Strasbourg, 28/09/2005 (Agence Europe) - On Tuesday evening, Switzerland suggested that the European Union should reflect upon the idea of a framework agreement to oversee the 18 existing sector-specific agreements. After her meeting with the European External Affairs Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner, however, the Swiss minister for foreign affairs, Micheline Calmy-Rey, remained very cautious about this idea and did not reveal the possible content or the timetable. She simply commented that it would make it possible to avoid having a committee of experts set up for each agreement.
Benita Ferrero-Waldner was somewhat reserved, stressing it was “too early” to adopt a stance on the idea. The Commissioner stressed the importance of implementing the agreements already signed, mainly that on lifting the borders with Swiss participation in Schengen.
Micheline Calmy-Rey welcomed the announcement that a European Commission delegation would be established in Bern. “We have been waiting for this for a long while”, she said.