Brussels, 19/03/2001 (Agence Europe) - The European Union and Switzerland agreed during a meeting last Friday on the list of issues that would be covered by the next round of bilateral negotiations. They fixed dates for exploratory meetings. Thus, the road is cautiously opened towards new bilateral agreements that put an end to the deadlock, which had mainly given rise to a "stormy" exchange of letters between Commissioner Chris Patten and Swiss Federal Councillor (Minister) for Foreign Affairs Joseph Deiss (see EUROPE of 24 February, p.10). Since the "no"-vote victory at the referendum on speeding up Swiss' EU membership, both parties are now moving towards bilateral talks considered by some as a medium-term alternative to accession.
Exploratory talks will be held between now and the end of April on all subjects: - the eight residual themes mentioned in the earlier bilateral agreements (see EUROPE of 23 February, p.12) as well as customs fraud, savings tax, judicial cooperation, police and asylum policy. Michael Ambühl, Swiss diplomat in Brussels, said on the sidelines of the meeting that the process with a view to the next round of negotiations has now begun and that it is quite possible first results will be achieved at the end of the summer. The Swiss government must decide on the negotiating mandates before end April. Both parties will hold regular coordination sessions, with the first being held early May in Bern. The EU made the beginning of bilateral negotiation subject to the inclusion of fraud and savings tax in the list of subjects to be tackled. Switzerland, for its part, seems to have gained satisfaction, since the Schengen problem is on the list. Mr Ambühl specified, very subtly, that it is initially a matter of having exploratory discussions on fraud and that there would perhaps be a mandate for discussion on savings taxation.