KONEČNÉ ZNENIE
A6-0058/2005
18.3.2005
***
ODPORÚČANIE
k návrhu rozhodnutia Rady o uzavretí, v mene Európskeho spoločenstva a jeho členských štátov, protokolu k Dohode medzi Európskym spoločenstvom a jeho členskými štátmi na jednej strane a Švajčiarskou konfederáciou na strane druhej o voľnom pohybe osôb s ohľadom na účasť Českej republiky, Estónskej republiky, Cyperskej republiky, Lotyšskej republiky, Litovskej republiky, Maďarskej republiky, Maltskej republiky, Poľskej republiky, Slovinskej republiky a Slovenskej republiky ako zmluvných strán na základe ich pristúpenia k Európskej únii
(12585/2004 – KOM(2004)0596 – C6‑0247/2004 – 2004/0201(AVC))
Výbor pre občianske slobody, spravodlivosť a vnútorné veci
Spravodajca:
Timothy Kirkhope
PE 353.548v02-00
Označenie postupov
* Konzultačný postup
väčšina odovzdaných hlasov
**I Postup spolupráce (prvé čítanie)
väčšina odovzdaných hlasov
**II Postup spolupráce (druhé čítanie)
väčšina odovzdaných hlasov za schválenie spoločnej pozície väčšina všetkých poslancov Parlamentu za zamietnutie alebo zmenu spoločnej pozície
*** Postup súhlasu
väčšina všetkých poslancov Parlamentu, okrem prípadov upravených článkami 105, 107, 161 a 300 Zmluvy o ES a článkom 7 Zmluvy o EÚ
***I Spolurozhodovací postup (prvé čítanie)
väčšina odovzdaných hlasov
***II Spolurozhodovací postup (druhé čítanie)
väčšina odovzdaných hlasov za schválenie spoločnej pozície väčšina všetkých poslancov Parlamentu za zamietnutie alebo zmenu spoločnej pozície
***III Spolurozhodovací postup (tretie čítanie)
väčšina odovzdaných hlasov za schválenie spoločného textu
(Typ postupu závisí od právneho základu navrhnutého Komisiou.)
OBSAH
NÁVRH LEGISLATÍVNEHO UZNESENIA EURÓPSKEHO PARLAMENTU.......................5
EXPLANATORY STATEMENT................................................................................................6
POSTUP......................................................................................................................................9
NÁVRH LEGISLATÍVNEHO UZNESENIA EURÓPSKEHO PARLAMENTU
k návrhu rozhodnutia Rady o uzavretí, v mene Európskeho spoločenstva a jeho členských štátov, protokolu k Dohode medzi Európskym spoločenstvom a jeho členskými štátmi na jednej strane a Švajčiarskou konfederáciou na strane druhej o voľnom pohybe osôb s ohľadom na účasť Českej republiky, Estónskej republiky, Cyperskej republiky, Lotyšskej republiky, Litovskej republiky, Maďarskej republiky, Maltskej republiky, Poľskej republiky, Slovinskej republiky a Slovenskej republiky ako zmluvných strán na základe ich pristúpenia k Európskej únii
(12585/2004 – KOM(2004)0596 – C6‑0247/2004 – 2004/0201(AVC) )
(postup súhlasu)
Európsky parlament ,
– so zreteľom na návrh rozhodnutia Rady ( KOM(2004)0596 ),
– so zreteľom na dohodu o spolupráci medzi Európskym spoločenstvom a Švajčiarskou konfederáciou (12585/2004)
1 Zatiaľ neuverejnené v Ú. v.
1 ,
– so zreteľom na žiadosť o súhlas, ktorú Rada podala podľa článku 300 ods. 3 druhého pododseku v spojení s článkom 300 ods. 2 prvým pododsekom druhou vetou a s článkom 310 Zmluvy o ES ( C6‑0247/2004 ),
– so zreteľom na článok 75 a článok 83 ods. 7 rokovacieho poriadku,
– so zreteľom na odporúčanie Výboru pre občianske slobody, spravodlivosť a vnútorné veci ( A6‑0058/2005 ),
1. súhlasí s uzavretím zmluvy;
2. poveruje predsedu Parlamentu, aby toto stanovisko postúpil Rade, Komisii a vládam a parlamentom členských štátov a Švajčiarskej konfederácii.
EXPLANATORY STATEMENT
I. Background
Relations between Switzerland and the European Union (EU) are particularly close as is partly demonstrated by the large number of agreements which are in place between them.
See
http://www.europa.eu.int/comm/external_relations/switzerland/doc/bilat.htm
Following Switzerland’s rejection of accession to the European Economic Area (EEA) Agreement in 1992, a series of bilateral agreements (the so called Bilateral Agreements I) were negotiated in order to minimise any negative consequences of that rejection.
They covered free movement of persons, overland transport, air transport, agriculture, research, as well as technical barriers to trade and public procurement, and entered into force on 1 June 2002.
A second package of agreements (Bilateral Agreements II) have been negotiated since June 2002.
This package contains nine different agreements which concern the taxation of savings; the co-operation in the fight against fraud; the association of Switzerland with the Schengen acquis; participation of Switzerland in the “Dublin” and “Eurodac” regulations; trade in processed agricultural products; Swiss participation in the European Environment Agency and European Environment Information & Observation Network (EIONET); statistical co-operation; the Swiss participation in the Media plus and Media training programs, and for the avoidance of double taxation for pensioners of Community institutions.
There were nine agreements signed on 26 October 2004.
The Parliament is now being consulted on the conclusions.
II.
The present protocol
The first package of bilateral agreements signed with Switzerland included an agreement on the free movement of persons.
OJ L 114, 30.4.2002, p.6 This agreement, which entered into force on 1 June 2002, established free movement for persons between the EU and Switzerland subject to certain transitional provisions.
Until 31 May 2007, it contains a quota for EU citizens who would like to obtain a long-term residence permit (valid for one year or more) in Switzerland.
This quota of 15.000 persons annually was fully met in the first two years.
Switzerland explains this by referring to the high number of people who lived previously in the border regions close to its territory but were working in Switzerland who have now moved to live inside its borders.
At the same time, the quota of 115.000 residence permits for periods between four and twelve months has in each year only been 50 % filled.
This agreement, in general, functions in a satisfactory manner and without any particular problems.
The agreement on free movement is the only one which did not automatically extend to the new Member States following the enlargement of the EU in May 2004.
Consequently, Switzerland and the EU have had to enter into negotiations to conclude a protocol to the agreement which extends its application to the new Member States of the European Union.
The protocol gives Switzerland the right to maintain quantitative limits for workers and self-employed persons from the Czech Republic, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, Poland, Slovenia and the Slovak Republic looking for residence of more than one year and residence for periods between four months and one year.
No restrictions apply to nationals from Malta and Cyprus.
Initially, these quotas will last for three years (until 31 May 2007) but they can be prolonged for an additional two years (until 31 May 2009).
In case of "serious disturbances of its labour market or threat thereof" quotas to restrict access can be maintained until 30 April 2011.
Over the entire period 2005 - 2011, the quotas for new residence permits will grow (from 900 to 3.000 long-term and from 9.000 to 29.000 short-term).
For the period of 2011 until 2014, the safeguard clause of the existing agreement could be applied (Article 10.4).
The protocol therefore follows the model of the formula between old and new EU Member States.
Following enlargement of the European Union to 25 members on 1 May 2004, there are transitional periods which will limit the free movement of workers from new Member States, as set out in the Accession Treaty.
Until May 2006, each of the previous 15 Member States can decide whether to open their labour market fully to workers from the new Member States or put restrictive measures in place.
After those two years, these Member States must notify the European Commission of whether they intend to continue with their restrictive measures for a maximum of another three years or apply the 'free movement of people' law regime.
The transitional measures should, in principle, end five years after accession but these Member States have the option to ask the European commission for a two-year extension if they experience serious disturbances on their labour market.
By using a system of quotas, however, Switzerland grants immediate access within the yearly quotas.
The protocol also contains the right for Switzerland to maintain in the transitory period controls on the priority of workers integrated into the regular labour market and wage and working conditions applicable to nationals of any other Contracting Party.
The same controls may be maintained for persons providing services in the following four sectors: Horticultural service activities; Construction, including related branches; Security activities; and Industrial cleaning.
Annex I contains transitional measures on the purchase of land and secondary residence which are essentially those also contained in the acts of accession.
Annexes II (Coordination of Social Security Schemes) and III (Mutual Recognition of Professional Qualifications) foresee technical adaptations.
The present agreement on free movement requires, like the first bilateral proposals, the assent of Parliament.
III.
The discussion in Switzerland
As with other pre-enlargement Member States, Switzerland has debated whether the extension of the right of free movement to the citizens from the new Member States would lead to distortions in the labour market and, in particular, wage dumping.
To address these concerns a law with accompanying measures was passed.
Nevertheless, it is likely that a referendum will take place on the matter in Switzerland.
In such a case this would be held on 25 September 2005.
A referendum on Schengen / Dublin would take place on 5 June 2005.
An opinion poll published in January 2005 showed that 52% of the electorate said that they would be in favour of extending the agreement on free movement while 30% were against and 18% undecided.
The survey of 1,005 people was conducted by the Isopublic research institute and published in the SonntagsBlick newspaper.
The consequences if the protocol does not receive the support of the majority will be serious.
For the EU a situation would develop in which its citizens are treated in two different ways: the citizens of the pre-enlargement states would benefit from free movement while the citizens from new Member States would not.
This situation would produce complications.
Consequently, the EU could, for instance, withdraw from the original agreement on free movement and due to a special clause inserted in the Bilateral Agreements I they would cease to apply.
IV.
Rapporteur's position
The rapporteur welcomes the extension of the agreement because he believes both sides would have much to gain.
Switzerland benefits like the EU Member States from the recent enlargement.
Politically, it gains from increased democratic stability in its geographical neighbourhood.
Economically, it profits from a larger internal market and in these respects free movement is a very important element.
This agreement will make it much easier to send Swiss staff to the new Member States where already many Swiss based companies are active.
At the same time citizens from new Member States can now be more easily recruited by Swiss companies.
From the Swiss point of view, representatives of business associations note that there is a demand for labour, notably in tourism, agriculture and in the health-care system.
In addition, it is estimated that, at the time of the expiry of the transitional provisions, demographic change in Switzerland will lead to a decline in their active labour force.
EU Member States gain from the protocol because citizens from the new Member States can immediately apply for residence permits within the yearly quota.
In the long-term, all citizens of the EU and Switzerland will enjoy the possibility of free movement.
For all these reasons, the rapporteur supports the agreement and recommends it be given assent.
POSTUP
Názov
Návrh rozhodnutia Rady o uzavretí, v mene Európskeho spoločenstva a jeho členských štátov, protokolu k Dohode medzi Európskym spoločenstvom a jeho členskými štátmi na jednej strane a Švajčiarskou konfederáciou na strane druhej o voľnom pohybe osôb s ohľadom na účasť Českej republiky, Estónskej republiky, Cyperskej republiky, Lotyšskej republiky, Litovskej republiky, Maďarskej republiky, Maltskej republiky, Poľskej republiky, Slovinskej republiky a Slovenskej republiky ako zmluvných strán na základe ich pristúpenia k Európskej únii
Referenčné čísla
12585/2004 – KOM(2004)0596 – C6‑0247/2004 – 2004/0201(AVC)
Právny základ
Články 300 odsek 3, druhý pododsek, 300 odsek 2, prvý pododsek, druhá veta a 310 Zmluvy o ES.
Základ v rokovacom poriadku
Články 75 a 83 odsek 7
Dátum žiadosti súhlasu parlamentu
13.12.2004
Gestorský výbor dátum pridelenia
LIBE 10.1.2005
Výbor požiadaný o stanovisko dátum pridelenia
AFET 10.1.2005
Bez predloženia stanoviska dátum rozhodnutia
AFET 8.12.2004
Rozšírená spolupráca dátum pridelenia
Spravodajca dátum vymenovania
Timothy Kirkhope 25.11.2004
Predchádzajúci spravodajca (-ovia)
Zjednodušený postup dátum rozhodnutia
Námietky voči právnemu základu dátum stanoviska JURI
Prerokovanie vo výbore
19.1.2005
21.2.2005
16.3.2005
Dátum schválenia pozmeňujúcich návrhov
16.3.2005
Výsledok konečného hlasovania
za:
proti:
zdržal(i) sa:
23
Poslanci prítomní na konečnom hlasovaní
Johannes Blokland, Kathalijne Maria Buitenweg, Carlos Coelho, Agustín Díaz de Mera García Consuegra, Rosa Díez González, Timothy Kirkhope, Magda Kósáné Kovács, Wolfgang Kreissl-Dörfler, Barbara Kudrycka, Henrik Lax, Claude Moraes, Martine Roure, Michele Santoro, Inger Segelström, Ioannis Varvitsiotis
Zástupcovia prítomní na konečnom hlasovaní
Panayiotis Demetriou, Gérard Deprez, Giovanni Claudio Fava, Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, Luis Francisco Herrero-Tejedor, Katalin Lévai, Vincent Peillon, Marie-Line Reynaud
Zástupcovia (čl. 178 ods. 2) prítomní na konečnom hlasovaní
Dátum predloženia – A6
18.3.2005
A6-0058/2005
Poznámky
