Council of States does not believe in increasing cohesion contribution EU Credit Suisse wants to borrow more than CHF 50 billion from SNB

The idea of ​​a higher cohesion contribution to the European Union in exchange for Switzerland’s participation in EU research programs is off the table. On Thursday, the Council of States rejected a motion from the Foreign Affairs Committee of the National Council (APK-N).

The small chamber rejected the proposal by 31 votes to 8, with two abstentions, at the request of the preliminary 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 specific 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.

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 reason for 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.

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Carlo Sommaruga (SP/GE) agreed that the motion was outdated.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. (aeg/sda)