Starting signal for EU negotiations: Amherd on Mission Impossible in Brussels

class=”sc-cffd1e67-0 iQNQmc”>

And again, field one, new attempt: it has been almost three years since Switzerland broke off negotiations with the EU on a bilateral agreement. Now the Federal Council is trying again. Federal President Viola Amherd (61) traveled to Brussels on Monday to start negotiations on a new agreement. There she met President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen (65).

The two women looked good together at the photo shoot on Monday. Handshake, smile. And to underline the commonality, both women wore red blazers. Ursula von der Leyen even appeared in a light blouse and presented herself (almost) entirely in Swiss colors. She said Monday was an important day for relations between Europe and Switzerland. Amherd doubled, the two teams could now continue their work with enthusiasm and commitment.

Amherd and von der Leyen confirmed the rapid start of negotiations in mid-January during a meeting at the WEF in Davos. If necessary, they want to immediately exchange content in the coming negotiations. They had therefore agreed to call each other immediately if the need arose, Amherd said at the time. And Von der Leyen said the conversation was “very good, very friendly.”

The agreement should be finalized this year

Viola Amherd is considered a strong supporter of an agreement with the EU. “I have made the EU file one of my priorities for the presidential year. This is a crucial year,” Amherd said at the beginning of the year. It’s about creating stable conditions.

The Federal Council and the EU recently approved the negotiating mandate. The negotiating parties want to make new agreements or update existing ones in the areas of electricity, free movement of people and land transport, among other things. Institutional elements such as the dynamic adoption of laws and the involvement of the European Court of Justice in dispute resolution are also part of the negotiations. Several points in the package are highly controversial. Even if the EU could accommodate Switzerland in some areas, the big sticking point will be the Swiss electorate’s yes to the agreement.

Chief negotiator Patric Franzen (54) will lead the negotiations for Switzerland. His counterpart is Richard Szostak (41). Under the agreement, both negotiating parties have set a target of concluding negotiations by the end of 2024. (SDA/lha/oco)

Source:Blick