EU negotiations: Federal Council approves benchmarks

class=”sc-29f61514-0 jbwksb”>

The benchmarks formed “the guidelines for possible future negotiations and serve as a basis for the preparation of a negotiating mandate,” the Bundesrat statement said on Wednesday. Since these are the core of the possible negotiations, they are confidential, he continued. “Blick” reported on this on Wednesday (Blick+).

On the controversial points, the institutional issues, the Federal Council continues to take a “vertical, sectoral approach”, he continued.

Unlike the institutional framework agreement, which would have settled the institutional issues for all internal market agreements, according to the state government, the dynamic assumption of rights and dispute settlement should be regulated in the individual internal market agreements.

New agreements on electricity and food safety

The state government also relies on a sector-specific state aid solution, “which only provides for the adoption of EU rules for certain internal market agreements,” she said.

Based on this approach, the Federal Council is discussing with the EU the exceptions and principles to protect Switzerland’s vital interests, he wrote. The numerous talks that have taken place over the past 12 months have shown “that such an approach is possible in Switzerland’s interest”.

It is also known that the Bundesrat intends to conclude two new agreements with the EU in the field of electricity and food safety as part of its package approach. There are currently five market access agreements in the areas of air transport, land transport, technical barriers to trade, agriculture and free movement of persons.

Federal Council wants full participation in future EU programs

In addition, the Federal Council wants to conclude a cooperation agreement in the health sector with the EU. Brussels, in turn, would like more than just cooperation with Switzerland in this area.

In addition, as part of its negotiating package, the Federal Council also aims for “a systematic and full participation of Switzerland in future EU programmes”, as it was also said. In particular, he keeps an eye on the follow-up processes in the field of research (Horizon Europe) and in the field of mobility (Erasmus plus).

Another goal, according to the press release, is “the rapid unblocking of Switzerland’s participation in the current ‘Horizon Europe’ research package 2021-2027”. Switzerland has been left out of this program since the Federal Council broke off negotiations with Brussels on an institutional framework agreement more than two years ago.

Points still open

Despite ten exploratory rounds and many technical talks, there are still outstanding issues – such as “how specifically to integrate the new agreements into the negotiating box”, as was also said. That is why talks with the EU must continue.

According to the announcement, the talks with the social partners and the cantons should also be viewed at a technical level with regard to wage protection, which contains many domestic political explosives, “with which internal measures can guarantee the current level of wage protection in Switzerland”. also still unanswered questions about the EU Citizens’ Directive.

The Federal Council will review progress in the autumn

In addition, according to the Bundesrat, a legal basis “for a regular solidarity contribution from Switzerland to the EU” must be established.

In the autumn, the Federal Council wants to review progress and “on this basis prepare for the adoption of a negotiating mandate”. However, the state government has left it open when it intends to send the negotiating mandate to the consultation.

It is speculated that he will do so after the federal election – in November – at the earliest. With Federal President Alain Berset’s announcement on Wednesday that he no longer wishes to run for the Federal Council, it is increasingly likely that the mandate will not be adopted until after the Federal Council elections in December – early 2024.

The cantons will discuss benchmarks on Friday

Aargau Government Councilor and Chairman of the Conference of Cantonal Governments (KdK) Markus Dieth (56) welcomed the main parameters of the negotiating mandate presented by the Bundesrat with the EU. According to Dieth, the cantonal governments will discuss the decision of the Bundesrat during the plenary session on Friday.

He welcomes the fact that the Federal Council is ready to “enforce the preparation of a negotiating mandate at the request of the cantonal governments,” he wrote Wednesday at the request of the Keystone-SDA news agency.

According to the KdK chairman, the Federal Council has taken into account the concerns raised by the cantonal governments in a joint position in the package approach.

He expects “that the cantons will closely guide and support the Federal Council in the further work related to the development of a negotiating mandate”, he continues. (SDA)

Source:Blick