04/12/2002 (Agence Europe) - The European Union and Switzerland held a fourth negotiating session in Brussels on Tuesday, on Berne's signing up to the Schengen Agreement on the abolition of border controls and that of Dublin on examining requests for asylum. The two sides examined a firs draft agreement based on the model of the association agreement the EU concluded with Norway and Iceland. Knowing that the Fifteen are in the process of finalising the adoption of a new Dublin II regulation that will replace the Dublin Convention, "the parties agreed that discussions over a draft association agreement with Switzerland …. will begin as soon as the work on the revision is over", said the Swiss delegation in a press release. Regarding Schengen, disagreements remain on the scope of mutual legal assistance and on the adoption of new Schengen provisions once Switzerland has joined (EUROPE of 7/8 October, p.12). The next negotiating session will be held in Brussels on 16 December.