Brussels, 16/12/2014 (Agence Europe) - In conclusions on the state of relations with non-EU European countries adopted on Tuesday 16 December, the General Affairs Council acknowledged the cooling of relations between Switzerland and the EU since the Swiss referendum vote against mass immigration in February this year. It decided to open negotiations on association agreements with Andorra, San Marino and Monaco.
In general terms, the Council hails the “excellent” relations with the countries - Iceland, Norway, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Monaco, San Marino and Andorra. The tone, however, is sharply tougher with Switzerland, the EU delegations noting the outcome of the 9 February referendum. The Council takes the views that this “casts doubt” on the association of Switzerland to the Schengen and Dublin acquis and the participation of Switzerland in certain EU programmes. The EU expects Switzerland to honour its obligations arising from the agreement on the free movement of persons. The Council takes a tougher tone on the establishment of a common institutional framework through which Switzerland participates in the EU's internal market (negotiations since May). Without such a framework, the Council warns, no further agreements on Swiss participation in the internal market will be concluded. Agreements in other areas will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Furthermore, the Council strongly encourages Switzerland to “effectively and swiftly” remove five tax regimes, in line with the joint statement on business taxation signed in October (see EUROPE 11176), while expressing satisfaction with progress in talks on the automatic exchange of financial account information.
The Council granted the European Commission a mandate to open negotiations with the Principalities of Monaco and Andorra and the Republic of San Marino with a view to concluding association agreements. Talks could begin at the start of next year. (MD)