During the official talks between the Speaker of the House of Commons, John Bercow, and the Leader of the House of Lords, Baroness Evans of Bowes Park, the members of the EFTA/EU Delegation will discuss the state of negotiations to leave the EU, the modalities of the legally binding withdrawal agreement, and the key points of the political declaration on the UK’s future relationship with the EU. The Parliamentary Process of Withdrawal from the EU, particularly the ratification of the withdrawal agreement by the UK Parliament, will be of particular interest in that regard.
Questions relating to the Irish border, particularly the form of the so-called backstop, a customs arrangement to prevent the reintroduction of (physical) border checks between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, will be the main topic during discussions with the Chair of the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee, Dr Andrew Murrison MP, and other members of the committee.
Delegation members will also meet with Lord Griffiths of Fforestfach and members of the British-Swiss All-Party Parliamentary Group, for detailed discussions on the shape of the UK’s future trade relations with the EU and Switzerland. The members of the EFTA/EU Delegation will then have the opportunity to attend Prime Minister’s Question Time in the House of Commons, when Theresa May is held to account on the work of her government.
In the second half of the week, official meetings are scheduled to take place in Dublin with the Chairperson of the Dáil, Seán Ó Fearghaíl TD, and the Chairperson of the Seanad, Denis O'Donovan. These talks are expected to cover various aspects of the UK’s ongoing EU withdrawal negotiations from an Irish perspective. Particular attention will be given to the Irish border issue. During the official visit to the Irish Parliament talks are also scheduled to take place with members of the Joint Parliamentary Committee on European Union Affairs and with members of the Joint Parliamentary Committee on Foreign Affairs, Trade and Defence.
The Delegation members will round off their two-day stay in the Republic of Ireland by conducting an onsite visit to the border between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland and holding talks with civil society and business representatives. Of particular interest is the legal shape of the backstop mentioned earlier.
The EFTA/EU Delegation will be represented at these official meetings in London and Dublin by its chair, Council of States president Karin Keller-Sutter (FDP, SG), its vice chair, National Council member Eric Nussbaumer (SP, BL), National Council members Kathy Riklin (CVP, ZH), Thomas Aeschi (SVP, ZG), Hans-Peter Portmann (FDP, ZH) and Jean-François Rime (SVP,FR), as well as Council of States members Hannes Germann (SVP, SH) and Konrad Graber (CVP, LU). Council of States member Filippo Lombardi (CVP, TI) will also attend the talks in his capacity as chair of the Council of States Foreign Affairs Committee.