On Tuesday 15 October in Luxembourg, European affairs ministers of the EU27 discussed the state of negotiations with Switzerland and the preparation of a new package of bilateral agreements.
The Hungarian Minister for European Affairs, János Bóka, believes that the discussion helped provide the Commission with “guidelines” and a reminder of the importance of making substantial progress, in parallel, on all the agreements under discussion (see EUROPE 13503/22), with a view to “completing them by the end of the year”. This objective was reiterated by the ministers, who want to seize “the positive momentum” to achieve it, he stressed.
Earlier, the Vice-President of the European Commission, Maroš Šefčovič, also stated that the talks (more than 120 rounds of negotiations have taken place since March, editor’s note) “are progressing well on many fronts, at a good pace and with the balance agreed in our joint agreement” of November 2023.
“We are working on a single package of solutions that must respect the EU’s global approach”, he added. “Intensive work will continue, particularly on the free movement of people”, the Vice-President also stressed.
Free movement is one of the thorniest issues. Switzerland would like to be able to unilaterally activate a clause suspending agreements with the EU on the free movement of workers in the event of tensions in its labour market.
“The free movement of people is clearly the most sensitive issue, and what is very clearly in the interests of the European Union is that our citizens should be treated fairly”, commented the Vice-President. “We are working very hard with our Swiss counterparts to find a solution to this very important issue. But, after very in-depth discussions with all the ministers of the EU Member States, I can also tell you that there is no new support for unilateral safeguard clauses, as has been conveyed to our Swiss partners in numerous contacts”, he explained.
On Tuesday morning, the Luxembourg minister, Xavier Bettel, recalled the “political, economic, financial and research interests” that unite the two parties. But “Europe is not à la carte, there are common rules for all”, referring to the unilateral safeguard clause.
“Free movement is part of the EU’s Internal market. It’s also what makes us successful. (...) Our economic areas are closely linked, so of course it’s important that tradespeople and commuters can get to work and create the prosperity we all enjoy here”, commented Germany’s Minister of State for European Affairs, Anna Lührmann.
According to a diplomatic source, the meeting was to be an opportunity for Member States to reiterate the “full support [of the Member States] to the Commission in pursuing and finalising these negotiations. We call on it to continue to ensure that the mandate given to it by the Council is respected, and in particular the ‘package’ approach”.
For the Europeans, it is not only a question of finding a new, stable framework for the EU’s relations with Switzerland, but also “of ensuring that the integrity of the Internal market, of which the free movement of persons forms an integral part, is preserved. The Swiss negotiators should be reminded of this”, according to this source. And “there is no reason to drag our feet or go beyond this deadline” - the end of 2024 - because an “agreement will also mean the prospect of Switzerland joining the ‘Horizon Europe’ programme”. (Original version in French by Solenn Paulic)