Meeting for the second time: Austrian Foreign Affairs Minister Karin Kneissl and Swiss Foreign Affairs Minister Ignazio Cassis in Bern
KEYSTONE / ANTHONY ANEX
Swiss Foreign Affairs Minister Ignazio Cassis and his Austrian counterpart, Karin Kneissl, have been discussing EU policy, airspace security and migration.
Whereas Switzerland is not a member of the 28-country bloc, Austria wrapped up its six-month term of the rotating EU presidency at the end of 2018.
As Kneissl told Swiss public television, SRFExternal link, “The agreement was drawn up over a long period of time, with experts at all levels. Everyone has said how far they are willing to go. The results are impressive. Now it is up to the Swiss side to take the next step.”
Cassis and Kneissl also discussed the bilateral airspace agreement that takes effect on February 1.
“The agreement authorises Swiss pilots to cross the Austrian border to counter an air threat, for example at the World Economic Forum in Davos. Switzerland has already signed airspace agreements with other neighbouring countries, allowing the Swiss Air Force to respond to incidents across the border,” notes the FDFA.
In addition, Cassis and Kneissl exchanged views on current world affairs. Topics included cooperation in the area of migration, reforms of the UN system and the situation in the Middle East. The two colleagues also highlighted the “excellent relations” between Switzerland and Austria.
More
More
Swiss and Austrian leaders discuss bilateral relations and EU
This content was published on
Swiss President Alain Berset and Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz met in Bern on Tuesday to discuss bilateral relations among other topics.
This content was published on
More than six years after its launch, the 'Bepicolombo' space probe flew past the planet Mercury for the last time on Wednesday.
Swiss scientists discover unusual zones in Earth’s mantle
This content was published on
Using high-resolution models to study the Earth's mantle, scientists have identified zones of rocks in the lower mantle that are colder, or have a different composition, than surrounding rocks.
Egyptian diplomat’s murder: prosecutor calls for acquittal of defendant’s girlfriend
This content was published on
The Swiss attorney general has called for the girlfriend of the main defendant in the case of the assassination of an Egyptian diplomat in Geneva in 1995 to be acquitted. The woman is charged with complicity.
Low-cost e-tailers Temu and Shein put Swiss retail sector under pressure
This content was published on
Most Swiss retailers are concerned by the stiff competition from China's low-cost online platforms Temu and Shein, according to a survey.
This content was published on
More and more offices are standing empty in Switzerland's major cities. Nevertheless, new office constructions are likely to increase in the future, a study shows.
Voters unlikely to accept EU deal: Swiss president
This content was published on
Speaking to television station Tele Züri on Sunday, Maurer said: “As things stand today, the framework agreement would not be accepted. So we would still have to make substantial renegotiations.” Maurer, who holds the portfolio of finance minister, took on the rotating role of presidency at the start of 2019 for one year. Last month,…
Switzerland faces stark choice on EU integration deal
This content was published on
The Swiss government on Friday faces a stark choice on future relations with the EU that is likely to resonate far beyond its borders.
Foreign minister: labour market rules thorny issue with EU
This content was published on
Measures to protect Swiss wages and working conditions remain a red line in negotiations with the EU, Swiss foreign minister says.
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.