Read-out of the bilateral meeting between President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen and President of the Swiss Confederation Simonetta Sommaruga

Source: European Commission (EC) i, published on Monday, January 20 2020.

Today, 20 January 2020, the President of the European Commission, Ms Ursula von der Leyen, and the President of the Swiss Confederation, Ms Simonetta Sommaruga, met in Davos, Switzerland, to discuss the current state of EU i-Swiss relations.

They noted the overall value and potential of the relationship. In this regard, Ms von der Leyen underlined the importance of the Institutional Framework Agreement negotiated between the European Union and Switzerland as an enabling framework for the further deepening of these relations. She welcomed the confirmation by Ms Sommaruga of the Federal Council's intention to conclude the agreement as negotiated pending clarifications on three issues and expressed the wish to see it signed and ratified as soon as possible.

Ms von der Leyen also called for a quick disbursement of the Swiss financial contribution to the EU cohesion policy.

Both Presidents agreed to stay in close contact regarding these matters in the weeks and months to come.