| Author (Corporate) | Council of the European Union: General Secretariat |
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| Series Title | Press Release |
| Series Details | 28.02.17 |
| Publication Date | 28/02/2017 |
| Content Type | News |
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Further information: The assessment was conducted in accordance with the conclusions released by the Council of the European Union in December 2014 relating to the way relations between the EU and non-EU Western European countries should be developed. The Council highlighted the importance of the principle of free movement of people and the indivisibility of the EU's so-called 'four freedoms'. In this regard, it welcomed the text approved by Swiss Federal Assembly in December 2016, which attempts to respond to the outcome of a referendum on immigration held in February 2014 without entering in direct conflict with bilateral accords on free movement of people. It pointed out that further clarification was needed regarding some elements of that document. While the Swiss favoured a sectoral approach, the EU encourages the conclusion of negotiations on a common institutional framework for existing and future agreements regarding Switzerland's participation in the Single Market. The set of conclusions also highlights the trade relations between the two sides. While the EU remained Switzerland's biggest trading partner, there were a number of restrictions on access to the Swiss market for operators from the EU, notably in the agri-food and services sectors. The Council takes note of the adoption in September 2016 of a new legal basis the financial contribution of Switzerland, which is intended to reduce economic and social disparities in the EU and should be proportionate to the substantial benefits Switzerland draws from its participation in the Single Market. The Council of the European Union published on 28 February 2017 its conclusions following an assessment conducted of the relations between the European Union and Switzerland. |
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| Source Link | http://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2017/02/28-conclusions-eu-swiss-confederation/ |
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| Countries / Regions | Europe, Switzerland |
