Foreign politicians make conversations with Brussels more difficult

Negotiations with the EU are again difficult. This time it is not Brussels that is causing discontent, but a trial in Switzerland. More precisely, a statement that Swiss foreign policy and EU politicians jointly approved last Friday.

This was preceded by a meeting of the two delegations in Rapperswil-Jona SG. This is not entirely coincidental, the picturesque town on Lake Zurich is home to St. Gallen Councilor Benedikt Würth (54), Chair of the EFTA/EU Delegation and made the statement together with his counterpart, EU Member of Parliament Andreas Schwab (49) has signed.

Expectations, especially from Switzerland

The majority of them support the draft framework agreement rejected by the Federal Council. They “express the expectation” that the state government will return to its solution on the role of the EU Court of Justice in future negotiations – although this was one of the reasons why the agreement was scuttled. The same goes for issues of wage protection and state aid.

With such actions, MPs make the work of the responsible State Secretary Livia Leu (61) more difficult. On Wednesday she traveled to Brussels for the fifth time this year. She would have to find a way to reach an agreement with the EU after the Federal Council scuttled the framework agreement a year and a half ago.

No approach

The problems are still the same and there is no sign of rapprochement. At irregular intervals, Bern and Brussels blame each other for this. The EU is putting pressure on Switzerland while delaying further talks, Leu said in an interview in the “NSZ” in mid-September. Wrong, reacted shortly afterwards EU ambassador Petros Mavromichalis (58) in the Sunday vision. The EU no longer accepts cherry picking in Switzerland.

Shots from behind like Rapperswil’s make the already difficult starting position for Leu, according to the administration, an almost impossible mission. There are self-appointed shadow foreign ministers in parliament who meet with EU Commissioner Maros Sefcovic (56) and are happy to take Brussels’ position. That’s not handy. “But that’s no wonder when Swiss Euroturbos gossip about federal councilors in chats with EU officials,” said an insider, referring to a WhatsApp chat in which the Europe friends exchanged views.

“This is nonsense”

When asked, the Council of States Würth “clearly” denied the accusation that the parliamentarians represented the Commission’s position. “This is nonsense. The Commission’s position is much stricter on important points – such as the exemptions requested by Switzerland, free movement of persons and wage protection.” That also applies to the free trade agreement, which the EU wants to include and which it clearly rejects, and other matters.

Still, he says, “The Federal Council may not like it when someone speaks plain language.” But it is up to the Federal Council to substantiate its new approach. “He has to show how to proceed”, the St. Gallen demands and can’t resist a tip. “The Federal Council wants a structured dialogue with the EU. The delegations of the Swiss parliament and the EU parliament have had this for years.”