Brussels, 21/12/2015 (Agence Europe) - On Monday 21 December in Brussels, the President of Switzerland, Simonetta Sommaruga, had a meeting with the President of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker and the Luxembourg Minister for Foreign Affairs, Jean Asselborn. The two parties, however, were still unable to provide an acceptable solution to the situation resulting from the people's referendum on 9 February 2014 on the question of European migrant workers.
Jean-Claude Juncker pointed out that “After 10 rounds of technical consultations, we have still not succeeded in bringing our positions closer together”. The President of the European Commission also indicated that the Swiss President and government would not find it easy responding to the problem by activating the safeguard clause as was decided on 4 December last (see EUROPE 11447) by the Federal Council. The latter indicated that it wanted to apply the 2014 initiative against mass immigration by using a safeguard clause, “Unilaterally, if necessary, whilst attempting to reach an acceptable solution with the EU”.
Juncker explained on Monday that this safeguard clause would only be possible with an agreement with the EU and that “A safeguard clause that Switzerland can activate on its own is not on the cards”. Simonetta Sommaruga indicated that the two parties had “now begun to talk to each other” but “I cannot yet say” whether an agreement will be reached with Brussels.
The EU, however, has not entirely ruled out this safeguard clause (included in Article 14.2 of the agreement on the free movement of people in 2002) and discussions will continue on the interpretation of this safeguard clause and the economic and social criteria for implementing it. The European Commission and Switzerland have also set out another date at the end of February for reaching a compromise and drawing up a balance sheet of the possible progress made on this issue. (Original version in French by Solenn Paulic)