dublin) and cooperation between Switzerland and the EU in fighting terrorism. Aspects regarding the shape of the European Single Market following the UK’s decision of 23 June to leave the EU, and questions regarding future trade strategies are also expected to be covered at the meeting.

Under the co-chairmanship of National Council member Thomas Aeschi (SVP/ZG) and Jørn Dohrmann MEP (EKR, Denmark), members of the EFTA/EU Delegation will meet representatives of the SINEEA Delegation of the European Parliament on 23/24 November for the 35th inter-parliamentary annual meeting in Strasbourg. The Delegation chairman, National Council member Thomas Aeschi, will be accompanied by National Council members Eric Nussbaumer (SP/BL), Hans-Peter Portmann (FDP/ZH), Kathy Riklin (CVP/ZH), Jean-François Rime (SVP/FR) and Council of States member Konrad Graber (CVP/LU). National Council member Roland Rino Büchel (SVP/SG) will attend the meeting in his capacity as president of the National Council Foreign Affairs Committee.

On the afternoon of Wednesday, 23 November, the delegates of the 35th inter-parliamentary annual meeting will discuss the state of bilateral relations and of ongoing talks concerning institutional issues in connection with the bilateral agreements (further development, interpretation and monitoring of the application of the agreements, and dispute resolution) with Claude Maerten, the head of the Western Europe Division of the European External Action Service (EAD), and Ambassador Urs Bucher, the head of the Swiss Mission to the EU in Brussels. Further core themes of the 35th inter-parliamentary meeting include ongoing talks regarding ways of steering and limiting immigration while safeguarding overall economic interests, migration issues in the context of Schengen/Dublin, and cooperation between Switzerland and the EU in fighting terrorism. Other matters likely to be covered at the talks include aspects regarding the shape of the European Single Market following the UK’s decision of 23 June to leave the EU, and the direction of future trade strategies in the context of a prolonged standstill in multilateral negotiations.

The members of the EFTA/EU delegations will be available to answer questions at 6.45pm on Wednesday evening, 23 November and at midday on Thursday, 24 November, in conference room F01102 (Pierre Pflimlin Building) of the European Parliament.