The Council of States does not want to lure the EU with extra money

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The Council of States does not want to know anything about extra money for the EU. Not even if Switzerland is allowed to participate in EU research programmes. The small chamber rejected the initiative of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the National Council (APK-N) by 31 votes to 8 with two abstentions at the request of the provisional advisory committee. In the summer of 2022, the National Council accepted the committee’s motion by a very narrow majority of one vote.

The Grand Chamber wanted to instruct the Bundesrat to start negotiations with Brussels on a concrete agreement for Switzerland’s accession to the EU programs Horizon Europe, Digital Europe, Iter (fusion research), Euratom and Erasmus plus. The central government should offer a one-off increase in the cohesion contribution.

Money is not enough for the EU

While the Federal Council recognized the motion’s concerns, it opposed the required procedure. This is not effective and the EU has no corresponding requirements.

The background to this is the termination of negotiations with the EU on a framework agreement. Only if Switzerland clarifies institutional issues with the EU is a Horizon association possible, said Commission spokesman Benedikt Würth (centre/SG). A higher cohesion contribution is not sufficient for this.

Eva Herzog (SP/BS) asked yes to the motion. It is important that Parliament sends a signal that the issue is important to it, she said. The concern among researchers is already great today. Passing the motion would not restrict the Federal Council in any way.

The Federal Council should make progress in the talks

A yes to the advance would not unblock the situation, Andrea Gmür-Schönenberger (center / LU) said. However, she expects the Bundesrat to make progress in talks with the EU.

Carlo Sommaruga (SP/GE) agreed that the motion was outdated. The EU has already made it clear that it does not believe in such a solution. “Act, and act quickly,” he told the state government.

There are already rules on the financial contributions of third countries for participation in Horizon, said Isabelle Chassot (centre/FR). The link between questions about participation in the EU internal market and association with research programs such as those of the EU are irrelevant. Switzerland would be the only country that would have to pay extra. (SDA)

Source:Blick