The Federal Council’s decision to break off negotiations on an institutional agreement has created a new point of departure for bilateral relations between Switzerland and the EU. The EFTA/EU Delegation will discuss the state of relations with various parties during its visit to Brussels, placing a focus on the question of how bilateral cooperation can be stabilised and continued in the absence of an institutional agreement. Switzerland’s payment of a second contribution to individual EU member states will also be discussed, along with future cooperation in the areas of education, research and innovation.
The delegation’s working meeting with Maroš Šefčovič, Vice-President of the EU’s Inter-institutional Relations and Foresight Commission, will be a key point on the visit’s agenda. Mr Šefčovič spoke as a representative of the European Commission on the future of EU-Swiss relations at the European Parliament’s plenary session of 23 June. In addition to various other talks, the delegation will take advantage of its stay in Brussels to exchange views with the new head of the Mission of Switzerland to the European Union, Ambassador Rita Adam.
The EFTA/EU Delegation will be represented in Brussels by its president, National Council member Eric Nussbaumer (SP, BL), National Council members Thomas Aeschi (SVP, ZG), and Hans-Peter Portmann (FDP, ZH), and Councillors of States Damian Müller (FDP, LU) and Carlo Sommaruga (SP, GE).
Information for journalists
On Wednesday, 8 September 2021 (at around 4.30pm) there will be a press call with the Delegation in the Swiss Mission to the European Union in Brussels. The contact person at the Swiss Mission is Raphaël Saborit (raphael.saborit@eda.admin.ch; +32 475 47 72 06).