Foreign policy 2028 – Ignazio Cassis presents a Vision

Switzerland's foreign policy must be more focused, more networked, and more mobile. One of the EDA, the head of Ignazio Cassis working party has presented the Vision to 2028. In ten years, the EU will not stand for accession to the debate.

A higher-level overall view, not, there, in the foreign Department writes Cassis, in the Preface to the sixty-page document, the representatives of the working group on Tuesday evening in Bern, of the Public present. So far, the Swiss foreign policy is driven according to the Cassis in the rule of "opportunity".

With the digitalisation, climate change, political power shifts, the rise of geopolitical tensions, trade conflicts, migration movements and the associated loss of confidence in the established policy, many things were set in motion and acted on Switzerland.

The world was going to be rougher, more fragmented, more complicated and harder to predict. For Switzerland, this meant that you could not manage your success easily. You must be more than act earlier, from a clearly defined Position and against the outside unified.

source of inspiration and perspective

The head of the Federal Department of foreign Affairs (FDFA) was, therefore, in the autumn of 2018, a working group. This was commissioned to develop a "foreign policy Vision, Switzerland 2028" (Avis28). The report is intended to serve the EDA "as a source of inspiration," and at the same time, a broad discussion on the future of Swiss foreign policy go for it.

The ten-year perspective, includes six Main points. In ten years, Switzerland should be governed, among other things, the institutional issues with the EU and the bilateral path is consolidated. Until 2028, in addition, new technologies as a field of foreign policy should be established. A stronger focus on the needs of the citizens and the economy.

The Vision also calls on the inner strength of Switzerland in their commitment to a more peaceful and stable world. You want to put, therefore, a clear thematic and regional priorities. Finally, the foreign policy had to be linked, given the growing unease in the population against external influences closely with the domestic policy and the latter wide worn.

relationship with the EU as a key issue

An important Chapter of Avis28 is the relationship between Switzerland and Europe, devoted to the "key question of their foreign policy". The access to the European single market for the prosperity of the Switzerland of Central. Leading the way for the security of Switzerland will also be how Europe between the world powers claim.

For the working group, that is, the bottom line is that Switzerland needs to have a close and evolving partnership with the EU and its member States. In ten years, however, the EU will not stand for accession to the debate. "Switzerland should continue to implement the bilateral path is the optimal balance between far-reaching market access and preserving the greatest possible political autonomy."

"Constructive confrontations"

Through the Shaping of norms and standards in the framework of an institutional agreement, the relationship with the EU will not free of conflict, but "constructive confrontations". A joint parliamentary Committee consisting of members of the Federal Assembly and the European Parliament could create new opportunities for influence.

"is The Vision of the idea of a state we want to achieve," writes Cassis, in the Preface to the report Avis28. This also shows ways how the Vision can be realized. The nine-member working group was made up of high-ranking EDA-function carriers, the President of the cantonal governments as well as experts from science, economy and civil society.

(oli/sda)

Created: 02.07.2019, 18:15 PM