Following the recent publication of the outcome of negotiations on an institutional agreement between Switzerland and the EU, the 51st meeting of the Joint EEA Committee provides a welcome opportunity to discuss the next steps with members of the European Parliament’s Standing Delegation for relations with Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and the EEA (SINEEA Delegation), in particular the forthcoming consultation on the draft agreement. Further information on the 51st meeting of the Joint Parliamentary Committee of the EEA along with documentation from the meeting can be obtained by clicking on the links.
The EEA Joint Committee brings together the European Parliament’s Standing Delegation for relations with Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and the EEA (SINEEA Delegation) and the standing Parliamentary Delegations of the three EEA/EFTA countries (Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein). Switzerland enjoys observer status on the Joint Parliamentary Committee and will be represented at the 51st meeting by Delegation vice president, National Council member Eric Nussbaumer (SP, BL) and National Council members Kathy Riklin (CVP, ZH) and Hans-Peter Portmann (FDP, ZH).
The members of the EFTA/EU Delegation held a regular meeting in Bern on 11 December. At the meeting, delegation members conferred the presidency of the delegation for 2019 on National Council member Hans-Peter Portmann. The role had previously been held by Karin Keller-Sutter up until her election to the Federal Council. The delegation members also paid farewell to their delegation secretary Cédric Stucky, who will take on a new role as personal advisor to Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis at the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs in the new year.