Brussels, 30/04/2014 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday 30 April, the committee of permanent representatives from the member states to the EU (Coreper) approved without debate the Council decision authorising negotiations to be opened between the EU and Switzerland on an institutional framework governing their future bilateral relations. Future relations focus on all areas of market access, like electricity.
Alongside the adoption of the interinstitutional negotiation mandate between Switzerland and the EU, a Council statement (to be included in the minutes) notes in substance that Switzerland can no longer be eligible for full participation in Community programmes such as Erasmus+ or the research framework programme (Horizon 2020) - due to the 9 February vote limiting mass immigration. This paves the way for Switzerland's intermediary participation - between full participation and the status of third country - says a source. The idea is to allow Switzerland to benefit, to a certain extent, from Community programmes.
The full and complete participation of Switzerland in Community programmes is not possible, according to the European Commission, until Switzerland has clearly explained what it intends to do on the free movement of persons. On 26 February, the Commission announced that Switzerland would no longer participate in the Horizon 2020 and Erasmus+ programmes other than as a third country. This decision came after negotiations were frozen on Swiss participation in these programmes due to the 9 February vote on immigration and the decision of the Swiss Federal Council to suspend extending freedom of movement to Croatia.
Swiss commitments.
At the same time, a statement from the government has been issued in which Switzerland makes commitments in particular on the rights acquired by European citizens who work in Switzerland, and on Croatian workers. Indeed, on Wednesday 30 April, the Swiss Federal Council took measures to “relaunch the discussions with the EU concerning the participation of Switzerland in the European programmes and market access”. It presented a solution to the issue of accepting quotas of Croatian nationals to the Swiss labour market. The Federal Council also confirmed payment of the contribution to enlargement in favour of Croatia. “The implementation of the measures planned should relaunch the negotiations in different files - in particular on research, training, electricity and the trading of emission quotas”, Switzerland stated in a press release.
Separate quotas for Croatia. The discussions and negotiations being conducted on several files between Switzerland and the EU have been suspended due to the fact that - after the initiative on mass immigration won majority support - the Federal Council was not able to sign the initial version of the memorandum on extending free movement to Croatia. After that point, the Federal Council was in search of a solution aiming not to discriminate against Croatia. The measures taken by Switzerland are the result of discussions conducted by representatives from the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (DFAE) and from the Federal Department of Justice and Police (DFJP) with the EU and its member states, including Croatia, the Swiss Federal Council states in a press release. Switzerland is looking to grant Croatian nationals separate quotas under the admission of nationals from third countries to the Swiss labour market. These quotas concern 50 residence permits per year (B) and 450 short-term residence permits (L), as had been provided for by the EU-Croatia memorandum of understanding initialled in 2013. The entry into force of these quotas is planned for 1 July 2014. Switzerland is proposing this solution without being able to sign the memorandum. Furthermore, Switzerland commits to recognising Croatian professional qualifications that relate to the Swiss Confederation's area of competence. In particular, this means certain qualifications relating to the areas of health, care, training, agriculture, sport and construction.
Contribution to enlargement. The Federal Council confirmed its 45 million Swiss franc contribution to enlargement in favour of Croatia, and approved a memorandum on this with the EU. It thus intends to treat Croatia in the same way as the new EU member states - in other words, those that have joined since 2004.
“If applicable, the resumption of the discussions and negotiations will enable appropriate solutions to be found to the issue of Switzerland's participation in the EU framework programmes in the areas of research and innovation, but also of general and vocational training, of youth and of sport, as well as regarding support to the cinema (MEDIA)”, Switzerland hopes (our translation throughout).
Keeping the rights acquired. The Federal Council also stated that the rights previously acquired by the nationals of EU countries who already live or work in Switzerland will be maintained under Article 23 of the agreement on the free movement of persons (AFMP) - even should the AFMP be denounced. Swiss nationals are subject to the same conditions within the EU.
Negotiations on an agreement on electricity, which are currently frozen, could be resumed shortly due to the unblocking on the framework agreement on institutional issues. This agreement is due to govern Switzerland's access to the European market on a unified institutional basis.
Timetable. The result of the 9 February vote involves national management of migration by means of quotas and the introduction of a national preference (this having to be in the interest of the economy). By the summer, the Swiss minister for justice will present an implementation concept which will be discussed. By the end of the year, a draft implementing law should be presented. Switzerland has three years to implement this legislation. (LC)