Zurich, 7 February 2022 (TDI): Ignazio Cassis, President of Switzerland while talking to SonntagsZeitung newspaper showed his interest in improving relations with the European Union (EU).
President Cassis seeks several bilateral agreements with the European Union as he believes that Switzerland must move closer to the European Bloc, the biggest trading partner of Switzerland.
In an interview with the Sunday Newspaper, Ignazio Cassis who is also serving as Foreign Minister said, “In the Federal Council, we are currently in the process of defining the framework for a possible package or an agenda for talks.”
While talking about the inclination towards European Union, the Swiss President added, ”In a tripolar world of the United States, Russia/China, and the European Union, the pressure on Switzerland to cultivate deeper relations with Europe will grow. Because the European Union is closest to us economically, ideologically and socially.”
As of now, Electricity and Energy agreements between Switzerland and the EU are possible, with the chances of cooperation in the field of media, culture, health, and research.
In May, last year the talks between Switzerland and the EU broke down after the Swiss Government rejected the 2018 draft treaty, that was supposed to strengthen its ties with the biggest trading partner.
Switzerland and European Union economic ties are now linked with the 100 bilateral agreements since 1972. Swiss President Ignazio Cassis, who represents the Pro-Business Liberal Party is hopeful that the series of new bilateral agreements between the European Union and Switzerland may be helpful in dispute resolution and can achieve compromise on wage protection.
In 2018, European Commission expressed regret at the decision of the Swiss Government to reject the 2018 draft treaty by saying, “Without this agreement, this modernization of our relationship will not be possible and our bilateral agreements will inevitably age.”
Besides that, Belgium had been in support of a treaty that consists of bilateral accords and to make Switzerland adopt changes to single market rules. In this way, it would have provided a suitable way to resolve disputes.
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