Cassis' EU-Deal and the astronomical spring

as dramatically as in London, Europe is not the political Situation in Bern. But just one day after the Brexit-the agreement has failed in the house of Commons, is also in the Federal house, the question is becoming more acute, as the relationship Switzerland-EU. The foreign Minister, Ignazio Cassis (FDP) wants to consolidate the relationships with the institutional framework of the agreement – but recent resolutions of the Federal Council show that the Support for this has not been about Christmas more.

on The contrary, Cassis’ closest European policy companion, Doris Leuthard (CVP), left the Federal Council at the end of the year. And the other Federal councillors showed at the first meeting of the year, little desire to support Cassis in the case of a promotional tour for the framework agreement.

Formally, the Federal Council, to launch a public consultation on the draft Agreement has to be decided. Such hearings are, in fact, to the normality of the Federal policy. However, in this case, almost nothing is normal. The total government to the agreement furthermore, no opinion: Neither supports it nor rejects it officially, now wants to fathom but the detailed opinion of the parties, cantons and associations to the draft.

Unique procedure

Without their own Position in the overall Federal Council may, in the absence of a formal consultation process to perform, as would be usual. Instead, you want to make a "hearing of a special kind," says Cassis' Secretary of state, Roberto Balzaretti. This means that they wanted To take with the stakeholders, "seriously, the temperature" and then the conclusions.

In the months of February and March, will meet with Cassis for the purpose of temperature measurement personally in the parliamentary committees and other political actors to high-profile talks. The representatives of the 26 cantons, he wants to invite to a meeting, then representatives of all major parties to a similar meeting. There are three further Meetings with the social partners, the business associations and with representatives of the science to follow.

At each of these Meetings to Cassis by at least one Federal Council colleagues. Such as the "NZZ am Sonntag" reported, would have Cassis actually want to summon, depending on the Meeting a suitable colleague to the social partners, for example, one of the two SP-members that should have the unions more credit as a Liberal.

time

However, the entire Federal Council has now decided to put it in a different way: Fix accompanied Cassis should be on his talk marathon by the (for the EU-Dossier re also competent) Minister of economy, Guy Parmelin. expand Partially Sukkurs Federal President Ueli Maurer to make. This means that Cassis is in his advocacy for the framework agreement, only two colleagues to the pages, to no such agreement.

Cassis' Secretary of state, Roberto Balzaretti (right) wants to make a good time: With the Argument of "astronomical spring" could push the foreign Minister, the answer for the EU until mid-June. Photo: Keystone

Based on the results of the consultation, the Federal Council will have to write at some point but still an opinion for the attention of Brussels. The only question is: when? In December, Cassis had said, the consultation will take up in the spring. Now, the Department of Cassis, this time to expand. The astronomical spring until the 20. June 2019, said Balzaretti representatives of the media – until then, the Federal Council wants to know what he wants to communicate to Brussels.

In the case of the EU-Commission did not want to comment on the recent Federal Berner Volte directly. "We wait procedure on the outcome of the consultation," said a spokeswoman in Brussels yesterday. In some astonishment, circles, joined in the EU, however, Switzerland will be with the consultation now probably only in may or June – so just in the "hot Phase" of the European elections in the EU will be engaged primarily with themselves. (Editorial Tamedia)

Created: 17.01.2019, 08:38 PM