The BSPC Standing Committee met in the European Parliament in Brussels on the 4th March 2024 to discuss about the current challenges in Europe, energy security, and ocean conservation. They also learned more about the current situation and the activities of their partner organisations, the CBSS and HELCOM.
Further preparations were made for the annual conference in Helsingør on 25-27 August and the Baltic Sea Parliamentary Youth Forum while considerations were given to a BSPC Standing Committee Study visit to investigate the security situation at the eastern Finnish boarder line as an urgent topic of interest.
The 61st EEA JPC was the first meeting of 2024, the year marking the 30th anniversary of the EEA Agreement. Members discussed the developments in the implementation of the EEA Agreement and all interlocutors agreed that, over its 30 years of existence, the EEA Agreement has proved its value to all of its parties. Current geopolitical challenges have shown that its parties also form a value-based community of close partners. In his keynote speech Mr Enrico Letta, the President of Jacques Delors Institute, presented his work on a comprehensive report on the current state of the Single Market and the vision for its future.
The European Civil Protection Mechanism was discussed in the context of helping Iceland to deal with the consequences of ongoing volcanic eruptions. Members further discussed the continued support for Ukraine and its EU accession process. MEP Brando Benifei presented the final version of the Artificial Intelligence Act and Mr Vicente Hurtado Roa from DG TAXUD presented the Customs implementation of new EU sustainability provisions (due diligence, forced labour, CBAM).
The 43rd EU-Switzerland Interparliamentary Meeting (IPM) took place on 8-9 February in Bern.
It was co-chaired by Mr Andreas Schwab, the DEEA Chair, and Mr Thomas Aeschi, the Swiss Federal Parliament's delegation Chair.
MEPs and Swiss parliamentarians exchanged views on the following issues:
· Common Understanding and package of cooperation and market access agreements
· European Elections 2024 - What is at stake (including for Swiss-EU relations)?
