Activities of Michiel HOOGEVEEN related to 2023/2042(INI)
Shadow opinions (1)
OPINION on EU-Switzerland relations
Amendments (7)
Amendment 11 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Underlines that safeguarding and deepening strong and sustainable trade relations with Switzerland, the EU’s fourth largest trading partner, remains a high priority;
Amendment 19 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Notes that without any modernisation of the FTA, which was concluded 50 years ago and has not been adjusted to reflect developments in international trade rules since, and of the package of bilateral agreements (I and II), which was concluded almost 20 years ago, EU-Swiss relations will inevitably erode over time; calls therefore upon the European Commission to propose a mandate for modernising the FTA once negotiations on the IFA have resumed;
Amendment 20 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Notes that without any modernisation of the FTA, which was concluded 50 years ago and has not been adjusted to reflect developments in international trade rules since, and of the package of bilateral agreements (I and II), which was concluded almost 20 years ago, EU-Swiss relations will inevitably erode over time; believes that the EU should strive for pragmatic solutions to solve this issue between EU and Switzerland;
Amendment 22 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 – subparagraph 1 (new)
Paragraph 4 – subparagraph 1 (new)
Notes that investment protection is currently upheld through outdated bilateral agreements between Switzerland on the one hand and only nine EU Member States on the other; believes that a modern EU-Switzerland Investment Protection Agreement would increase legal certainty for investors on both sides and further strengthen bilateral trade relations; incites therefore the European Commission to propose a mandate for negotiating a modern EU-Switzerland Investment Protection Agreement;
Amendment 24 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Highlights that the Mutual Recognition Agreement (2002) is becoming more and more outdated as it cannot be updated to take into account new EU legislation; notes that this has already created technical barriers and hampered trade in medical devices and will do so in the future for mechanical engineering and artificial intelligence in particular; believes that the EU should strive for pragmatic solutions to solve this issue between EU and Switzerland;
Amendment 26 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Notes that business and industry associations are currently only consulted through informal information channels; calls upon the negotiators to agree on the establishment of a bilateral ex ante and ex post consultation platform between the EU and Switzerland designed to facilitate discussions and consultations in advance of any new measures or subsidies that could negatively affect trade or investment; takes the view that business and industry associations should be able to bring any new trade or investment irritants to the attention of the secretariat of this platform; believes that the platform should eventually be made an integral part of the governance framework of the modernised trade agreement and should entail the setting up of a SME Helpdesk, that would help to reduce trade costs and administrative burdens, while increasing SMEs’ participation in trade;
Amendment 35 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 – subparagraph 1 (new)
Paragraph 8 – subparagraph 1 (new)