Switzerland and EU “more than neighbors” according to Sefcovic
Published: Friday, Dec 20th 2024, 17:30
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In a statement on Switzerland's agreement with the EU, EU Commissioner Maros Sefcovic emphasized the close relationship. The agreement represents the "human face" of this close partnership.
Switzerland and the EU are more than just neighbors, said EU Commissioner Maros Sefcovic at a media event in Brussels on Friday. In the negotiations, Switzerland's problems had been addressed and attempts had been made to find solutions.
With regard to a safeguard clause on the free movement of persons, Swiss concerns have been taken into account. The successful end of the negotiations marks the start of a new chapter.
The Slovakian EU Commissioner expressed his conviction that he had negotiated a balanced deal. He emphasized that EU citizens would retain full freedom of movement and thus access to the Swiss labor market. In addition, students from the EU will in future pay the same semester fees at Swiss universities as Swiss students. Today, people from the EU sometimes pay more than their Swiss fellow students.
Sefcovic evaded a journalist's question about a possible failure of the agreement. He said that it was now time to celebrate the conclusion of the negotiations.
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