Suspension of talks on Swiss participation in Erasmus and Horizon 2020

20.2.2014

Question for written answer E-002038-14
to the Commission
Rule 117
Jean-Pierre Audy (PPE)

On Sunday, 9 February 2014, voters in Switzerland approved by means of a referendum a proposal to end mass immigration into their country. The migration of foreign nationals to Switzerland will now be independently regulated by the Swiss Government through the introduction of annual ceilings and quotas, imposed in accordance with the country's overall economic interests and on the basis of national preference.

The President of the Commission, José Manuel Barroso, criticised this decision, and a spokesperson for the Commission warned that the EU would suspend ongoing negotiations on Switzerland's participation in the EU research and education programmes Horizon 2020 and Erasmus.

As an MEP, I was taken aback by this hasty reaction.

The Swiss Confederation believes that it is not in a position to sign the current draft bilateral agreement extending free access to the Swiss labour market, which is currently enjoyed by EU citizens, to the nationals of the EU's newest Member State, Croatia.

What legal basis can the Commission, acting on behalf of the Union, invoke to suspend the implementation of a Community policy in response to a sovereign and democratic decision taken by a third country which maintains close ties with the EU?

Does the Commission believe that Switzerland has the right to reject agreements which grant free access to the Swiss labour market for citizens of a new EU Member State (Croatia) and which in fact form part of the acquis communautaire set out in that country's accession treaty?

OJ C 317, 16/09/2014