Brussels, 01/12/2006 (Agence Europe) - European External Relations and neighbourhood Policy Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner and Micheline Calmy-Rey, the Federal foreign affairs Adviser, met on Thursday 30 November to discuss matters of moment for the European Union and Switzerland. A framework agreement, encompassing the twenty or so existing bilateral agreements, to simplify relations between the two partners, was discussed.
“We are going to continue to reflect on the possibility of a framework agreement for our bilateral agreements in order to simplify management and facilitate the dialogue between Switzerland and the EU,” said Ms Calmy-Rey (see EUROPE 9229). She said, too, that there had been meetings of expert groups on this matter, but hitherto there had not yet been any “political assessment on the content” of the agreement. The idea, she said, could be to set up a “general joint committee” on sectoral bilateral agreements. On the internal level, the Swiss authorities could use this to improve coordination of operations carried out by their services. Ms Ferrero-Waldner tried to describe the mechanism planned: “It would be a hat which would cover the bilateral agreements”. Asked whether this framework agreement would take its inspiration from the agreement linking the EU and Russia, she was unwilling to comment, since various possible models were being examined. There could be “a joint committee” she suggested nevertheless.
Mesdames Ferrero-Waldner and Calmy-Rey welcomed the positive outcome of the referendum of 26 November on the Swiss contribution to the economic and social development of the ten new Member States (see EUROPE 9315). “This vote is a clear expression of Switzerland's solidarity and serves its interests in the prospect of closer cooperation with the EU,” said the Commissioner. Ms Calmy-Rey said the Yes vote in the recent referendum “is an important step on the bilateral way” and “bears witness to the desire of the Swiss people to show solidarity with the construction of a stable and social Europe” and “of a Switzerland prepared to accept its responsibilities on the European continent”. Buoyed by this success, the partners spoke of the priorities for the future: renewal of agreements on research (with a contribution from the Swiss Confederation to the 7th FPRD), audiovisual (MEDIA), education, training and youth. In 2007, talks will begin with a view to an agreement on the “internal electricity market” (see EUROPE 9294° SAID Ms Ferrero-Waldner. Discussions will also be held on Switzerland's involvement in the Galileo project and the “liberalisation of trade in agricultural products”.
The matter of the tax incentives which some Swiss cantons offer European companies came up again. Ms Calmy-Rey was firm: “Switzerland is not part of the European internal market, so European competition and state aid rules do not apply in Switzerland. Like all other states, Switzerland does its best to provide a favourable and attractive framework and the tax regime for companies is an important factor in this. We do not share the same point of view. There are no contractual arrangements between the EU and Switzerland, which would require Switzerland to harmonise its company regulation with that of the EU. Consequently, there can be no infringement of an agreement”. Ms Ferrero-Waldner tried to be more conciliatory: “We are not against tax competition insofar as it is fair and non-discriminatory”. She promised the issue would be monitored, particularly at the meeting of the joint EU-Switzerland on 14 December.
Finally, Ms Ferrero-Waldner welcomed the fact that “in January 2007, our delegation in Bern will begin to operate”. She recalled that Dr Michael Reiterer had been appointed in October to head this Commission delegation (see EUROPE 9281). (mb)