DELEGATION FOR RELATIONS WITH SWITZERLAND, ICELAND, AND NORWAY
MINUTES OF THE MEETING
Thursday, 14 June 2001
STRASBOURG
Contents Page
1. Adoption of the draft agenda (PE 304.342) ...... 2
2. Approval of the minutes of the meeting of 21 March 2001 held in Brussels (PE 304.331) ...... 2
With a view to the 20th EP-Switzerland Interparliamentary meeting to be held in Prangins on 9-10 July 2001
3. Briefings by : ...... 2
- H.E. Dante MARTINELLI, Ambassador, Mission of Switzerland to the EU, on the situation in Switzerland and on relations with the EU - Mr Matthias BRINKMANN, representing the European Commission, on EU-Switzerland relations
followed by an exchange of views
4. Consideration of the draft programme and the draft agenda of the ...... 3 interparliamentary meeting - nomination of first EP speakers
5. Any other business ...... 3
6. Date and place of the next meeting ...... 4
______3 July 2001 HO/kn Annex : Attendance list
FdR 446373 PE 304.376 The meeting opened at 9.50 with Mr FOLIAS, Chairman, in the Chair. Mr SIMPSON was excused.
*****
1. The draft agenda was approved.
2. The minutes were adopted.
3. Ambassador MARTINELLI briefed the delegation on the situation in Switzerland and on its relations with the EU emphasising that Switzerland was on its way to finish the ratification procedure for the 7 bilateral EU-Switzerland agreements following the positive outcome of the referendum in March 2001. He also commented on the preparations for further bilateral agreements to be started in 2001. Following matters were expected to be dealt with in the forthcoming negotiations: The Schengen Agreement, the Dublin Convention on asylum policy, improvement of co-operation in the field of statistics, environmental protection, agriculture products and participation in EU programmes on education, youth and audio-visual matters (Socrates, Leonardo da Vinci Youth Media and Media Plus). The Swiss side was waiting for a political sign from the EU to start negotiations.
Answering to a question from Mrs WALLIS, the Ambassador was of the opinion that the UK was quite advanced in its ratification procedure of the agreements.
Mr CASACA brought up the tragic death of a baby of a Portuguese mother in the Swiss canton of Geneva. The mother had been arrested and it took the police 24 days before they visited the mother's home where the baby had died from starvation.
The Ambassador stated that this tragic event was investigated by the Swiss authorities and that he was at the disposal of the delegation for further information.
The Chairman deplored the tragic death of the child and expected further clarification on this matter.
Mr BRINKMANN, representing the Commission, commented on the possible start of new negotiations with Switzerland underlining that the EU's main demands were for improved co-operation on combating international fraud and savings tax evasions. It was the Commission's impression that Switzerland was lacking the will to co-operate on these matters, giving priority to negotiation on the Schengen Agreement.
The money laundering issue also created problems due to the Swiss rules on prosecution in its criminal laws.
FdR 4463732 PE 304.376 The Chairman concluded in saying that it was essential to start negotiations on less controversial matters first and then deal with the more heavy items later.
4. The Chairman presented the draft programme.
For members arriving on Sunday, 8 July, a preparatory meeting would be held late afternoon. Members who had not yet informed the Secretariat of their participation to the interparliamentary meeting were requested to do so immediately. Members were also requested to make their hotel and travel reservations as indicated in the administrative note already distributed in order to facilitate the organisation of the meeting.
Following interpretation had been provided:
active: EN and DE passive: FR and IT
The Chairman presented the preliminary draft agenda.
Following first EP speakers were nominated:
item 4: The political and institutional situation in the EU - Mr Paulo CASACA The economic situation in the EU - Mr Christos FOLIAS
item 5: EU-Switzerland bilateral agreements Ratification process - Mr Brian SIMPSON
item 7: The perspectives of the European Integration Post Nice: - Mrs Diana WALLIS Enlargement: - Mrs Diana WALLIS
5. The Chairman reminded the delegation of the case of Mr K. Parlavantzas, a Greek citizen who had been denied working permission in the nuclear industry in Switzerland. The Chairman handed over a substantial dossier on Mr Parlavantzas to Ambassador MARTINELLI who shortly stated stated that this case had been tried at all juridicial levels in Switzerland with a negative outcome for Mr Parlavantzas, whose contract had expired and would been renewed.
According to Swiss laws, Mr Parlavantzas had no right to claim employment in the Swiss nuclear industry. The Chairman stated that this was a conflict between a EU citizen and Switzerland and that a solution should be found.
Mrs WALLIS was of the opinion that the case was a private law matter.
FdR 4463733 PE 304.376 6. The next meeting will take place in the context of the 20th EP-Switzerland IPM on 9-10 July 2001 in Prangins.
Members will be informed of the delegation meetings in 2002 as soon as the calendar of the EP activities for 2002 has been elaborated.
Members attending the IPM are requested to take their dossier with them to Prangins.
Possible additional documentation will be forwarded to members before the IPM in Prangins.
* * *
The meeting closed at 10.35.
FdR 4463734 PE 304.376 BILAG/ANLAGE/ΠΑΡΑΡΤΗΜΑ/ANNEX/ ANNEXE/ALLEGATO/BIJLAGE/ANEXO/BILAGA
DELTAGERLISTE/ANWESENHEITSLISTE/ΚΑΤΑΣΤΑΣΗ ΠΑΡΟΝΤΩΝ/LIITE RECORD OF ATTENDANCE/LISTA DE ASISTENCIA/LISTE DE PRESENCE/ELENCO DEI PRESENTI/PRESENTIELIJST/LISTA DE PRESENÇAS/LÄSNÄOLOLISTA/DELTAGARLISTA
Til stede Formandskabet/Vorstand/Προεδρείο/Bureau/Ufficio di Presidenza/Mesa/Puhemiehistφ/J.L. Presidium: (*)
FOLIAS (P) WALLIS (1stVP) Anwesend
Medlemmer/Mitglieder/Μέλη/Members/Diputados/Dιputιs/Deputati/Leden/Deputados/jδsenet/ Ledamöter: Παρόντες BONDE, CASACA
Stedfortrædere/Stellvertreter/Αναπληρωτές/Substitutes/Suplentes/Supplιants/ Membri supplenti/Plaatsvervangers/Membros suplentes/Varajäsenet/Suppleanter: Present
Presentes
Présents
Presenti
Aanwezig
Lasna
Närvarande
Art. 138,2 Art. 151,4
Endv. deltog/Weitere Teiln./ Συµµετείχαν επίσης/Also present Participaron igualmente/ Participaient également/ Hanno partecipato altresi΄/ Andere deelnemers/ Outros participantes/ Muut osallistujat/ Dessutom deltog
(Dagsorden/Tagesordnung Pkt/Ηµερήσια ∆ιάταξη Σηµεί/Point OJ/Punto OG/Agenda Punt/Ordem do dia- punto/punto orden del dia/ Esityslista Kohta/Föredragningslista punkt):
* (P) =Formand/Vorsitzender/Πρόεδρος/Chairman/Prιsident/Presidente/Voorzitter/Presidente/Puhemies/Ordfφrande (VP) =Næstform./Stellv. Vorsitz./Αντιπρόεδρος/Vice-Chairman/Vice-Prιsident/Vicepresidente/Varapuhemies Ondervoorz./Vice-Pres./Vicepres/Vice ordförande. Til stede den/Anwesend am/Παρών στις/Present on/Prιsent le/Presente il/Aanwezig op/Presente em/Presente el/Lδsnδ/Nδrvarande den.
(1) 14.6.2001
FdR 4463735 PE 304.376 Efter indbydelse fra formanden/Auf Einladung d. Vorsitzenden/Με πρόσκληση του Προέδρου/At the invitation of the Chairman/Por invitación del presidente/Sur l'invitation du président/Su invito del presidente/Op uitnodiging van de voorzitter/A convite do presidente/Puhemiehen kutsusta/ På ordförandens inbjudan:
Radet/Rat/Συµβούλιο/Council/Consejo/Conseil/Consiglio/Raad/Conselho/Neuvosto/Rεdet: (*)
Kommissionen/Kommission/Επιτροπή/Commission/Comisión/Commissione/Commissie/Commissão/Komissio/ Kommissionen: (*)
BRINKMANN
Cour des comptes:
C.E.S.:
MARTINELLI, Ambassador, Mission of Switzerland to the EU Andre deltagere/Andere Teilnehmer Επίσης Παρόντες/Also present Otros participantes/Autres participants/Altri partecipanti Andere aanwezigen/Outros participantes Muut osallistujat/Övriga deltagare Gruppernes sekretariat PPE-DE Sekretariat der Fraktionen PSE ESDERS Γραµµατεία των Πολ. Οµάδων ELDR Secretariat political groups GUE Secr. de los grupos politicos EDD Secr. groupes politiques Segr. dei gruppi politici Secr. van de fracties Secr. dos grupos politicos Puolueryhmien sihteeristö Gruppernas sekretariat
Cab. du Président
Cab. du Secrétaire Général
Generaldirektorat I Generaldirektion II Γενική ∆ιεύθυνση III Directorate-General IV Dirección general V Direction générale VI Direzione generale VII Directoraat-generaal Direcção general Contrôle financier Service juridique Pääosasto Generaldirektorat OLSEN Udvalgssekretariatet Ausschubsekretariat Γραµµατεία επιτροπής Committee secretariat Secretaria de la comisión Secrétariat de la commission Segretariato della commissione Commissiesecretariaat Secretaria de comissão Valiokunnan sihteeristö Utskottssekretariatet
Assist./Βοηθός D'AGOSTO/NANBRU
* (P) =Formand/Pres./Πρόεδρος/Chairman/Prιsident/Voorzitter/Puhemies/Ordfφrande (VP) =Næstform./Vize-Pres./Αντιπρόεδρος/Vice-Chairman/Vice-Prιsident/Ondervoorz./Vice-pres/Varapuhemies/Vice ordfφrande. (M) =Medlem./Mitglied/Μέλος/Member/Miembro/Membre/Membro/Lid/Membro/Jδsen/Ledamot (F) =Tjenestemand/Beamter/Υπάλληλος/Official/Funcionario/Fonctionnaire/Funzionario/Ambtenaar/ Functionαrio/Virkamies/Tjδnsteman
FdR 4463736 PE 304.376