President Amherd promotes EU agreement with entrepreneurs
Published: Thursday, Jun 6th 2024, 14:50
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At the "Swiss Economic Forum" (SEF), President Viola Amherd asked the entrepreneurs present for their support in advancing Switzerland's relations with the EU. "We need the support of the business community, politics alone is not enough," she said at the start of the event in Interlaken.
Negotiations with the EU would be a priority in her presidential year, said Amherd. And she believes it is possible to conclude the negotiations by the end of 2024. "We must do everything we can to move forward quickly," said the President of the Swiss Confederation. After all, relations with the EU are "not bad". "They just need to be brought into a framework," said Amherd.
She is also convinced that Switzerland will be able to find common domestic political solutions in order to reach a binding agreement with the EU again.
Invitation to Putin was superfluous
When asked about the upcoming peace conference on the Bürgenstock next week, Amherd explained that Russia had not been excluded from the planning. "We left the option of Russia's participation open from the outset," she explained.
However, Russia had made it clear publicly on several occasions that it did not want to take part in the conference. "So there was no need for an invitation," said Amherd.
The meeting was also not about immediately putting a peace agreement on the table. "It should be a first step in a possible peace process," said the President of the Swiss Confederation. Amherd left open the question of whether Russia would then be present at a second conference. "This possibility exists, but there is still a lot of work to be done," she said.
When asked whether she was disappointed by US President Joe Biden's non-attendance at the conference, Amherd kept a low profile. "But I am very pleased to finally meet US Vice President Kamala Harris," said the President of the Swiss Confederation.
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