Livia Leu, Swiss ambassador to France, has been appointed top negotiator for talks with the EU. She is the fifth person in seven years to take over the difficult post.
Keystone/Marcel Bieri
The government has appointed a new chief negotiator for talks with the European Union on an umbrella accord with the 27-nation bloc.
This content was published on
2 minutes
swissinfo.ch/urs
Español
es
Suiza designa nuevo titular de negociaciones con la UE
Livia Leu, currently Swiss ambassador to France and former head of Switzerland’s diplomatic mission to Iran, takes over from state secretary Roberto Balzaretti with immediate effect.
“The decision creates the structural and staffing conditions needed to effectively implement the foreign policy strategy and the next phase of the negotiations with the EU,” Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis told a news conference on Wednesday.
Cassis said the government would resume talks with Brussels in the next few weeks in an effort to break an impasse on the future of bilateral relations between non-EU Switzerland and its biggest trading partner.
The government has struggled to forge domestic consensus on the treaty negotiated two years ago. The accord has still not been ratified by the government.
State aid, EU citizens’ access to Swiss welfare benefits as well as unilateral Swiss rules designed to protect high wages from competition from cross-border workers on temporary assignments have prompted criticism from the political right and trade unions.
Cassis said the appointment of Leu and the reorganisation of the foreign ministry sent a strong signal to Brussels.
“Europe has been and will remain at the centre of our foreign policy,” he said.
Cassis expected the EU to be open to further talks about a so-called framework agreement with Switzerland. However, it is not clear to what extent Brussels is willing to make further compromises.
Leu has held various posts at the foreign ministry’s headquarters and abroad during her 30-year diplomatic career.
She is the fifth chief negotiator since 2014 for talks on the future of bilateral relations with the EU. She will also be state secretary, formally the number two in the foreign ministry as of next January.
During the news conference, Cassis repeatedly dismissed allegations that he had been forced to give in to pressure from the seven-member government to replace Balzaretti as chief negotiator and state secretary.
More
More
Former Ambassador Livia Leu Agosti honoured
This content was published on
Switzerland has represented US interests in Iran for more than 30 years, since the US and Iran broke off diplomatic relations. Leu Agosti served as Swiss Ambassador to Iran from 2009 to 2013. The Common Ground Awards are presented annually by the Washington-based non-profit organisation Search for Common Ground “to honour outstanding accomplishments in conflict…
Should Switzerland take measures to support its struggling industries?
Industrial policies are back in fashion, not only in the United States but also in the EU. Should Switzerland, where various industries are struggling, draw inspiration from such policies?
As a Swiss Abroad, how do you feel about the emergence of more conservative family policies in some US states?
In recent years several US states have adopted more conservative policies on family issues, abortion and education. As a Swiss citizen living there, how do you view this development?
This content was published on
A committee of Switzerland’s House of Representatives has found the people’s initiative to limit fireworks too extreme, but has suggested a counter-proposal.
UN investigators report evidence of crimes in Syria and call for national dialogue
This content was published on
UN investigators in Geneva report ample evidence of crimes in Syria and urge the regime to follow through on its promise of a national dialogue.
Swiss Trade Union warns EU deal could threaten wages
This content was published on
The Swiss Trade Union Federation warns that the new bilateral agreement between Switzerland and the EU could threaten wage protection and public services.
Credit Suisse fines from Mozambique scandal to fund victims’ compensation
This content was published on
The fines imposed on Credit Suisse for the Mozambique scandal will be allocated to a fund for the victims, amounting to $105.5 million.
‘Confederation is a subsidy machine’: Swiss finance minister
This content was published on
The Swiss government is a machine for distributing subsidies to various actors in the country, says finance minister Karin Keller-Sutter.
Lack of funds ends third bid to salvage Säntis ship from Swiss lake
This content was published on
A third attempt to salvage the steamship Säntis, lying at the bottom of Lake Constance in Switzerland since 1933, has failed before it has even begun.
Nestlé Waters on trial in France over illegal waste dumps
This content was published on
Bottled water producer Nestlé Waters to stand trial, accused of illegally dumping waste and maintaining unauthorised dumps.
‘I can’t see Switzerland or the EU leaving the negotiating table’
This content was published on
Relations between Switzerland and the European Union (EU) are well past the honeymoon period despite a recent vote of confidence.
This content was published on
Roberto Balzaretti, Switzerland’s top negotiator with the EU, is to lose his job because of the current stalemate in sealing a new framework agreement.
This content was published on
Livia Leu Agosti, who was ambassador to Iran from 2009 to 2013, told the NZZ am Sonntag newspaper that although it was hard to estimate the potential for Swiss companies in Iran, it is a rich and large country with 80 million relatively well-off inhabitants. “The economy remains strongly controlled by the state and is…
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.