Full steam ahead to the EU! After several hours of debate, the SP approved a European strategy this weekend. Your timetable to Brussels includes several intermediate stations. Finally, there is the stated goal: Switzerland’s accession to the European Union.
But it is doubtful whether this plan is really moving forward. The comrades do not only have to deal with strong winds from other parties – some also step on the brakes within the party. This was already apparent at the party congress of the weekend, when the SP agreed to the plan.
“As sexy as wearing sandals”
De Juso defended itself against the timetable in vain. “The topic is about as sexy as wearing sandals in socks,” said one member. Right now there are more concerns. One young woman even described the plans as a “bad joke”.
The SP union wing is anything but enthusiastic. Pay attention to the EU roadmap, says Travailsuisse chairman and former SP National Councilor Adrian Wüthrich (42) diplomatically. With the memorandum, the SP underlines the importance of wage protection and also calls for its extension. “The SP knows: without wage protection, European politics has no chance.” An invitation and at the same time a warning to the comrades.
And union boss Pierre-Yves Maillard (54) has already made it clear in the past to what extent he is prepared to accommodate the EU: not an inch. However, the chairman of the trade union federation was himself part of the working group that drew up the Europakrant. Apparently he didn’t convince himself.
Is there a common denominator?
The SP also wants to take all other parties – except the SVP – on a trip to Brussels. The Social Democrats want to revive the old European coalition so that a majority-worthy way out of the EU deadlock can be navigated. But with any traveling companions, the desire to jump on the SP train is limited.
Not all parties agree, especially not with the final destination: “In principle, we are always open to talks,” says FDP leader Thierry Burkart (47) in his answer. But: “We cannot find a common denominator based on EU accession.” Burkart’s fellow party member and Landsraad member Petra Gössi (46) describes the SP plan, just like the Juso member, as a “joke”. It is incomprehensible to the former chairman of the liberal party that the comrades were against the framework agreement, but are now considering joining the EU.
SP needs to wipe itself
GLP faction leader Tiana Moser (43) also finds the SP’s behavior contradictory and implausible. “The demand for EU accession does not address the current problems and is unrealistic. We need a willingness to compromise and a solution to the institutional problems. Then we can also find answers for research and electricity,” she says. The SP should finally show its colors here.
Center chairman Gerhard Pfister (60) also plays the ball back to comrades: “If the SP wants to restore the European coalition, they must first clean up their own house.”
This is what the SP plan looks like
The social-democratic timetable specifically provides for reaching a stabilization agreement with the EU in a first phase. For example, according to the party, Switzerland should be prepared to take in more refugees and increase cohesion payments.
In the next phase, an “association agreement” is to be negotiated, which will regulate market access to the European Union – as well as the institutional issues on which no agreement has been reached so far. Parliament must lay down the cornerstones for this agreement in a European law. This should then be the basis for a possible accession to the EU.
Win comrades for travel plans
SP National councilor Jon Pult (38), who led the working group, defended his party’s EU roadmap when asked. “The only way to more sovereignty is and remains accession to the EU,” says the party vice. But this is not the focus now. “In the short term, our relationship with the EU must be stabilized,” was his opinion, supported on Sunday by a clear majority of the SP.
Pult points out that essential parts of the SP plan have already been drawn up in the National Council and are on the right track. “That’s why we believe it is possible to find majorities,” he confirms.
However, the leadership of the comrades still has a lot of work to do in finding comrades in arms inside and outside the party for the travel plans.