Bilateral treaties finally ratified

The European Union and Switzerland have just moved a step closer swissinfo.ch

Two of Belgium's regional parliaments have given the thumbs up to the bilateral treaties between Switzerland and the European Union, finalising the ratification process.

This final vote means that all 15 member states of the EU have accepted the bilateral accords. Though the procedure is now complete, Swiss officials do not expect them to be effective before sometime in the first six months of next year.

The official documents confirming the ratification will still have to be deposited with the European Union before any application of the treaties.

The Walloon and Flemish parliaments were the last of seven regional chambers to vote on ratification. Both parliaments voted unanimously for ratification, despite fears the collapse of Swissair and its Belgian partner Sabena would lead to an anti-Swiss backlash among the politicians.

The parliamentarians chose to make a difference between a private company and the Swiss state. During the debate in the Walloon chamber, a clear majority was in favour of distinguishing between Swissair and Switzerland.

The Swiss foreign minister, Joseph Deiss, was satisfied with the outcome. “I’m very pleased that everything was completed before the end of the year,” said Deiss.

Belgium was the last country to give its agreement to the treaties. The ratification process took a year to filter through the seven parliaments.

Ireland and France were the most recent countries to approve the accords.

The bilateral treaties, which were concluded in 1998, cover the free movement of people, agriculture, overland transport, civil aviation, research, public procurement, and technical barriers to trade. A two-thirds majority of Swiss voters approved the accords in May 2000.

swissinfo with agencies