Activities of Lukas MANDL related to 2023/2042(INI)
Plenary speeches (2)
EU-Switzerland relations (debate)
EU-Switzerland relations (debate)
Reports (1)
REPORT on EU-Switzerland relations
Amendments (63)
Amendment 4 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 1
Citation 1
– having regard to the Agreement between the European Economic Community and the Swiss Confederation1, signed on 31 December22 July1972, _________________ 1 OJ L 300 31.12.1972, p. 189.
Amendment 8 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 5
Citation 5
– having regard to the Decision of the Council, and of the Commission as regards the Agreement on Scientific and Technological Cooperation, of 4 April 2002 on the conclusion of seven Aral agreements with the Swiss Confederation, signed in 1999, known as ‘Bilaterals I’4, _________________ 4 OJ, L 114, 30.4.2002.
Amendment 12 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 7
Citation 7
– having regard to the Agreement between the European Community and the Swiss Confederation on mutual recognition in relation to conformity assessment5, which entered into force on 1 June 2002, , _________________ 5 OJ L 114 30.4.2002, p. 369.
Amendment 14 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 8
Citation 8
– having regard to Agreement between the European Community and the Swiss Confederation on trade in agricultural products, which entered into force on 1 June 20026, _________________ 6 OJ L 114 30.4.2002, p. 132.
Amendment 19 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 11
Citation 11
– having regard to the Agreement between the Swiss Confederation and the European Police Office in force since, signed in 20064,
Amendment 23 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 12
Citation 12
– having regard to the Agreement between Eurojust and Switzerland of 26, signed on 7 November 2008,
Amendment 26 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 13
Citation 13
– having regard to the Agreement between the European Union and the Swiss Confederation concerning cooperation on the application of their competition laws9of 17 May 20143, _________________ 9 OJ L 347, 3.12.2014, p. 3.
Amendment 28 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 15
Citation 15
– having regard to the Arrangement between the European Union and the Swiss Confederation on the modalities of its participation in the European Asylum Support Office11signed on 10 June 2014 and, ratified by Switzerland on 1 March 2016, _________________ 11 OJ L 65, 11.3.2016, p. 22.
Amendment 35 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 19
Citation 19
– having regard to the decision by the Swiss Federal Council of 26 May 2021 to terminate the negotiations of then an EU- Swiss tzerland Institutional Framework Agreement,
Amendment 37 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 21 a (new)
Citation 21 a (new)
– having regard to the joint statement of the Chairs of the Swiss Federal Assembly Delegation for relations with the European Parliament and of the European Parliament Delegation for relations with Switzerland (DEEA Delegation), adopted on the occasion of the 41st interparliamentary meeting between Switzerland and the EU on 7 October 2022 in Rapperswil-Jona, Switzerland,
Amendment 40 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 24 a (new)
Citation 24 a (new)
– having regard to the decision of the Swiss Federal Council to adopt the EU's gas (24.08.2022) and electricity (21.12.2022) saving targets for Switzerland which is part of a wider regulatory alignment of Swiss energy policy and network regulation,
Amendment 52 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B a (new)
Recital B a (new)
Ba. whereas the 2021 Swiss Security Policy Report and its 2022 supplement set out options for Switzerland’s increased security cooperation with the EU;
Amendment 54 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C
Recital C
C. whereas the Swiss Federal Council commissioned the development of key figureparameters for a negotiation mandate with the EU by the end of June 2023;
Amendment 58 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital D
Recital D
D. whereas to date, the EU and Switzerland have concluded over 120numerous bilateral agreements; whereas many of them urgently need to be updated;
Amendment 63 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital E
Recital E
E. whereas Switzerland decided to terminate the negotiations on the EU-Swiss institutional framework agreement in May 2021; whereas a solution for a future EU- Switzerland relationship is needed and a series of exploratory talks have recently been held between the European Commission and the Swiss Federal Council;
Amendment 65 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital F
Recital F
F. whereas, with regard to international issues, on the background of a changing geopolitical landscape, the EU and Switzerland ias deeply integrated into the EU single market; whereas a level playing field in the single market is necessary; like-minded partners follow similar policies, including in multilateral organisations and fora, in areas such as climate change and the environment, sustainable development, human rights, rule of law and democracy, international criminal justice and international humanitarian law, as well as the multilateral trading system;
Amendment 68 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital F a (new)
Recital F a (new)
Fa. whereas the EU is Switzerland’s main trading partner and Switzerland is the EU’s fourth trading partner after China, the US and the UK; whereas the EU accounts for around 42% of Switzerland’s exports in goods and for 60% of its imports;
Amendment 70 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital F b (new)
Recital F b (new)
Fb. whereas Switzerland’s trade with the EU in 2021 accounted for the lion's share, with a trade volume of CHF 266.07 billion, corresponding to a share of 57.70% of Switzerland's total goods trade volume;
Amendment 71 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital F c (new)
Recital F c (new)
Fc. whereas Switzerland earns every third CHF through trade with the EU;
Amendment 74 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital F d (new)
Recital F d (new)
Fd. whereas in 2021, an average of 351 844 cross-border commuters worked in Switzerland, of which 193 051 were from France, while as of 31 December 2021, 442 371 Swiss citizens were resident in the EU and vice versa around 1,4 million EU citizens were residents in Switzerland;
Amendment 75 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital F e (new)
Recital F e (new)
Fe. whereas Switzerland currently has a status of a non-associated third country under the EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation “Horizon Europe” and other related programmes and initiatives; whereas EU-Swiss cooperation on research and development would benefit both sides;
Amendment 76 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital F f (new)
Recital F f (new)
Ff. whereas the EDA-Switzerland Framework for Cooperation, which was signed on 16 March 2012, enables exchange of information and provides for joint activities in research and technology and armament projects and programmes;
Amendment 77 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital F g (new)
Recital F g (new)
Fg. whereas Switzerland is currently considered a non-associated third country in the EU programme Erasmus+ (2021- 2027) depriving young people from mobility and cooperation opportunities;
Amendment 80 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital G a (new)
Recital G a (new)
Ga. whereas the European Parliament will hold elections in the second quarter of 2024;
Amendment 95 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Highlights the EU’s strong interest in cooperating with Switzerland on international peace, security and defence matters, in particular in response to Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine; welcomes Switzerland’s alignment with EU sanctions adopted in this context, diverging from its traditionally neutral stancrecognises that Switzerland has undertaken significant humanitarian efforts in Ukraine, offered protection status to Ukrainian refugees and supported Ukraine also through the organisation, jointly with Ukraine, of the 2022 Ukraine Recovery Conference in Lugano; welcomes Switzerland’s alignment with EU sanctions adopted in this context; welcomes the fact that Switzerland has adopted all ten sanction packages in response to Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine;
Amendment 101 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Acknowledges Switzerland’s long- standing foreign policy of promoting peace, mediation and peaceful conflict resolution; welcomes Switzerland’s committed and strong role as a member of the Council of Europe, OSCE, the UN and OECD in contributing to peace building and its involvement in helping to find solutions to crises, dialogue- facilitation, the development of confidence-building measures and reconciliation;
Amendment 103 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 b (new)
Paragraph 1 b (new)
1b. Welcomes Switzerland’s 2023- 2024 term as non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, and supports work underpinning common priorities at the UNSC, including with regard to sustainable peace, protection of civilians, enhanced effectiveness in the working methods of the UNSC and climate security;
Amendment 104 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Welcomes Switzerland’s close stance with the EU’s common foreign and security policy; welcomes, fu and considers it as a like- minded parthner,; acknowledges Switzerland’s announcement in November 2021 that it would partclose partnership with the EU in upholding and supporting the common political values and in preserving peace and stability across the world, including through common action in international organisations and other multilateral fora; considers Switzerland a close strategici patertner in the Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO)field of security and encourages both sides to deepen the cooperation and partnership within the field of security and defence, such as within the remits of CFSP and CSDP;
Amendment 109 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Welcomes Switzerland’s cooperation in selected parts of the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) and its participation in some CSDP missions, notably in Ukraine, Mali, Kosovo (EULEX) and BiH (EUFOR Althea); notes that Switzerland is one of the countries who has contributed most frequently to CSDP missions in absolute terms;
Amendment 111 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 b (new)
Paragraph 2 b (new)
2b. Further welcomes Switzerland’s announcement in November 2021 to participate in certain projects in the framework of the Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO); notes that Switzerland is currently evaluating a potential participation in two PESCO projects and that the Defence Ministry has expressed interest in projects related to cyber defence and military mobility; notes that this is a new kind of approximation towards the EU and like- minded partners in the field of common defence, in which Switzerland considers defence cooperation with third countries for the first time in history;
Amendment 112 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 c (new)
Paragraph 2 c (new)
2c. Further welcomes Switzerland’s membership in the European crisis management system which mobilises joint EU resources in case of a crisis, and is building partnerships through joint operations in crisis prevention and training;
Amendment 116 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Welcomes the fact that Switzerland is seeking closer cooperation with the EU and NATO; welcomes, in this regard, Switzerland’s involvement in the Partnership for Peace programme; urges Switzerland to deepen its cooperation with the EU on food security and defence; welcomes the intensified pace of consultations with Switzerland on foreign policy matters;
Amendment 123 #
4. Notes that Switzerland’s voluntary alignment with EU sanctions against Russia is on a case-by-case basis; encourages Switzerland to closely and consistently apply restrictive measures and to prevent their circumvention; encourages Switzerland to step up the seizure and as the European Commission also foresees it for EU Member States; encourages Switzerland to amend their national legislation accordingly in order to allow the confiscation of Russian assets;
Amendment 130 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Regrets that Switzerland is currently prohibiting re-export of weapons from other states to Ukraine and is thus blocking delivery of weapons and ammunition to Ukraine from several EU Member States; calls on the Swiss Federal Council to approve re-supply of weapons to Ukraine; welcomes the motion at national level of June 2022 and the launch of a political debate on this topic in the Council of States; further welcomes any initiatives that are under way in the Swiss parliament towards relaxing the re- export rules;
Amendment 136 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Welcomes the political statement following the conference of cantons of 24 March 2023 advocating treaty-based relations with the EU based on shared values; welcomes, further, Switzerland’s participation in the informal summits of the European Political Community;
Amendment 140 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Recognises EU-Switzerland cooperation on international migration, including the management of flows and relocation of refugees; notes the large number of cross-border commuters between the EU and Switzerlandwelcomes Switzerland’s participation in the European Border and Coast Guard (Frontex); reiterates that the closely related participation in the Schengen/Dublin system is crucial;
Amendment 142 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Notes the large number of cross- border commuters between the EU and Switzerland and the large number of EU citizens and Swiss nationals living and working in Switzerland or the EU respectively;
Amendment 146 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Regrets that to date Switzerland does not qualify to joparticipate in the EU Civil Protection Mechanism; calls on a future partnership with Switzerland within this framework, as only EFTA and EEA members or EU candidate countries can join the mechanism; calls on a future partnership with Switzerland within this framework, which calls for an amendment of Art. 18 in the EU decision 1313/2013/EU;
Amendment 148 #
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 3
Subheading 3
Economy and labour, labour market and access to the EU internal market
Amendment 154 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Amendment 155 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 b (new)
Paragraph 8 b (new)
8b. Reiterates that a study conducted by the gfs.bern research institute on behalf of the European Movement Switzerland 30 years after the Swiss "No" to the EEA, 71% of the Swiss population is in favour of joining the European Economic Area (EEA), while the majority of the population also wants full access to the European single market and participation in EU cooperation programs;
Amendment 159 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 c (new)
Paragraph 8 c (new)
8c. Underlines that the Swiss cantons and their neighbouring regions Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, Baden- Württemberg, Bayern, Bourgogne- Franche-Comté, Bozen-Südtirol, Grand Est, Fürstentum Liechtenstein and Vorarlberg can look back on a long shared history filled with good- neighbourly relations and cooperation; notes that these regions are very closely connected with one another; notes that these regions depend on stable framework conditions at European and national level in order to remain innovative as a border region;
Amendment 166 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Is concerned about Switzerland’s inconsistent implementation of certain agreements and its subsequent adoption of legislative measures and practices that are incompatible with those agreements, in particular with the Agreement on the free movement of persons (FMOPA);
Amendment 174 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Notes that as long as there is no agreement on a package deal, a large number of bilateral agreements between the EU and Switzerland need to be revisiupdated in order to prevent their expiryensure that they remain relevant and efficient, in particular those on enhanced access to the Swiss market for EU economic operators, in particular in the agriculture, food and services sectors; reiterates the importance of taking into account the evolution of relevant EU legislation in order to preserve mutual market access; notes in this regard Switzerland’s important role in ensuring food security together with the EU;
Amendment 179 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. NotUnderlines that an effective dispute settlement mechanism, with a role for the Court of Justice of the EU, is fundamental, as isnd a solution onfor all institutional matters, such as cohesion policy; stresses that a common jurisdiction between the EU and Switzerlandand structural matters is necessary, oncluding a fair contribution to the EU's economic and social cohesio, uniform interpretation and application of the agreements, dynamic alignment with the EU acquis, and a level playing field notably in relation to state aid, is fundamental; stresses that access to the EU’s internal market needs to be based on a fair balance of rights and obligations and that a common rulebook between the EU and Switzerland in the fields related to the internal market is a prerequisite for a common market;
Amendment 193 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Urges Switzerland to apply the relevant EU acquis where requiredRecalls that the free movement of workers is a fundamental principle of the EU laid down in Art. 45 TFEU; urges Switzerland to apply the relevant EU acquis and comply with its obligations under the 1999 Free Movement of Persons Agreement, in particular on posted workers and to adapt flanking measures applicable to EU economic operators providing services in its territory; reiterates that the FMOPA liberalizes the provisions of personal services for only 90 days per year; notes that Switzerland’ is concerns in this regard and points out that ftinually improving the functioning of the flanking measures and welcomes Switzerland’s efforts to maintain an active and regular dialogue with its neighbouring states and other EU Member States for the purpose of discussing concrete issues occurring in the framework of the cross-bormder EU candidate countries hadprovision of services; notes Switzerland’s concerns in this regard and points out that current EU Member States used to have similar concerns and that they, which have not materialised;
Amendment 198 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)
Paragraph 12 a (new)
12a. Notes that there are some difficulties in the area of posting of workers to Switzerland, such as the obligation of a notification 8 days prior to the posting and the maximum 90-day period; calls on the Swiss authorities to ease bureaucratic hurdles in this regard;
Amendment 207 #
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 4
Subheading 4
Energy and climate
Amendment 213 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Notes with concern that Switzerland did not support the EU’s push to remove fossil fuel protections from the Energy Charter Treaty (ECT)Welcomes the high degree of political and regulatory alignment between Switzerland and the EU in the area of energy and climate policies; notes with concern that Switzerland did not support the EU’s push to remove fossil fuel protections from the Energy Charter Treaty (ECT); notes that negotiation to reform the ECT have not yet been finalised and are subject to further negotiations both between EU Member States and between the signatories of the ECT; recalls that agreements are phasing out and need to be replaced urgently;
Amendment 216 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Stresses that in the electricity sector grid stability and the security of supply and transit depend on close cooperation between the EU and Switzerland; notes the high level of interconnection of Swiss, German, Italian, Austrian and French power grids; remains concerned that excluding Switzerland’s energy industry poses systemic risks for the whole of continental Europe’s synchronous gridelectricity grid; stresses that Switzerland also plays a major role with regards to the security of supply in natural gas by connecting Northern and Southern Europe via the Swiss pipeline system;
Amendment 220 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Stresses that solutions for cross- border electricity trading must be fan electricity market agreement wounld in order to allowcreate a conducive basis for a continued and close cooperation between the EU and Switzerland; underlines that until its conclusion, technical solutions at the level of the transmission system operators and the inclusion of Switzerland in the EU capacity calculation are necessary, in order to reduce the greatest risks to regional grid stability and security of supply;
Amendment 222 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 a (new)
Paragraph 15 a (new)
15a. Regrets that due to the end of negotiations between the EU and Switzerland on an institutional agreement in May 2021, the planned electricity agreement also cannot be concluded in the short to medium term; underlines the importance of starting negotiations on an electricity agreement as soon as possible;
Amendment 224 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 b (new)
Paragraph 15 b (new)
15b. Welcomes the fact that Switzerland and the EU share the common goal of reaching climate neutrality by 2050; further welcomes Switzerland’s engagement to promote hydrogen with a particular focus on renewable hydrogen as part of the European hydrogen economy;
Amendment 225 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 c (new)
Paragraph 15 c (new)
15c. Stresses the enabling role that transit through Switzerland can play in establishing a European market for hydrogen and renewable and decarbonized gases;
Amendment 234 #
17. Reiterates the importance of EU- Switzerland cooperation in EU programmes such as Horizon Europe, Digital Europe, Euratom, ITER and Erasmus+, and praises the excellent record of cooperation to date; notes that a possible failure of adopting a package agreement between the EU and Switzerland, should not prohibit Swiss participation in and association to Horizon Europe and Erasmus+;
Amendment 240 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Calls on the Commission and the Swiss Federal Council to do their utmost to ensure Switzerland’s return to Horizon Europeensure Switzerland’s association to Horizon Europe; reiterates that Switzerland is an important partner of the EU in research and innovation; regrets that due to Switzerland’s non-association to Horizon Europe, it has recently been excluded from the European Strategy Forum on Research Infrastructures (ESFRI); notes that within the framework of Horizon 2014-2020, Switzerland received funding amounting to CHF 2.7 billion and was thus in 1st place among the associated countries; calls on the Swiss Federal Council to adopt a negotiating mandate on key structural issues, giving a clear political signal to the EU;
Amendment 253 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Regrets the Swiss Federal Council’s decision to terminate the negotiations on the EU-Swiss Institutional Framework in May 2021; regrets any narratives in the Swiss public and political sphere that the EU would works against Swiss interests; stresses that a second failure in negotiating an agreement on EU- Swiss relations would be damaging for both the EU and Switzerland and risks weakening their political role; notes that the relationship between the EU and Switzerland at this point is unbalanced and many stakeholders, like citizens and companies, are affected by the absence of a structural relationship; welcomes, in this regard, the proposal of February 2022 of a broad negotiation package;
Amendment 256 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Stresses that it is in the fundamental interest of both sides to maintain good, stable and mutually beneficial relations under a modernised relationship and through an package agreement that creates stability and welfare, welfare and a level playing field;
Amendment 261 #
21. Is concerned that basic bilateral agreements are reaching the end of their validityslowly phasing out and no longer secure frictionless market access as a result of the non-incorporation of new developments of the Union acquis; recalls that the adoption of a package agreement for existing and future agreements that enable Switzerland’s participation in the EU single market, in order to ensure homogeneity and legal certainty for citizens and businesses, remains a precondition for the further development of a sectoral approach; notes that the model based on bilateral agreements instead of a broad frameworkpackage agreement is outdated; remains concerned about the end of the application of the Mutual Recognition Agreement for Medical Devices, which means medical devices produced in Switzerland are no longer recognised in the regulated area in the EU;
Amendment 266 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
Paragraph 22
22. Welcomes the Swiss Federal Council’s decision to set out its approach forfinalise exploratory talks with the EU in view of future negotiations and that it commissioned the development of key figureparameters for a negotiation mandate with the EU by the end of June 2023; underlines the timeliness of this report in this regard given the political cycles of the EU and Switzerland; recalls that there is a short window of opportunity given the elections of the Swiss Federal Council in October 2023 and the EU elections in spring 2024;
Amendment 269 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 a (new)
Paragraph 22 a (new)
Amendment 270 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 b (new)
Paragraph 22 b (new)
22b. Welcomes that the cantons note that in the absence of an acceptable alternative from the EU's point of view, there is no way around a dynamic adoption of EU law;
Amendment 274 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
Paragraph 23
23. Expects the progress in exploratory talks between the Commission and the Swiss Federal Council to be stepped up with a view to obtaining the required clarifications and assurances required to adopt a mandate for negotiations; calls on both sides to use this window of opportunity for talks on a possible new negotiation package and to reach an agreement before the end of the term of the current European Commission and European Parliament;