During the plenary session (23-24 June 2021) in the European Parliament in Brussels, MEPs debate on the Future of EU-Swiss relations: extracts from the debate.

Brussels

statement

debate

EU - Switzerland (T)

ŠEFČOVIČ, Maroš (SK, EC)

GIEGOLD, Sven (Greens/EFA, DE)

SCHWAB, Andreas (EPP, DE)

GAMON, Claudia (Renew, AT)

SCHIEDER, Andreas (S&D, AT)

HOOGEVEEN, Michiel (ECR, NL)

The Future of EU-Swiss relations: extracts from the debate

SOUNDBITE (English), Maro&#353; &#352;EF&#268;OVI&#268;, Vice-President of the EC in charge of Interinstitutional relations and Foresight, The 26th May the Swiss Federal Council took the decision to terminate the negotiations on an institutional framework agreement between the EU and Switzerland. We regret this decision. The conclusion of this agreement was a priority for the European Union.

SOUNDBITE (English), Maro&#353; &#352;EF&#268;OVI&#268;, Vice-President of the EC in charge of Interinstitutional relations and Foresight, Switzerland is an important partner, both economically, as our fourth largest trading partner and politically, given our shared values. On a daily basis, the free movement of people and goods in particular nurtures a privileged relationship between us.

SOUNDBITE (English), Maro&#353; &#352;EF&#268;OVI&#268;, Vice-President of the EC in charge of Interinstitutional relations and Foresight, In 2020, about one point five million EU citizens were living in Switzerland and around four hundred thousand Swiss were living in the EU. Out of Switzerland's total workforce of around five million people, some twenty five percent were EU citizens.

SOUNDBITE (German), Helmut SCHOLZ (The Left, DE), We also have the one point five million EU citizens that live in Switzerland and the four hundred thousand Swiss citizens that live in the EU. So let me say on behalf of the left party is very important that you come to an agreement that puts these people at the heart of that.

SOUNDBITE (English), Maro&#353; &#352;EF&#268;OVI&#268;, Vice-President of the EC in charge of Interinstitutional relations and Foresight, According to its own data, Switzerland gains an estimated eighteen to twenty seven billion euros per year from its bilateral relations with the European Union. But despite these deep economic and social integration, there is no overarching framework governing Swiss participation in the internal market.

SOUNDBITE (English), Maro&#353; &#352;EF&#268;OVI&#268;, Vice-President of the EC in charge of Interinstitutional relations and Foresight, As time passes, our bilateral agreements are ageing. The EU and Switzerland free trade agreement was concluded 50 years ago, and the package of bilateral one and two agreements was concluded almost 20 years ago. Hence, without any modernisation of these agreements, our relations are inevitably eroding over time

SOUNDBITE (English), Maro&#353; &#352;EF&#268;OVI&#268;, Vice-President of the EC in charge of Interinstitutional relations and Foresight, We need time to carefully review our agreements with Switzerland. We should identify the problems precisely and find solutions. We are determined to find the best way possible for the bilateral relationship with Switzerland to work most effectively.

SOUNDBITE (German), Andreas SCHWAB (EPP, DE), The delegation for relations with Switzerland deeply regrets the ending of the negotiations. And we hope that it won't be the citizens that suffer from this decision. We hope that Switzerland, based on the full implementation of the existing agreement on free movement, will have this agreement for research and education.

SOUNDBITE (German), Andreas SCHIEDER (S&amp;D, AT), The agreements that are in place currently are outdated and can no longer provide the necessary answers. And we need to think of the interests of our citizens in dealing with the Swiss and both sides. The EU and Switzerland need to move towards each other and hopefully they can return to the negotiating table soon. The EU, ladies and gentlemen, is always willing to do that.

SOUNDBITE (German), Claudia GAMON (Renew, AT), What we need to do now is to look at the situation. We have one agreement after another running out, so we have to look at how we can work on our cooperation with Switzerland. We don't really have any alternative.

SOUNDBITE (German), Sven GIEGOLD (Greens/EFA, DE), I think it is important to be frank about the situation. When you have right wing populists in the government, you lose your ability to manoeuvre when it comes to foreign policy. We have seen this in the UK, we have seen this around the world and now we have seen this in Switzerland as well.

SOUNDBITE (German), Sven GIEGOLD (Greens/EFA, DE), What we want to avoid is any kind of trade war here. It's important that we focus on cooperation and finding solutions to work with our Swiss partners. Our door remains open.

SOUNDBITE (Dutch), Michiel HOOGEVEEN (ECR, NL), The imperialistic approach of the Commission is what the Swiss are rebelling against. And I would say to the Swiss, your position is laudable because you are defending the original value of trade.