Activities of Reinhard BÜTIKOFER related to 2023/2042(INI)
Shadow reports (1)
REPORT on EU-Switzerland relations
Shadow opinions (1)
OPINION on EU-Switzerland relations
Amendments (18)
Amendment 8 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Underlines that safeguarding strong and sustainable trade relations with Switzerland, the EU’s fourth largest trading partner, remains a high priority; stresses the importance to continue joint efforts to reform the WTO, in particular its dispute settlement body, and to promote sustainable and green trade initiatives on the way to MC 13;
Amendment 23 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Notes the importance of enhanced cooperation between Switzerland and the EU in combatting climate change; stresses the importance of considering Swiss participation in the various aspects of the European Green Deal, in particular in the RE Power EU program, including the European solar PV industry alliance; encourages to find venues of cooperation between the EU and Switzerland on the EU’s Fit for 55 package;
Amendment 25 #
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 Highlights that the Mutual Recognition Agreement (2002) is becoming more and more outdated as it cannot be updated to take into account new EU legislation; notes that this has already created technical barriers and hampered trade in medical devices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, machinery or construction products and artificial intelligence in particular;
Amendment 27 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Stresses the importance of flanking measures that guarantee efficient and non-discriminating protection to workers’ rights, ensuring equal pay for equal work in the same place for mobile, posted and local workers and at the same time permit EU economic operators to provide services in its territories; stresses that such flanking measures are necessary to create a level- playing field for EU citizens and economic operators in areas where Switzerland has market access to the EU single market;
Amendment 30 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Acknowledges the flexibility provided by the Commission and the compromises offered in past negotiations on the IFA and current exploratory talks; invites the Commission to keep the European Parliament duly informed and closely involved in any steps related to potential future negotiations, taking their views into account and limiting any future negotiating mandate to 5 years;
Amendment 126 #
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; encourages Switzerland to step up the seizure and confiscation of Russian assets and urges Switzerland to join the REPO taskforce which aims to coordinate efforts to make sanctions more effective;
Amendment 127 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Encourages Switzerland to undertake a revision of its practices in regard to sanctions, in order to align itself more systematically with sanctions taken by the European Union, also when such are based on human rights violations, under the EU Global Human Rights regime;
Amendment 151 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Recalls the long-standing relationship between the EU and Switzerland founded on shared values and goals of peace, eco-responsibility, social justice, and economic prosperity, as well as on their economic and social interdependence;
Amendment 158 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8a. Emphasises the strong economic, social and cultural links of the border regions between Austria, France, Germany, Italy, Liechtenstein and Switzerland; recognises the importance of stable, legal certain and long-term relations between the EU and Switzerland for the future functioning of cross-border cooperation between EU regions and Swiss Cantons, especially for over decades institutionalised cooperations as i.e. the International Lake Constance Conference;
Amendment 164 #
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 withmeasures affecting the Agfree movement on the free movement of persof persons, guarantees of residence and the undiscriminated access to social security of EU citizens;
Amendment 175 #
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 EU economic operators, in particular in the agriculture, food, healthcare and services sectors;
Amendment 194 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Urges Switzerland to apply the relevant EU acquis where required, in particular on posted workers and to adapt flanking measures applicable to; considers the importance of flanking measures that guarantee efficient and non- discriminating protection to workers’ rights, ensuring equal pay for equal work in the same place for mobile, posted and local workers and at the same time permit EU economic operators to providinge 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; considers that, in order to reassure the social partners in Switzerland, the Commission could consider accepting temporary, limited or safeguard measures;
Amendment 205 #
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 4
Subheading 4
Energy and environment
Amendment 227 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 a (new)
Paragraph 15 a (new)
15a. Urges the Commission and the Swiss Federal Council to find venues of cooperation between the European Union and Switzerland on the EU’s Fit for 55 package; regrets in this regard that the Swiss Federal Council refused to take initiative and postponed consideration on a potential cooperation to 2024;
Amendment 229 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 b (new)
Paragraph 15 b (new)
15b. Notes the importance of enhanced cooperation between Switzerland and the EU in combating climate change; stresses the importance of considering Swiss participation in the various aspects of the European Green Deal, in particular in the REPowerEU program, including the European solar PV industry alliance;
Amendment 239 #
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 Europe; calls on the Swiss Federal Council to adopt a negotiating mandate on key structural issues, giving a clear political signal to the EU; calls on the EU to allow discussions with Switzerland on integrating programs such as Horizon Europe, Digital Europe or Erasmus+ as soon as the negotiating mandate is adopted; invites both parties to conduct discussions on joining those programmes in parallel with the negotiations so that Switzerland can re-join quickly upon completion of the negotiations;
Amendment 257 #
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 agreement that creates stability and welfare and is committed to social security and justice;
Amendment 263 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
Paragraph 21
21. Is concerned that basic bilateral agreements are reaching the end of their validity; notes that the model based on bilateral agreements instead of a broad framework agreement is outdated; remains concerned about the end of the application of the Mutual Recognition Agreement for Medical Devices, which means medical devices are no longer recognised in the regulated area in the EU; is concerned about the end of the application of the Mutual Recognition Agreement in other areas in the next years (i.e. machinery products, construction products) without a solution regarding the institutional issues;