Published on December 19, 2024 at 5:05 p.m.
5 mins. reading
Relations between Bern and Brussels will be at the heart of the Horizon Forum which will be held on January 30, 2025 at the IMD in Lausanne. Federal Councilor in charge of Foreign Affairs Ignazio Cassis will answer questions from the Temps.
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This time, it is Ursula von der Leyen, the President of the European Commission, who is coming to Switzerland to officially put an end, with a handshake, to the tortuous and delicate negotiations between Switzerland and the European Union. A final official act between Bern and Brussels, after the last meeting of the Federal Council of 2024 this Friday, where the package should be approved. It is only once the white smoke has left the government room that the German’s arrival will be confirmed. Because there is no question for Ursula von der Leyen of taking the slightest risk. The big (and long) fight on Swiss soil, in the federal parliament and then probably in front of the people, can then begin.
Between Switzerland and the EU, the war of nerves continues until the end. This week will have been particularly intense. Maros Sefcovic, the European Commissioner responsible for the Swiss file, and the head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA), Ignazio Cassis, spoke at least twice, on December 14 and 16, late in the day. Maros Sefcovic had already visited Bern on November 28. The remaining points of friction, on free movement and the electricity issue, were resolved a few days ago, several sources said. It remained to agree on the amounts of the Swiss contribution to EU cohesion efforts. Switzerland’s annual contribution could be between 300 and 400 million francs.
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