The new European Parliament took up its work on 2 July and has now appointed the members of its 20 committees and designated their chairs. The chairs of the standing parliamentary delegation of the EFTA states (Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Switzerland) are taking advantage of the plenary session on 9 October to meet with the newly elected chairs of a number of EU parliamentary committees of particular relevance to the EFTA states. Talks are scheduled to take place with representatives from the Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET), the Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection (IMCO), the Committee on International Trade (INTA) and the Committee on Transport and Tourism (TRAN). Also planned is a working lunch with Andreas Schwab, the newly elected chair of the European Parliament’s Delegation on Relations with Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and the EEA (DEEA Delegation).
During this visit the Swiss EFTA/EU delegation will be represented by its president, National Council member Hans-Peter Portmann (FDP, ZH) and vice president, National Council member Eric Nussbaumer (SP, BL). In addition to these EFTA-related talks, the two National Council members will also use their time in Brussels to hold bilateral meetings with a number of partners on recent developments in Switzerland’s European policy.