Ursula von der Leyen will not meet Alain Berset at WEF

Next week, the World Economic Forum (WEF) will open its doors in Davos. Heads of state from all over the world go to Switzerland for this.

So is Ursula von der Leyen, President of the EU Commission (64). According to several sources, as “Tages-Anzeiger” writes, he gave a basket to Federal Councilor Alain Berset (50) for a separate meeting. The reason stated is the lack of time. Both will speak at the DEF on Tuesday, January 17th.

Anyone currently experiencing a déjà vu: At WEF 2022, von der Leyen had already refused to meet with then-Swiss Federal President Ignazio Cassis.

Probably due to binary differences

According to the EU Commission, it is still “clear” whether a meeting will be held with Berset. But those familiar with the Swiss EU dossier suspect that von der Leyen did not want to meet with the Swiss Federal Council due to bilateral differences.

Because the framework agreement negotiations between the EU and Switzerland in May 2021 failed. Bilateral relations have been blocked since then. Recently, the EU has even canceled its research cooperation with Switzerland. Top European researchers were shocked.

Berset met with several heads of state

Still, Berset’s DEF program is packed to the brim. Berset from Europe will meet with Polish President Andrzej Duda (50) and Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin (37). He will also meet with UN Secretary General António Guterres (73) and Vice-President of the Federal Council Viola Amherd (60) in Davos.

All Federal Council Members are members of the WEF, with the exception of Elisabeth Baume-Schneider (59), Minister of Justice. Economy Minister Guy Parmelin (63) has a particularly busy agenda.