Under the co-chairmanship of National Council member Thomas Aeschi (SVP/ZG) and MEP Jørn Dohrmann (ECR, Denmark), the members of the two delegations discussed the state of bilateral relations and of the ongoing talks concerning institutional issues in connection with the bilateral agreements with Mr Claude Maerten, Head of the Western Europe Division of the European External Action Service, and Ambassador Urs Bucher, Head of the Swiss Mission to the EU in Brussels.
The chairs of the two delegations, National Council member Thomas Aeschi and MEP Jørn Dohrmann, agreed that the bilateral path remains the best instrument for maintaining well-functioning relations between Switzerland and the EU, traditionally based on close partnership. It was in this context that the ongoing deliberations regarding implementation of the mass immigration initiative were addressed.
A further topic of discussion during the inter-parliamentary meeting was the high number of irregular entries into the Schengen area. Representatives from both delegations spoke in favour of better enforcing Schengen’s external border control with the aim of increasing security within the Schengen area so as to be able to continue to safeguard the freedom of movement. In this context, the European Commission’s proposal to set up a European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) and the use of new technologies at the Schengen border were also discussed. Overall, securing the Schengen border was a high priority according to both delegations.
In terms of fighting terrorism in Europe more effectively, representatives from both delegations favoured better checks along the Schengen border, together with measures to prevent radicalisation and improve international cooperation, particularly the exchange of information.
Members of the Federal Assembly Delegation in attendance:
Thomas AESCHI: Swiss People’s Party (Chair)
Konrad GRABER: Christian Democratic Party
Eric NUSSBAUMER: Social Democratic Party
Hans-Peter PORTMANN: FDP.The Liberals
Kathy RIKLIN: Christian Democratic Party
Jean-François RIME: Swiss People’s Party
Roland Rino BÜCHEL: Swiss People’s Party (President of the National Council Foreign Affairs Committee)
Members of the European Parliament Delegation in attendance:
Jørn DOHRMANN: ECR, Denmark(Chair)
Anna HEDH: S&D, Sweden (Vice-chair)
Mercedes BRESSO: S&D, Italy
Jill EVANS: The Greens/EFA
Norbert LINS: EPP, Germany
Angelika MILNAR: ALDE, Austria
Julia PITERA: EPP, Poland
Paul RUBIG: EPP, Austria
Andreas SCHWAB: EPP, Germany
Catherine STIHLER: S&D, UK
Danuta JAZŁOWIECKA: EPP, Poland (Rapporteur)
Abbreviations
ALDE: Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe
ECR: European Conservatives and Reformists
EVP: European People’s Party Christian-Democratic Group
S&D: Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats
The Greens/EFA: The Greens/European Free Alliance
Inter-parliamentary relations: 35th anniversary
The members of the delegations from the Federal Assembly and the European Parliament responsible for Swiss-EU relations have been meeting since 1981 to discuss topical events in Europe and in Switzerland. These meetings which take place alternately in Switzerland and the EU provide an opportunity to exchange views and information and thus foster mutual understanding between the two partners.
