Activities of Christophe GRUDLER related to 2023/2042(INI)
Plenary speeches (1)
EU-Switzerland relations (debate)
Shadow reports (1)
REPORT on EU-Switzerland relations
Amendments (73)
Amendment 1 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation -1 (new)
Citation -1 (new)
– having regard to the Treaty on European Union (TEU) and the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU), which establish the principles, objectives and competences of the EU, and which recognize the right of European States to apply for membership of the Union,
Amendment 2 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation -1 a (new)
Citation -1 a (new)
-1a having regard to the Agreement on the European Economic Area (EEA), which recognizes the right of any Member State of the European Union or member of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) to apply for membership of the European Economic Area,
Amendment 6 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 5
Citation 5
– having regard to the Decision of the Council,Bilateral Agreements I of 21 June 1999 and of the Commission as regards the Agreement on Scientific and Technological Cooperation, of 4 April 2002 on the conclusion of seven Agreements with the Swiss Confederation, known as ‘Bilaterals I’Bilateral Agreements II of 26 October 2004 between the EU and Switzerland, which cover a wide range of areas of cooperation, including free movement of persons, land and air transport, research and technology, education and training, agriculture, public procurement, taxation, customs fraud, police and judicial cooperation, asylum and migration policy, and environmental issues 4, _________________ 4 OJ, L 114, 30.4.2002.
Amendment 9 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 6
Citation 6
Amendment 20 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 11
Citation 11
– having regard to the Agreement between the Swiss Confederation and the European Police Office in force sincesigned in 20064,
Amendment 21 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 11 a (new)
Citation 11 a (new)
– having regard to the agreement on the participation of Switzerland in the Schengen Area of 26 October 2004, which allows the free movement of persons between Switzerland and the EU Member States, and which facilitates cooperation in matters of security and the fight against cross-border crime,
Amendment 24 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 12
Citation 12
– having regard to the Agreement between Eurojust and Switzerland ofsigned on 267 November 2008,
Amendment 29 #
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 onin force since1 March 2016, _________________ 11 OJ L 65, 11.3.2016, p. 22.
Amendment 31 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 16
Citation 16
– having regard to the Agreement between the EU and Switzerland on the automatic exchange of financial account information, which entered into force on 1 January 2017, and which significantly facilitates the fight against tax evasion,
Amendment 32 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 17 a (new)
Citation 17 a (new)
– having regard to the regulatory package presented by the European Commission on 14 July 2021, which aims to reduce the EU's net greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% by 2030,
Amendment 34 #
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 the EU-Swissn an Institutional Framework Agreement between the EU and Switzerland,
Amendment 38 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 23
Citation 23
Amendment 41 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas the EU and Switzerland are close like-minded allies and key economic partners, with shared values such as democracy, the rule of law, human rights and the protection of minorities, both committed to the promotion of peace, security and stability in Europe and in the world;
Amendment 45 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas the EU and Switzerland have a long-standing relationship, founded on shared values and goals of peace andcommon economic prosperity;, with strong social, economic, and cultural connections,
Amendment 47 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B a (new)
Recital B a (new)
Ba. whereas the EU and Switzerland face common challenges, such as climate change, biodiversity loss, diminution of resources, international instabilities, challenge to the multilateral system, accelerating digitalisation, strengthening of undemocratic or authoritarian regimes, inequalities and the rapid changing world of work;
Amendment 55 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital D
Recital D
D. whereas to date, the EU and Switzerland have concluded over 120many bilateral agreements; whereas many of them urgently need to be updated;
Amendment 73 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital F a (new)
Recital F a (new)
Fa. whereas Swiss citizens benefit fully from free movement within the Union, and installations in the Union, on the same basis as EU citizens;
Amendment 78 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital G
Recital G
G. whereas Switzerland will hold general elections on 22 October 2023; whereas the EU will hold elections for the European Parliament in 2024;
Amendment 81 #
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 1
Subheading 1
Amendment 82 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph -1 (new)
Paragraph -1 (new)
-1. Recalls that the Union and Switzerland are united by common values, that they face common challenges and that they often have similar responses;
Amendment 83 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph -1 a (new)
Paragraph -1 a (new)
-1a. Considers that it is in the fundamental interest of both parties to strengthen their relations; stresses that these relations must be stable and mutually beneficial, within the framework of a modernized relationship based on a set of agreements that are a source of stability, well-being and fair competition;
Amendment 84 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph -1 b (new)
Paragraph -1 b (new)
-1b. Regrets in this context the Swiss Federal Council’s decision to terminate the negotiations on the EU-Swiss Institutional Framework in May 2021; regrets any narratives that the EU works against Swiss interests; stresses that a new failure in negotiating an agreement on EU-Swiss relations would be damaging for the citizens of both the EU and Switzerland;
Amendment 85 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph -1 c (new)
Paragraph -1 c (new)
-1c. Welcomes the political declaration of 24 March 2023, in which the conference of cantonal governments declared itself in favor of a clear relationship with the Union, based on agreements and common values;
Amendment 86 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph -1 d (new)
Paragraph -1 d (new)
-1d. Welcomes Switzerland's participation in the summits of the European political community;
Amendment 87 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph -1 e (new)
Paragraph -1 e (new)
-1e. Is concerned that existing bilateral agreements are reaching the end of their validity, or their distance from the law applied in the rest of the Common Market;
Amendment 88 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph -1 f (new)
Paragraph -1 f (new)
-1f. Notes that the bilateral path remains the one preferred by Switzerland, and not membership of the European Economic Area or membership of the Union; stresses that Switzerland is still welcome to join the EEA or the Union in the future if it so wishes, thus enabling it to participate fully in European decisions and rules;
Amendment 89 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph -1 g (new)
Paragraph -1 g (new)
-1g. Calls for the negotiation of a Cooperation Pact between the European Union and the Swiss Confederation; stresses that such a Pact should enable a new start to be made in the relationship between the EU and Switzerland, and should be of full benefit to EU and Swiss citizens; calls for this Pact to modernise all existing bilateral agreements, and to extend Euro-Swiss cooperation to new areas;
Amendment 90 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph -1 h (new)
Paragraph -1 h (new)
-1h. Welcomes the Swiss Federal Council’s decision to set out its approach for negotiations and that it commissioned the development of key figures for a negotiation mandate with the EU by the end of June 2023; calls on the Federal Council to respect this timetable by rapidly adopting a negotiating mandate on the essential structural issues, which would give a clear political signal to the EU, so that negotiations can be opened as soon as possible;
Amendment 91 #
-1i. Expects the progress in exploratory talks between the Commission and the Swiss Federal Council to be stepped up with a view to obtaining the clarifications and assurances required to adopt a mandate for negotiations; calls on both sides to use this window of opportunity for talks on a Cooperation Agreement between the European Union and the Swiss Confederation, which both parties should agree on before the end of the term of the current European Commission and European Parliament;
Amendment 92 #
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 1 a (new)
Subheading 1 a (new)
Foreign and security policy
Amendment 94 #
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 stancethe fact that Switzerland has taken over EU sanctions adopted in this context;
Amendment 106 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Welcomes Switzerland’s close stance with the EU’s common foreign and security policy; welcomes, further, Switzerland’s announcement in November 2021 that it wcould participate in the Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO);
Amendment 115 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. WUnderlines the important contribution of Member States to the security of Switzerland, due to its geographical position; welcomes the fact that Switzerland is seeking closer cooperation with the EU and NATO in the field of defence, joining the strengthening of the European pillar of NATO; welcomes, in this regard, Switzerland’s involvement in the Partnership for Peace programme; urginvites Switzerland to deepen its cooperation with the EU on food security and defence;
Amendment 124 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Notes that Switzerland’s alignment withpplication of EU sanctions against Russia is on a case-by- case basis; encourages Switzerland to closely and consistently apply restrictive measureall sanctions and to prevent their circumvention; encourages Switzerland to step up the seizure and, confiscation and freezing of Russian assets subject to sanctions, including reserves of the Russian central bank, held by Switzerland;
Amendment 125 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Notes that Switzerland’s 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; in this regard, calls on Switzerland to join the Russian Elites, Proxies, and Oligarchs (REPO) Task Force; encourages Switzerland to step up the seizure and confiscation of Russian assets;
Amendment 129 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Amendment 131 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Regrets that the federal law on war material based on the long humanitarian tradition of Switzerland as a neutral state prevents Member States from re-exporting war material produced in Switzerland to Ukraine;
Amendment 132 #
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 2
Subheading 2
Amendment 135 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
Amendment 138 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. RecognisesUnderlines the 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 andinvites Switzerland to strengthen its exchanges with the European Union Agency for Asylum and the European Agency for the Management of Operational Cooperation at the External Borders, which are directly involved in better management of international migration to and from Switzerland;
Amendment 144 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Regrets that Switzerland does not qualifyyet participate to join the EU Civil Protection Mechanism; calls on a future partnership with Switzerland within this frameworkrapid participation of Switzerland to this Mechanism;
Amendment 147 #
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 3
Subheading 3
Amendment 162 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Is concerned about Switzerland’s inconsistent implementation of certain agreements with the Union 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;
Amendment 173 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Notes that a large number of bilateral agreements between the EU and Switzerland need to be revisited in order to prevent their expiry, in particular those on enhanced access to the Swiss market for EUnd reciprocal access to the economic operatormarkets, in particular in the agriculture, food and services sectormedical goods, machines, agriculture, personal data protection, land and air transportation fields;
Amendment 177 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Notes that an effective dispute settlement mechanism is fundamental, as is a solution on institutional matters, such as cohesion policy; stresses that a common jurisdiction between the EU and Switzerland is a prerequisite for a common market; recalls that a single interpretation of EU law is a prerequisite for access to the common market; recalls that this single interpretation of EU law is to be determined by the Court of Justice of the European Union, and that it does not concern the interpretation of Swiss law;
Amendment 182 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)
Paragraph 11 a (new)
11a. Welcomes the release of a second Swiss contribution to certain EU Member States, in particular to ensure cohesion between states; recalls that this contribution is a counterpart to access the European single market; notes, however, that this Swiss contribution is unique, while other countries such as Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein have accepted a regular and planned contribution; calls on Switzerland to propose regular contributions in the future;
Amendment 184 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 b (new)
Paragraph 11 b (new)
11b. Underlines the importance of a fair competition for companies between the EU and Switzerland; Highlights the importance of a common framework regime for state aid, that applies to all types of sectors; Recalls that a common framework will facilitate the coordinated investments in strategic sectors between the EU and Switzerland;
Amendment 185 #
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 3 b (new)
Subheading 3 b (new)
Free movement of persons
Amendment 186 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 c (new)
Paragraph 11 c (new)
11c. Recalls that the freedom of movement of persons is a fundamental principle of the European single market and is inseparable from the other freedoms of movement;
Amendment 187 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 d (new)
Paragraph 11 d (new)
11d. Highlights the large number of cross-border commuters between the EU and Switzerland and the large number of EU citizens and Swiss nationals who live and work in Switzerland or the EU respectively;
Amendment 188 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 e (new)
Paragraph 11 e (new)
11e. Notes with concern Swiss legislative measures and practices that are incompatible with the agreement on the free movement of persons, in particular with regard to expulsions and Swiss accompanying measures for posted workers;
Amendment 189 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 f (new)
Paragraph 11 f (new)
11f. Insists on the arrival in recent years of new European legislation for social rights and workers; stresses that this participates in the development of a real "social Europe", which is not limited to an economic market; highlights the recent revision in 2018 of Directive (EU) 2018/957, which provides for the principle of equal pay from the first day of posting with local workers;
Amendment 195 #
12. Urges Switzerland to apply the relevant EU acquis where required and to comply with its obligations under the 1999 Agreement on the Free Movement of Persons, in particular on posted workers and to adapt flanking measures applicable to EU economic operators providing services in its territory; notes Switzerland’s concerns in this regard and points out that former EU candidate countries had similar concerns and that they have not materialised;
Amendment 196 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)
Paragraph 12 a (new)
12a. Stresses the need for Switzerland to dynamically adopt Union law, in areas where both parties cooperate, in order to provide the legal certainty and coherence necessary for businesses and citizens; recalls that the Union is no longer asking for the automatic adoption of Union law by Switzerland, as is the case for the Member States;
Amendment 199 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 b (new)
Paragraph 12 b (new)
12b. Recalls that this freedom of movement of persons is framed and associated with appropriate measures for external border control, asylum, immigration and crime prevention; stresses that settlement in another EU country is not without limits, and does not allow for "social tourism"; calls on Switzerland to fully take on board the Directive on the rights of EU citizens (2004/38/EC), which will benefit Swiss and EU citizens;
Amendment 206 #
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 4
Subheading 4
Energy and environment
Amendment 214 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Notes with concern that Switzerland did not sufficiently support the EU’s push to remove fossil fuel protections from the Energy Charter Treaty (ECT); invites Switzerland to consider withdrawing this treaty, following the example of several EU Member States;
Amendment 217 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Stresses that grid stability and the security of supply and transit depend on close cooperation between the EU and Switzerland; notes the interconnection of Swiss, German and, French and Austrian power grids; remains concerned that excluding Switzerland’s energy industry poses systemic risks for the whole of continental Europe’s synchronous grid; stresses that more effective cooperation in the management of the continental European synchronous zone would be desirable, but that this would require a strengthening of the regulatory framework for cooperation;
Amendment 219 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Stresses that solutionsCalls for the conclusion of new agreements on energy between the EU and Switzerland, in particular for crfoss- borderil-free electricity trading must be found in order to allow continued and closeand clean gases, within the framework of a Cooperation Pact; stresses the importance that any new agreement on electricity or gas should also include the relevant acquis communautaire in relation to the European Green Deal, but also provisions for cooperation between the EU and Switzerlandss energy regulators;
Amendment 226 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 a (new)
Paragraph 15 a (new)
15a. Recalls that the EU and Switzerland are each other committed towards reaching climate neutrality in 2050; stresses that since 2019 the EU has begun to revise a great deal of legislation to bring it into line with its climate objectives, in particular in the context of the European Green Deal;
Amendment 228 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 b (new)
Paragraph 15 b (new)
15b. Stresses the potential for further cooperation in the climate and environmental field, and a better alignment of legislation between the EU and Switzerland; invites Switzerland to take over legislation related to environmental protection in the framework of the Cooperation Agreement, in particular the Border Carbon Adjustment Mechanism, the overhaul of the Emissions Trading Scheme, energy efficiency, the development of renewables, the infrastructure for alternative fuels, the ecodesign of products, the protection of water and soils, or the rules on land use and forestry;
Amendment 230 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 c (new)
Paragraph 15 c (new)
15c. Stresses that, like the EU, Switzerland is dependent on imports of industrial products, but also of critical raw materials; points out that the strategic autonomy sought by the EU also serves the interests of Switzerland, because of the intensity of economic exchanges between the parties; is of the opinion that Switzerland and the EU would have a common interest in better coordinating their industrial policies in order to be more complementary in strategic industrial areas;
Amendment 231 #
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 5
Subheading 5
Amendment 237 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Calls on the European Commission and the Swiss Federal Council to do their utmost to ensure Switzerland’s return to Horizon Europe; calls on the Swiss Federal Council to adopt a negotiating mandstart discussions on the first day of negotiations of the Cooperation Pact for an agreement on Swiss participation in Horizon Europe and Erasmus+, in exchange for a Swiss commitment to a regular and appropriate con key structural issues, giving a clear political signal to the EUtribution to the European cohesion policy;
Amendment 245 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 a (new)
Paragraph 18 a (new)
18a. Underlines the good cooperation between the Union and Switzerland in the space field, in particular with its participation in the European satellite navigation program Galileo and EGNOS;
Amendment 246 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 b (new)
Paragraph 18 b (new)
18b. Calls for deepening this space cooperation, by working to study a participation of Switzerland in the Earth observation program Copernicus, as well as in the satellite telecommunications program IRIS², within the framework of a Cooperation Pact; recalls that Switzerland already benefits from the open access data of Copernicus, and that it could benefit even more, in particular to facilitate the participation of Swiss companies, access to the data and services of these programs;
Amendment 247 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 c (new)
Paragraph 18 c (new)
18c. Stresses that, in a field where a growing number of European space programs are established within the institutional and financial framework of the Union, the erosion of cooperation between the Union and Switzerland risks disjoining in the long run the industrial ecosystems built by Swiss companies and institutions and their European counterparts;
Amendment 248 #
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 6
Subheading 6
Amendment 249 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
Amendment 254 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
Amendment 259 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
Paragraph 21
Amendment 265 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
Paragraph 22
Amendment 271 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
Paragraph 23