Clear fronts remain after conclusion of negotiations
Published: Friday, Dec 20th 2024, 19:00
Volver a Live Feed
As expected, clear fronts opened up once again on Friday in the assessment of the results of the negotiations on bilateral relations between Switzerland and the EU. The following is an overview of reactions:
SVP: The SVP has categorically rejected new treaties between Switzerland and the EU. The party says no to an "EU submission treaty", it announced even before the Federal Council provided information. The Federal Council broke off negotiations with the EU in 2021. The framework agreement sought at the time was nothing more than a treaty of subjugation. Now it is coming around the corner again with the same treaty. The SVP is opposed to Switzerland automatically adopting EU law and curtailing the rights of the people. It is also opposed to Switzerland paying hundreds of millions of francs a year to the EU in return for access to the EU internal market.
SP: The SP noted that good relations with Europe are of central importance for the population, the economy, education and research. Even after the Federal Council's announcements, much remains unclear because only the key points of the negotiated agreement are known. A final assessment can only be made once the overall domestic and foreign policy package is available. There is concern about statements made by the Federal Council on Friday, according to which no solutions have yet been found to safeguard wage protection and public services (railroads, electricity).
GREENS: For the Greens, the agreement "finally opens the way out of the impasse" and halts the disintegration of bilateral relations. It is a liberating blow for Switzerland as a science and business location. The EU agreement is of great strategic importance for Switzerland. It guarantees stable and good relations from which both Switzerland and the EU benefit. The Greens expect the Federal Council to "confidently represent the outcome of the negotiations and enact the necessary accompanying measures, including those on wage protection". They demand that the Federal Council submit the individual negotiation packages to Parliament without delay.
DIE MITTE: The new agreements between Switzerland and the EU are a clear step forward for the center compared to the framework agreement of 2018. The Federal Council has succeeded in making progress in important areas. The fact that the Federal Council is presenting the new agreements separately for discussion is expressly welcomed. It will now examine whether the outcome of the negotiations provides for viable solutions, particularly with regard to the safeguard clause on immigration, wage protection and institutional issues. The protection of wage levels and social security systems as well as the principles of Swiss migration policy are central to Die Mitte.
FDP: The FDP considers the outcome of the negotiations on the new bilateral agreements to be better than previous attempts. The outcome of the negotiations surpasses the results of the last attempt in 2021 and the Federal Council has achieved more this time. The party neither wants to cheer nor condemn the treaties. They should be examined first. The FDP also criticized the role of the trade unions. According to the party, they are not interested in the prosperity of the population, but only in filling their own coffers at their expense.
GLP: According to the GLP, Switzerland now has the chance to break the deadlock on the bilateral path. The "tailor-made package" makes Switzerland fit for the future and secures prosperity. The bilateral agreements are the Swiss way, said GLP parliamentary group leader Corina Gredig (ZH). The party would not be deterred by scoffers, pessimists and populists from leading Switzerland's successful path into the future with the Bilaterals III.
EU PARLIAMENTARIANS: EU parliamentarians welcomed the conclusion of the negotiations between Switzerland and the EU. It is an important milestone for the further development and deepening of the already close relations between the EU and Switzerland. The European Parliament will analyze the text of the agreements and conduct a comprehensive, balanced and forward-looking debate, wrote German CDU politicians David McAllister and Andreas Schwab and French MEP Chrisophe Grudler, a member of the centrist Mouvement démocrate, in a joint statement. The three MEPs play a leading role in relations with Switzerland in the European Parliament.
OPERATION LIBERO: For Operation Libero, the Bilaterals III are urgently needed. The answer to autocrats must be more Europe for Switzerland. An important hurdle has been overcome with the conclusion of the negotiations with the EU. To ensure that the Bilaterals III "do not suffer the same fate as the 2021 framework agreement", Operation Libero has launched a poster campaign. Putin, Trump and Xi smile from one of the posters, with the slogan: "Yes to Europe and the Bilaterals 3 because liberal democracy is in danger".
PRO SCHWEIZ: The Pro Switzerland movement accuses the Federal Council of concealing the key issues. Brussels is dictating, Federal Bern is capitulating and the Swiss people should remain silent and pay. The Federal Council's behaviour is not worthy of Swiss democracy, criticizes Pro Switzerland. The dynamic adoption of law means the automatic adoption of EU law. There would be monitoring, decision-making powers and punishment by the EU Court of Justice. In addition, compulsory payments totaling over three billion Swiss francs would have to be made to the EU for the next twelve years from as early as 2025.
CANDONAL GOVERNMENTS: The cantonal governments welcome the conclusion of the negotiations as a milestone. They now have concrete negotiation results that can be widely discussed and evaluated. At the same time, the internal political course must now be set. The cantons want to play a constructive role in this process. The aim is to achieve a balanced overall package that will also convince the population. In addition to stabilizing the existing market access agreements, the package also contains new agreements. For example, the agreement on the health agreement will improve cross-border cooperation in crisis situations and strengthen public health protection.
EMPLOYER ASSOCIATIONS: The Swiss Federation of Trade Unions and Travailsuisse criticize the agreement with the EU because, in their opinion, it will reduce wage protection. The agreement will make it much more difficult to enforce Swiss wages. The agreement also commits Switzerland to adopting the EU expense rule. Employees who have to work abroad on behalf of their employers "will only be reimbursed for accommodation and meals in accordance with the rules in their country of origin", even though these costs in Switzerland are among the highest in Europe. The agreement also has a negative impact on the public service, electricity supply and international passenger traffic, the two associations wrote.
ECONOMIC TRADE ASSOCIATION: For the Employers' Association, the conclusion of the negotiations for the Bilaterals III marks an important step towards securing this proven path in the long term. With regard to wage protection, the three-stage safeguarding concept that has been developed will enable Switzerland to maintain the specific protection mechanisms in the future, the employers' association notes. Economiesuisse takes positive note of the fact that, according to the Federal Council, Switzerland has achieved the goals set out in the negotiating mandate. For the industry association Swissmem, the agreement appears to be advantageous for Switzerland at first glance.
SCIENCEINDUSTRIES: The Chemical Pharmaceutical Life Sciences Business Association sees the material conclusion of negotiations with the EU as an important signal for Switzerland. This could enable barrier-free access for chemical-pharmaceutical companies to the most important export market, secure the free movement of persons and deepen European research cooperation once again.
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE: The Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK) Hochrhein-Bodensee has welcomed the agreement between Switzerland and the EU on new bilateral treaties. Clear and stable framework conditions are essential in order to secure cross-border trade and close cooperation with Switzerland in the long term.
ASSOCIATION OF ELECTRICITY COMPANIES: The Association of Swiss Electricity Companies particularly welcomes the electricity agreement. The better Switzerland is integrated into the European electricity market, the more resilient, secure and cheaper its electricity supply will be. It is positive that the basic supply can be maintained and that the sector has room for maneuver here. It is also good that electricity suppliers and distribution grid operators are allowed to remain in public hands, that flexibility is provided for with regard to reserve power plants and that no regulations are imposed on the awarding of hydropower concessions. Cooperation on hydrogen is also being sought.
HOTELLERIESUISSE: For Hotelleriesuisse, "the bilateral agreements are our path for the future". The agreement represents an important step towards securing economic cooperation and is a milestone. It offers Swiss accommodation and the entire Swiss tourism industry a stable basis for the future. It strengthens access to the EU internal market and is essential for securing Swiss prosperity. The Bilateral Agreements should not only be ratified quickly, but also implemented sustainably.
TRADE SWITZERLAND: According to Trade Switzerland, the outcome of the negotiations "secures Switzerland's special path in Europe". Switzerland negotiated well and achieved a great deal. This is particularly evident in the area of immigration and the specification of the safeguard clause.
SWISSUNIVERSITIES: Swiss universities see significant negotiation successes for research and positive signals for education. Universities are currently very much confronted with the negative consequences of the breakdown of negotiations with the EU in March 2021. Many universities will face significant financial and structural challenges if a distinction is no longer made between nationals and non-nationals when it comes to tuition fees.
SWISS ABROAD: The Organization of the Swiss Abroad sees the conclusion of negotiations as the preservation of secure residence and working conditions. The free movement of persons is central for the European Swiss abroad. 57% of all Swiss abroad would have been living in an EU or EFTA member state by the end of 2023. Thanks to the Agreement on the Free Movement of Persons, they are basically free to choose their place of work and residence and are largely treated equally to nationals of EU and EFTA states.
©Keystone/SDA
Spanish 
English 
German 
French 
Arabic