Actually it is a triviality, almost nonsense. Juraj Nociar, the chief of staff of European Commission Vice President Maros Sefcovic, wished him a Happy New Year on WhatsApp, Alexandre Fasel, State Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (EDA), said at his 100-day media conference in Bern on Wednesday. So far so normal – apparently.
Because there has been little normality in the relationship between Switzerland and the European Union over the past two and a half years. The mood has been poor since the Federal Council broke off negotiations on an institutional agreement. When he took office in September, there was “a lot of mistrust,” Fasel said.
The Freiburg resident explained that “difficult and heavy discussions” had taken place between Bern and Brussels: “Now there is enough trust to build a solid relationship.” This is what the second attempt to regulate bilateral relations is all about, which the Federal Council gave the green light last Friday.
“On the right track”
He sent the draft negotiating mandate to the cantons and parliamentary committees for consultation. The European Commission followed suit on Wednesday. It has forwarded its draft mandate to the 27 Member States for approval. Maros Sefcovic wrote on X about “an encouraging momentum for our bilateral relations”.
There is optimism on both sides that a breakthrough will happen this time. This was just as clearly noticeable at Alexandre Fasel’s media conference as it was the day before during the end-of-year reception at the residence of EU Ambassador Petros Mavromichalis. The Federal Council’s decision puts us “on the right track,” the Greek diplomat said.
In the same place a year ago there was a rather depressive mood due to the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine and the deadlock in relations between Switzerland and the EU. Regarding the second point, all signs point to relaxation. This is also why Alexandre Fasel narrated the episode using Juraj Nociar’s WhatsApp.
The employees
The trust has to do with the State Secretary. Although Fasel is not Switzerland’s chief negotiator (that is, his deputy in charge of Europe, Patric Franzen), the 62-year-old also exudes a seriousness and determination in personal conversations that his hesitant and defensive predecessor Livia Leu lacked.
However, one should not assess the current ambassador in Berlin too negatively. The so-called explorations, which were in fact preliminary negotiations, took place under the leadership of Leu. According to the documents presented, the desired contract package – whether you want to call it Bilateral III or not – has already largely been adjusted.
The grid
That doesn’t mean the deal would be dry. “The devil is in the details,” Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis said on Friday. If the draft mandate is approved by both parties, negotiations should start no later than April or May 2024, but in any case before the European elections in June, according to Fasel.
The top diplomat emphasized that it is important to work at the current EU Commission. The talks could then continue until the new Commission takes office in the autumn. Both sides want a solution by 2024, but even EU representatives are skeptical that the ambitious schedule can be met.
Agreement could be reached quickly on the existing bilateral agreements, but the obstacle was the desired new agreements on, for example, electricity or health care. There is a great need for clarification here, they say. Both parties benefit from the fact that the opposition in Switzerland already appears more determined and uncompromising.
The opponents
Pierre-Yves Maillard, the president of the Swiss Federation of Trade Unions (SGB), called on the Federal Council in “Sonntagsblick” to negotiate hard. Above all, the EU’s new expenses directive is a thorn in the side of the trade unions. They also express concerns about public services, but compared to previous performances they seem almost conciliatory.
Ultimately, it will probably come down to a deal with employers, as was the case with Bilaterals I and II. There will hardly be an alternative because the SVP refuses any constructive cooperation in the European file. The FDP and the Center, whose presidents had fought against the framework agreement that was halted in 2021, were cautiously positive.
The Kompass/Europe association of Zug billionaire Alfred Gantner, on the other hand, speaks of a “Framework Agreement 2.0” and threatens a popular initiative. However, to date he has not presented a viable alternative proposal. What the association has in mind is harvesting the internal market, which the EU categorically rejects.
The alternative”
Some EU opponents dream of agreements with America or Asia. But in a world where, according to Alexandre Fasel, “things are going haywire,” that’s easier said than done. The best example is China. The EDA will present a new China strategy next year, as Fasel confirmed in response to a question from Watson, without hiding the risks.
The People’s Republic is no longer a harmless (free) trading partner for Switzerland, but rather a “systemic rival” that must be dealt with according to the motto “Restrict, Compete, Collaborate”. This makes it all the more important to have a regulated relationship with neighbors, which is what a majority of the population also wants, a new survey shows.
The State Secretary says that the landing zones have been demarcated together with the EU. Now it’s time to find the landing points: “The chances of an agreement are good.” That’s no guarantee. There are plenty of stumbling blocks, and once a treaty is in place, opposition will quickly form. And yet: it can actually work on the second try.
Soource :Watson
I am Amelia James, a passionate journalist with a deep-rooted interest in current affairs. I have more than five years of experience in the media industry, working both as an author and editor for 24 Instant News. My main focus lies in international news, particularly regional conflicts and political issues around the world.
