The key players in the negotiations with the EU
Published: Friday, Dec 20th 2024, 05:40
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The chief negotiators from Bern and Brussels have spent nine months in intensive negotiations on the future relationship between Switzerland and the European Union. The political leaders in the Federal Council and the European Commission accompanied the process. Below are the six key players in the negotiations:
VIOLA AMHERD: In her sixth year as head of the Federal Department of Defense, Civil Protection and Sport (DDPS), the Federal Councillor took over the presidency of the Confederation in 2024. In this role, the 62-year-old was the first point of contact for Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. The two launched the negotiations in March. Amherd maintained contact with von der Leyen throughout the year. Both politicians, who belong to the same European party family (European People's Party/EPP), regularly exchanged views at international summits.
URSULA VON DER LEYEN: The President of the European Commission was confirmed for a second term of office by the European Parliament in the summer. The 66-year-old German has headed the executive authority in Brussels since 2017 and is expected to do so until 2027. As President of the European Commission, she welcomed the President of the Swiss Confederation, Viola Amherd, to Brussels in March for the start of negotiations.
IGNAZIO CASSIS: The Swiss Foreign Minister has headed the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) since 2018. Shortly before his election to the Federal Council, he said that he wanted to press the "reset button" on the EU dossier. Following the failure of the institutional framework agreement in 2021, the 63-year-old from Ticino called for negotiations by sector. Under Cassis' political leadership, the FDFA conducted the negotiations with the European Commission according to a so-called package approach.
MAROS SEFCOVIC: The Slovakian politician has been a member of the EU Commission since 2019 and is the longest-serving member of the college. The 58-year-old has been responsible for trade and economic security as well as interinstitutional relations and transparency since December 1, 2024. He took over the dossier on relations with Switzerland in 2021 and led negotiations at political level for the Commission.
PATRIC FRANZEN: The career diplomat led the negotiations for Switzerland. Franzen was appointed Head of the Europe Division at the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) in 2021. He had previously headed the Swiss embassy in Tbilisi, Georgia, since 2018. A trained lawyer in the field of international humanitarian law and human rights, he joined the FDFA in 1999. Among other things, he was chief of staff at the State Secretariat for International Financial Matters (SIF) and deputy head of mission at the embassy in Moscow.
RICHARD SZOSTAK: The British-Polish dual national led the negotiations for the EU. He has been Director of the Secretariat-General for the Western European partners at the EU Commission since November 2022. These include the United Kingdom and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) member states Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Switzerland. Previously, Szostak was diplomatic advisor and deputy head of cabinet to EU Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker. In this role, he was involved in the Brexit negotiations and has already dealt with the Swiss dossier.
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