EC/Switzerland agreement: scientific and technological cooperation, EC/Euratom 5th framework programme

The Council heard an oral report by the Commission on the progress of the negotiations with Switzerland with a view to concluding new sectoral agreements in the fields of the free movement of people, research and technological development, agriculture, conformity assessment, public procurement and transport. At the end of its meeting, having noted the comments of the different delegations, the Council underlined the importance of these negotiations in the development of the close and mutually beneficial relations that had long existed between the European Union and Switzerland. It therefore called on the Commission to continue the current negotiations with energy and diligence, in accordance with the principles of integrity and appropriate parallelism contained in the negotiating directives adopted during its meetings on 31 October 1994 and 13/14 March 1995, and expressed its hope that progress would be achieved as soon as possible.