Switzerland to honour CHF1.3 billion EU cohesion payment
The Swiss government says it will make good its commitment to hand over CHF1.3 billion ($1.33 billion) for improving living standards in less well-off European Union states despite an ongoing stand-off with the EU over bilateral relations.
“In order to safeguard its prosperity in the long term, Switzerland depends on a secure, stable and prosperous Europe. It therefore has a vital interest in continuing to use its expertise to strengthen European cohesion and improve the management of migration flows,” the governing Federal Council stated.
The funds will be spread over 10 years, primarily targeting vocational training and migration. In addition, Switzerland says it wants to tighten up asylum regulations with the EU to “help support programmes to encourage persons residing illegally in EU partner countries to return to their home countries.”
But the government added that parliament could “reconsider the situation” if the EU failed to live up to Swiss expectations during continued negotiations on the framework conditions that will govern bilateral ties in future.
“Calm atmosphere”
While not a member of the EU, Switzerland has negotiated a number of bilateral treaties with its largest trading partner. But the current relationship can only continue if the two sides can agree to a new over-arching framework of conditions.
The sticking points include access to the Swiss labour market for EU workers, Swiss rules that prevent EU companies from undercutting local wage levels and continued access for Swiss financial industry players in Europe.
The government said it would carry on with EU negotiations according to the current mandate it has received from parliament. It will also domestically “maintain contact with the social partners [labour union] with a view to ensuring a calm atmosphere in Switzerland while the negotiations with the EU are continued.”
“The Federal Council has repeatedly stressed the importance of good cooperation with the EU and affirmed its desire to consolidate bilateral relations,” the statement read.
Unions defiant
However, trade unions responded defiantly to the government’s statement. Travail Suisse issued a statement demanding that measures should remain to protect Swiss wages. “If the accompanying measures are violated, the framework agreement will have no chance in the eyes of the people,” the statement read.
Daniel Lampart, chief economist at the Swiss Federation of Trade Unions told the Swiss News Agency that if wage protection is taken out of the deal: “Then it is dead. We think the Federal Council should break off the negotiations.”
Most Read Swiss Abroad
More
Why cars still reign supreme in ‘rail-nation’ Switzerland
Swiss price watchdog slams excessive prices for generic medicines
This content was published on
The cheapest generic medicines available in Switzerland are more than twice as expensive as in other countries, according to a study by the Swiss price watchdog.
Nature should not figure in net zero calculations: academic study
This content was published on
The natural removal of CO2 from the atmosphere by forests or oceans should not be included in the net-zero balance of climate protection measures, argue researchers.
This content was published on
None of the 15 major Swiss retail banks is meeting international climate and biodiversity targets, according to a ranking by WWF Switzerland.
This content was published on
Nestlé's new CEO Laurent Freixe, has presented plans for the future of the world's largest food company, after his first few weeks in office.
Swiss foreign minister calls on Moscow to end Ukraine war
This content was published on
It's high time Moscow ended its war against Ukraine, Swiss foreign minister Ignazio Cassis tells the UN Security Council.
This content was published on
The only alternative to the UN Palestinian agency’s work in Gaza is to allow Israel to run services there, Philippe Lazzarini, UNRWA Commissioner-General, told reporters in Geneva on Monday.
Study reveals food culture differences between Switzerland and neighbours
This content was published on
Three-quarters of Swiss people consider eating to be a pleasurable, social activity, a new survey reveals. Healthy eating, however, plays a much less important role, it found.
This content was published on
Talks on a framework agreement between Switzerland and the European Union are difficult, with disagreement on issues like worker protection.
‘50-50 chance’ of Swiss-EU framework deal before end of year
This content was published on
Swiss lawyer Jean Russotto sees a “50-50 chance” for Switzerland and the EU to reach a deal in the coming months to formalise ties.
Swiss want only five bilateral treaties under EU framework agreement
This content was published on
A reportExternal link on foreign economic policy published on Wednesday stated that an institutional framework agreement would apply to those bilateral agreements that allow access to certain areas of the European Union’s (EU) internal market. The Swiss want this to span five bilateral agreements: the free movement of persons, mutual recognition of conformity agreement, agricultural…
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.