Brussels, 08/06/2009 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday 4 June, the European Commission submitted proposals for decisions to the EU Council of Ministers on the signature and conclusion of an arrangement between the European Community and the Swiss Confederation and the Principality of Liechtenstein on the technical details of the involvement of these two states in the European Agency for the Management of Operational Cooperation at the External Borders of the Member States of the European Union.
In line with the directive setting up Frontex [(EC) No 2007/2004], countries associated with the
implementation, application and development of the Schengen acquis, as is the case for Switzerland and Liechtenstein, participate in the Agency. Thus, in February 2007, the European Community concluded an arrangement with Iceland and Norway on their involvement in Frontex. On 11 March 2008, the European Commission opened negotiations with Bern and Vaduz with a view to concluding a similar arrangement. These negotiations were completed on 19 January 2009 and a draft arrangement was initialled. The Commission is now proposing that member states proceed to the signature and conclusion of this draft. The arrangement refers to the following issues: - the limited voting rights of representatives of Switzerland and Liechtenstein on the Management Board of the Agency; - the financial contribution by the two states to the budget of the Agency; - protection and confidentiality of data; - the legal status of the Agency in Switzerland and Liechtenstein; - the liability of the Agency; - recognition by Switzerland and Liechtenstein of the jurisdiction of the Court of Justice of the European Communities over the Agency; - privileges and immunities of the Agency and its staff; - access for nationals of Switzerland and Liechtenstein to be engaged under contract by the Executive Director of the Agency. The text of the proposals may be seen at http: //eur-lex.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=COM: 2009: 0255: FIN: EN: PDF (O.L./transl./rt)