Swiss abroad approve EU labour deal

Transport Minister Leuenberger (left) and OSA President Jacques-Simon Eggly in harmony Keystone

Transport Minister Moritz Leuenberger has called for respect towards minorities and extolled the virtues of direct democracy.

His speech was a highlight of the three-day annual Congress of the Swiss Abroad, which focused on relations between Switzerland and the European Union, particularly the continuation and extension of a labour accord.

It was not without a touch of irony that Leuenberger referred to the theme of Saturday’s gathering in Fribourg of about 400 Swiss expatriates from around the world.

“I don’t want a Switzerland without borders,” said Leuenberger.

But it was not an unexpected change in his political convictions that made the centre-left Social Democrat plead for borders and limits.

“They help define our identity. Switzerland without borders would no longer be Switzerland.”

He went on to extol the virtues of the tradition of direct democracy, the linguistic and cultural diversity of the country, to conclude that borders and limits must not become barriers.

Leuenberger added that it is impossible to be completely autonomous and cut off from the world.

“The future of the traditional cervelat sausage is only guaranteed through the cooperation with Argentina, Panama and Uruguay. This goes to show that Switzerland needs friends,” he said jokingly.

Labour accord

Leuenberger welcomed the controversial debate over the labour deal – also known as the accord on the free movement of people – between Switzerland and the EU, as well as a decision by the Council of the Swiss Abroad in favour of continuing and extending the deal.

Rightwing and far-right groups are challenging a decision by parliament to hold a nationwide vote to take place next year.

“It is part and parcel of the Swiss system that citizens can intervene in the political process, launching referendums against controversial decisions.”

A panel discussion as well as workshops with politicians, experts and Swiss expatriates highlighted some of the concerns over the labour deal.

However, a poll among the Swiss abroad showed an overwhelming majority in favour of continuing the treaty, concluded in 2002, and extending it to the latest EU member countries, Bulgaria and Romania.

Two out of three respondents said Switzerland benefited from the labour accord with Brussels and rejection at the ballot box would have negative consequences.

E-voting, Swiss Review

On Friday the Council of the Swiss Abroad called on the cantonal authorities to push ahead with trials of electronic voting in a bid to introduce the system on a nationwide level.

The assembly also criticised the foreign ministry for planned cuts in the bi-monthly magazine for registered Swiss abroad.

“The expatriates clearly expressed their willingness to keep close ties with Switzerland and to contribute their experience as citizens,” said Ruedi Wyder, president of the Organisation of the Swiss Abroad (OSA).

The government said the introduction of e-voting must be subject to a series of trials in cantons to ensure security and the anonymity of voters and preclude vote rigging.

The foreign ministry is planning a 27 per cent cut in the annual SFr1.8 million ($1.7 million) budget for the Swiss Review publication as of next year.

The magazine with a print-run of 400,000 is published in German, French, Italian, English and Spanish in 20 regional editions.

It provides Swiss abroad with information on political issues, including nationwide votes and referendums.

swissinfo, Urs Geiser in Fribourg

Key facts

At the end of last year there were 668,107 registered Swiss living abroad – an increase of 3.6% on 2006.
Almost a third of them are based in European Union member countries, mainly France, Germany, and Italy.
The largest community of Swiss expatriates outside Europe is in the US.
Considerable numbers of Swiss abroad also live in Canada, Australia, Argentina, Brazil, Israel and South Africa.

Switzerland and the EU

Voters in 1992 narrowly rejected joining the European Economic Area treaty, a halfway house to EU membership.

Instead Switzerland and the EU concluded 16 bilateral accords, which came into force in 2002 (extended in 2006) and 2005 respectively. They mainly cover trade and labour as well as asylum, customs and tax issues.

Under the terms of the first package of bilateral treaties with Brussels Switzerland can review the labour deal by mid-May 2009.

Refusal to continue the deal would result in the whole set of accords being suspended.

Far-right groups and some cantonal chapters of the rightwing Swiss People’s Party are collecting signatures to force a nationwide vote.

The EU is Switzerland’s most important trading partner.