Brussels, 03/04/2014 (Agence Europe) - Will the EU soon be resuming full trade relations with Switzerland, which is on the point of reaching an agreement with Croatia? Last week the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Yves Rossier, travelled to Zagreb and a compromise was reached with the Croatian government with regard to application of the free-trade protocol for Croatian workers. This protocol is at the crux of the dispute between Switzerland and the EU and will therefore not be signed in compliance with what was demanded with the referendum on 9 February. On Wednesday 2 April, a source close to the dossier, however, indicated that the substance of this protocol would actually be applied.
The two parties agreed on the gradual opening up of the Swiss labour market to Croatian nationals and their non-discrimination in relation to treatment received by other European citizens. In the first year, Croatian workers will therefore be granted around 50 long-term work permits (five years) and around 450 short-term permits (one year), indicated the same source.
On Thursday 3 April, the Croatian government itself officially confirmed this agreement in principle and confirmed its “satisfaction” with it, according to several Croatian media sources. There is one problem, however: this “pragmatic” formula is not currently very much appreciated by the Commission and the European External Action Service (EEAS). One observer asked the following, “We know the Croatians agree but why is the EEAS still blocking things?”
One source at the EEAS simply indicated on Thursday 3 April that no official proposal had been addressed by Switzerland to the Commission on the question of a possible compromise. The EEAS also explained that if the situation affects Croatian citizens, it would not be a bilateral dossier and it would be tackled by both the Swiss government and the EU. The Commission and the EEAS are therefore expecting an official approach to be made by the Swiss authorities.
This seemingly attractive proposal made to Croatia will not, however, see the light of day as long as the EU refuses to resume the programmes frozen with Switzerland, such as Erasmus+ and Horizon 2020. Switzerland is expecting guarantees in return and one source pointed out that, “If the Commission is opposed to it, it won't work”. This same source, which knows the dossier well, is hoping that the Commission will prove more flexible and will stop, “punishing” the Swiss for a dispute that barely involves “50 work permits”.
There will also be a number of other subjects that are just as sensitive to resolve, such as the introduction in three years time of quotas for European workers, as demanded by the 50.3% of voters who voted against “mass immigration” on 9 February last (our translation throughout). (SP)