Commentary in the “Handelszeitung” on the EU negotiations
Published: Friday, Dec 20th 2024, 21:20
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The "Handelszeitung" writes online about the negotiations with the EU:
"The Federal Councillors were right to point out the wider context of the whole exercise. On the one hand, there are the economic dependencies: Switzerland is very closely intertwined with the EU - in terms of trade, value chains and the free movement of persons. Our companies are dependent on skilled workers from abroad and they contribute to our prosperity. And then there is the geopolitical context: the world is increasingly splitting into hostile blocs. It is not advisable to refuse to cooperate with Europe, the bloc that is historically and economically closest to us and most important to us. [...] It is unlikely that the agreement reached will fundamentally change the debates in Switzerland. Those who insist on complete autonomy in Switzerland's legislation - on immigration as well as on rules in other areas of bilateral exchange - will be dissatisfied with what has been achieved and will reject it. With such an attitude, however, any attempt to reach a regulated agreement is doomed to failure. Firstly, the EU cannot offer Switzerland more than its own member states have to comply with. Secondly, complete independence does not exist in any kind of relationship."
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