EU Wants Swiss Green Light for Framework Deal by Late May, T-A Reports
EU Wants Swiss Green Light for Framework Deal by Late May, T-A Reports
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The European Union is pressuring Switzerland to signal it will agree to a new comprehensive treaty to govern relations between them by late May, Tages-Anzeiger reported.
The newspaper cited a recent meeting between representatives of the European Commission and permanent representatives of EU member states in its report on Saturday, which was based on unnamed sources. Bern and Brussels have been at odds for some time over a so-called framework deal, designed to streamline a large number of treaties governing topics as diverse as civil aviation and immigration.
The draft treaty has so far proved a non-starter with many in Switzerland, who fear it will erode the country’s sovereignty and put pressure on local wages.
Without a green light for the framework deal, an agreement facilitating Swiss producers’ sale of medical technology products in the EU will expire on May 26. Attendees at the meeting decided to make agreeing on a deal a precondition for the extension of the medical accord, the newspaper said.
Complicating matters further, the Swiss will hold a plebiscite on new immigration quotas for citizens of EU countries on May 17. A similar measure in 2014 caused a worsening in relations with Brussels.
To contact the reporter on this story: Catherine Bosley in Zurich at cbosley1@bloomberg.net
To contact the editors responsible for this story: Jan Dahinten at jdahinten@bloomberg.net, James Amott, Jennifer Ryan
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