Swiss-European platform insists on vote on EU treaty
Published: Friday, Feb 9th 2024, 15:10
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Swift negotiations with Brussels and a decision at the ballot box: this is what the Switzerland-Europe Platform is insisting on in view of the draft mandate for negotiations. Unresolved issues, such as wage protection, can be resolved, it writes.
After years of discussions and blockade attempts, Parliament and the people have the right to decide on Switzerland's future relationship with the EU, wrote the Swiss-European Platform on Friday. The Federal Council had achieved important things in the preliminary talks, for example with regard to the Citizens' Rights Directive and state aid.
The platform mentioned, for example, the Citizens' Rights Directive, state aid and exceptions to the dynamic adoption of legislation. And a solution is possible for wage protection.
The EU and the European Court of Justice recognized the principle of "equal pay for equal work in the same place". Switzerland is also assured that it does not have to adopt new EU law if this would lower the level of wage protection.
Other priorities for the platform include Switzerland's re-association with the EU's research and exchange programs, an update of the agreement on product approval and improved cooperation in the area of electricity. These points should be linked to the conclusion of the negotiations.
The platform wants the Federal Council to take a more decisive stance against "repeatedly disseminated misinformation". It mentions keywords such as loss of sovereignty, foreign judges and the undermining of the social security system. Voters should be informed "much more actively" about the results of the negotiations.
Members of the Switzerland-Europe Platform are the European Movement Switzerland, the Society for the Promotion of Cross-Border Cooperation, Operation Libero, Regio Basiliensis, the Swiss Foreign Policy Association, the think tank Our Law and the appeal "Switzerland in Europe".
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