Voorzitter Europees Parlement Buzek bezoekt Zwitserland (en)
The President of the European Parliament, Jerzy Buzek i, will pay an Official Visit to Switzerland on Thursday 9 June and Friday 10 June 2011. This is the first official visit of a European Parliament President to Switzerland.
On 9 June, EP President Buzek will hold meetings in Bern with Micheline Calmy-Rey, President of the Swiss Confederation and Head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs as well as Jean-René Germanier, President of the Swiss National Council and Hansheiri Inderkum, President of the Council of States.
Later on Thursday 9 June, EP President Jerzy Buzek and six Chairs and Vice Chairs of key EP Committees will hold and exchange of views with Members of the Swiss Federal Assembly on broader EU-Swiss relations. On Friday 10 June, the focus will turn to Swiss transport policy and in particular tunnel construction in the Swiss Alps.
Speaking ahead of the visit to Switzerland, EP President Jerzy Buzek said:
"The EU and Switzerland are major trading partners and share many of the same interests be it the strength of the single market or Schengen. Our relations are currently based on more than 120 bilateral and sectoral agreements that provide for a far-reaching degree of integration but not full participation in the internal market. This visit will focus on how the EP can contribute to concluding an all-encompassing bilateral agreement to the mutual benefit of Switzerland and the EU."
Programme:
Thursday 9 June:
16:40 Meeting with Jean-René Germanier, President of the Swiss National Council, and Mr Hansheiri Inderkum, President of the Council of States - meeting followed by a press point
17:45 Meeting with Ms Micheline Calmy-Rey, President of the Swiss Confederation and Head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, and Mr Johann Schneider-Ammann, Federal Councillor and Head of the Federal Department of Economic Affairs
18:30 Press point with Micheline Calmy-Rey, President of the Swiss Confederation and Head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs
19:00 Exchange of views with Members of the Swiss Federal Assembly and European Parliament delegation on broader EU-Swiss relations
Friday 10 June:
Continuation of official visit to Switzerland on Swiss transport policy with focus on tunnel construction in the Swiss Alps.
For the exchange of views with Swiss parliamentarians, EP President Jerzy Buzek will be accompanied by Ms Diana WALLIS, Vice-President of the EP, Member of SINEEA delegation Mr Pat the Cope GALLAGHER Chair of SINEEA delegation, Mr Brian SIMPSON Chair of the Committee on Transport and Tourism (TRAN), Mr Fiorello PROVERA Vice-Chair of the Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET), Ms Patrizia TOIA Vice-Chair of the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE), Mr Edward SCICLUNA Vice-Chair of the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs (ECON), Mr Boguslaw SONIK 3rd Vice-Chair of the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety and Ms Lara COMI, 3rd Vice-Chair of the Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection (IMCO).