The media have very varied reactions following the historic agreement between Switzerland and the European Union. While some are celebrating this success, others are already worried about the future, pointing to annoying topics that have been swept under the rug and a general lack of enthusiasm.
“This December 20 is a day to celebrate”, regardless of what we can say about this agreement, affirms Le Temps. “The battle will be fought later,” writes the newspaper, which recalls the “deep” interweaving of Switzerland in Europe and the “fundamental” access to its market. The daily also believes that the division of the negotiated package is “clever” in order to increase the chances of seeing the whole thing ratified one day.
La Liberté also underlines the extent to which Switzerland needs Europe. The Friborg daily gives as an example the principle of free movement, “tailor-made for Switzerland” and which provides the latter with an “indispensable” workforce. Access to European programs promoting training, research and innovation is also “vital” for Swiss universities.
A “Europhile flame” out of breath
On the side of the Tribune de Genève and 24 Heures, euphoria gives way to skepticism. “Obviously, perpetuating and stabilizing our relations with Brussels is essential (…). But the argument has been rehashed for so long that it is losing its weight,” write the two Lake Geneva titles.
People “who are committed and assertive” will be necessary to convince the Swiss, but they “are conspicuous by their absence and their silence”. “We are therefore looking for the spark capable of rekindling the Europhile flame to save this package,” we read. “Those who want to blow it up have been campaigning for years.”
Ignazio Cassis pointed the finger
Besides Sarine, there are doubts about the concrete continuation of the process. “The Federal Council has not yet presented solutions for the really hot topics,” writes the Tages-Anzeiger.
Mystery hovers over when and how the escape clause on immigration will be integrated and over the type of majority that will be required for the four voting objects. The newspaper believes that opponents dominate the public debate, facing a government and supporters “on the defensive”.
>> Watch the 7:30 p.m. report on the agreement between the European Union and Switzerland:
Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis is singled out. The Ticino man, despite being in charge of the file, “disappeared during the negotiations”, writes the Tages-Anzeiger, while the Neue Zürcher Zeitung affirms that he “failed his communication a little”. The federal councilor's lack of enthusiasm on Friday “was so striking” that he had to explain it to journalists, deplores the Zurich daily.
Blick even wonders if the majority of the government is not already convinced of the failure of a future agreement. “In this case, honesty would be essential. Otherwise, endless consultations after endless negotiations will become an alibi exercise,” writes the media. Schweiz am Wochenende, for its part, judges that the Federal Council managed the negotiations perfectly.
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