EUROPEAN UNION? Ukraine? Trallali-trallali!

class=”sc-97fd9fa8-0 jNFKxv”>

How does Pippi Longstocking calculate? “Two times three is four, viddeviddewitt, and three is nine,” sings children’s book star Astrid Lindgren. Because: “I make the world, vdavidd, the way I like it.” Switzerland’s European policy also works according to this calculation.

When former FDP federal adviser Didier Burkhalter resigned in the fall of 2017, one could read the following: “Despite all the difficulties and setbacks, Burkhalter has been talking for three years about an imminent breakthrough in the EU dossier.” And how does it sound today? “A solution with the EU is within reach,” NZZ said in late February. While the “Aargauer Zeitung” asked: “Isn’t it time to take up the negotiating mandate?”

Trallali-trallali-tralla-hopsas.

Foreign Office Secretary of State Livia Leu, meanwhile, dispelled expectations, but only at first glance. On Tuesday, after yet another failed visit to Brussels, a senior diplomat said: “The time has not yet come for new negotiations.” With that “not yet,” the chief negotiator for the EU talks suggests that Switzerland just needs more time to get more out of it.

Negotiations, pre-negotiations and behind-the-scenes meetings have always revolved around the same thing for ten years. The central question is who should decide future disputes between the EU and Switzerland. Brussels takes the position that only the European Court of Justice in Luxembourg can interpret EU law. In Berne, by contrast, they would like to take advantage of privileged access to a market of 500 million people, but fear internal political debate about “foreign judges” and categorically reject this condition.

In Didier Burkhalter’s time, delaying tactics might have worked. Meanwhile, however, relations between Switzerland and the EU are deteriorating. Since existing contracts are not renewed, Switzerland is gradually losing contact with neighboring countries. In addition, a few days ago the EU pushed through with the UK a requirement that Northern Ireland, as part of the EU internal market, abide by the interpretation of the European Court of Justice. If there are no exceptions for London, there will be no exceptions for Bern.

Russia’s campaign to destroy Ukraine does not improve the situation in Switzerland. A year ago, Ignazio Cassis signaled that the Confederation would adjust its neutrality to allow other states to transfer Swiss military equipment to Kyiv. Unfortunately, the Federal Council as a whole rejected the Foreign Minister’s proposal by only six votes to one. This week, the Kiev parliament also withdrew any support. All petitions for the transfer of weapons to the victims of Putin’s war have failed.

The damage to Switzerland’s international reputation is enormous. What do you think of a country that first makes promises in a situation of war, and then coldly treats the entire democratic world? What European prime minister, what head of state would want to support such an insecure canton when, rightly or wrongly, he feels he has been cornered by the EU Commission?

The Cold War ended 33 years ago, and three years later the Soviet Union collapsed. At that time, the Federal Council and Parliament were engaged in intensive discussions about the future position of Switzerland in the world, about neutrality and relations with the European Community. Of course, the state government made tactical mistakes in voting in the EEA in 1992, the consequences of which Switzerland still suffers today. But at least they were aware of their responsibility and tried to find real prospects for cooperation with Europe.

Source: Blick