Economists attack EU policy head-on: Switzerland would be silenced.”

But now the wind is turning. The opposition has organized itself. New critical comments appear in the media almost every day.

The economic group Kompass Europa was the first to comment in an article in Sonntagsblick. She is working on a popular initiative that aims to prevent the expansion of bilateral agreements with the EU. Behind it are the founders of Partners Group: Alfred Gantner (55), Urs Wietlisbach (63) and Marcel Erni (58). Three years ago they invested a total of 1.5 million francs in the organization.

The Handelszeitung spoke extensively with the director of Kompass Europa, Philip Erzinger. He refers to the article of the Federal Council, which shows the status of the exploratory talks between Bern and Brussels. This is the so-called “Common Understanding” and currently only exists in English.

Erzinger says what the Federal Council has achieved is “a bitter disappointment.” The failed 2021 framework agreement will simply be “refurbished”. At some points it is even a step backwards. He criticizes three main points.

Will Switzerland’s economic freedom be sacrificed?

First, Switzerland’s dynamic legal adoption of EU law is too extensive and above all counts as an “irrefutable doctrine”. He speaks of “chaining the internal market”. These damaged Swiss economic freedom. The number of negotiated exceptions – which Cassis cites as a benefit of the new agreement – ​​is small and visible only where unions have pushed for exceptions.

“Only there did the Federal Council invest negotiating power,” says Erzinger. Compass/Europe only accepts the dynamic adoption of EU law “where it makes sense for Switzerland”. He mentions air traffic, electricity and the Schengen file (border controls) as examples, but not the rules of the internal market.

“We are amazed”

Second, the Federal Council’s understanding document describes the EU’s ability to take retaliatory measures in areas outside the sector if Switzerland does not adopt EU law. The “Common Understanding” states that this is possible “in any other agreement”. If Switzerland does not take over X, the EU can impose punitive measures in area Y.

“We are surprised that the Federal Council can allow something like a ‘common understanding’,” says Erzinger. This officially authorizes the “EU policy of targeted needle sticks” towards Switzerland. In the past, the EU has ridiculed Switzerland in areas such as customs controls, stock exchange listings and its research programme.

Erzinger concludes from this that the European Commission has a clear intention to subordinate Switzerland to the EU with such a new internal market treaty. “We simply cannot allow such a clause,” he says, “Switzerland would be silenced.”

Lack of binding so to speak

Third, Erzinger sees even more serious shortcomings in Switzerland’s right to have a say in the EU. “The initially agreed rules for participation are extremely vague and non-binding. “Switzerland could in no way have a say in Brussels when it comes to new EU decrees that affect Switzerland,” says Erzinger. Switzerland’s contact person would not be the Commission, but rather subordinate EU officials, so-called high representatives, the communication document said. This is an indication that the EU does not take Switzerland seriously.

But Switzerland must protect its fundamental location advantages. The most important advantage is the retention of the possibility to decide on one’s own laws in a directly democratic manner. Nowadays this is possible with the so-called autonomous implementation of EU directives.

Where the popular initiative Kompass Europe is located

Erzinger does not reveal how exactly Kompass Europe wants to achieve rapprochement with the EU through a popular initiative. You work under high pressure. The group started drafting the initiative text in mid-December. “It’s relatively advanced,” says Erzinger. They would be advised by PR agency Farner. It will take “a few weeks” before it becomes clear whether the initiative can actually be launched. “It is currently unclear whether and in what form a referendum will be launched.”

The intention: not simply to say no, but rather ‘to have a fundamental debate about the path Switzerland wants to take towards the EU’. He emphasizes that this initiative “has nothing to do with Partners Group” but was founded three years ago as “a private initiative”.

The opposition’s arguments are similar

Erzinger’s arguments sound as if they were discussed with former NZZ economist chief Gerhard Schwarz. In a column on Tuesday, the conservative-liberal economist described Cassis’ plans to dynamically adopt EU regulations “as incompatible with the Swiss state model.” His project endangers the “market economy orientation of Switzerland”.

After the conclusion of a treaty such as the one currently being considered, Switzerland could remain subject to political blackmail in unrelated areas if Switzerland does not behave as Brussels demands. This point of criticism is identical to that of Compass Europe.

Switzerland is expected to accept losses in prosperity

It is noteworthy that Schwarz is against prosperity – for him the most important criterion for or against bilateral rapprochement. The economist claims that guaranteeing unfettered access for companies to the EU’s single market is “a short-term benefit”. This is “way overrated” and the price is downplayed. The price of such an arrival is “very high,” Schwarz says, without citing any evidence. Conversely, this means: Switzerland should rather give up prosperity than reach an agreement with the EU and move closer to it.

The Partners Group partners and ex-NZZ economist Schwarz receive support from the SVP. “It is good if other forces in the country build up resistance to such an agreement,” says SVP National Councilor Thomas Matter (57). No deal has been made with Gantner’s Compass Europe, but they are in “loose contact” with each other. This loose contact may be much closer than claimed.

Ungrateful insiders

The best-known business representative of the proponents of renewed bilateral contracts is the Ipsomed boss and FDP state councilor Simon Michel (46). The CEO was only available on Wednesday to respond to the biting criticism from the founders of Partners Group.

Michel’s resistance is likely to be particularly painful, as he had taken her to Bern during the exploratory talks and briefed her on the details. The Handelszeitung reported about it. Now Gantner, Wietlisbach and Erni use this inside information against Michel.