Johannes Hahn, EU commissioner for neighbourhood policy and enlargement (left), and Swiss Foreign Affairs Minister Ignazio Cassis during discussions at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, earlier this year
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Not content to mind her own business, Susan studied journalism in Boston so she’d have the perfect excuse to put herself in other people’s shoes and worlds. When not writing, she presents and produces podcasts and videos.
“The Federal Council is following the overriding goal of unhindered market access as far as possible, and intensive cooperation in select areas, while maintaining the greatest possible sovereignty,” noted the executive branch of the Swiss government. The Federal Council added that it was “attentively” following Britain’s departure from the EU as well as the development of its future relationship.
Switzerland is not a member of the 28-nation bloc, but its location in the middle of Europe means it has dozens of bilateral deals governing trade, migration and other issues. However, for the past four years, Switzerland and the EU have been struggling to come up with a new framework accord.
The EU, occupied with its divorce proceedings with Britain, has had fewer resources to finesse its relationship with Switzerland; nevertheless, the alpine nation remains on its radar.
“I hope that very soon we’ll have a decision, of course a positive one, but it’s too premature to make any predictions about the outcome,” European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations Commissioner Johannes HahnExternal link told swissinfo.ch last week. “There are definitely red lines on both sides. Our aim – meaning Foreign Affairs Minister CassisExternal link and myself – is hopefully to bring together the two lines to one.”
On Monday, Economics Minister Johann Schneider-Ammann insisted that Switzerland would not be pressured to wrap up negotiations this year.
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Swiss economics minister ‘will not accept EU diktat’
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Johann Schneider-Ammann has said that he will not bow down to EU pressure to conclude a framework agreement by the end of the year.
Various leaders confirm participation at Ukraine peace conference
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The presidents of Poland, Finland, and Latvia and the prime ministers of Spain and Belgium will be at the Swiss-hosted talks in mid-June.
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In the winter season up to April 2024, railway and cable car operators ferried 3% more visitors compared to the previous winter, and 5% more than the five-year average.
Rhine flooding: Swiss to invest CHF1 billion with Austria
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As part of an international agreement with Austria, the Swiss government wants to pump CHF1 billion ($1.1 billion) into flood protection measures along the Rhine over the next three decades.
Swiss government proposes CHF10 million UNRWA donation
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After months of debate, Switzerland plans to give CHF10 million ($11 million) to the UN agency this year, rather than the CHF20 million initially foreseen.
Swiss study: insects mainly migrate at midday and dusk
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A study led by the Swiss Ornithological Institute in canton Lucerne is helping to better understand the movement patterns of migratory insects.
Red Cross: 22 staff killed in Middle East since October
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The Red Cross and Red Crescent network in Gaza and Israel has lost 22 staff members since last October, the Swiss Red Cross (SRC) said on Wednesday.
Dortmund’s Kobel is first Swiss goalie in Champions League final
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Borussia Dortmund’s Gregor Kobel has achieved history by becoming the first Swiss goalkeeper to reach a Champion’s League final.
University students in Switzerland join Gaza protest wave
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Pro-Palestinian activists occupied university buildings in Lausanne, Geneva and Zurich on Tuesday, widening the protest movement in the Alpine nation.
TradeXBank to resume full operations after Sberbank Switzerland taken off sanctions list
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TradeXBank, the former Swiss branch of Russia’s Sberbank, will be able to resume its dollar-denominated activities from the second half of this year.
Geneva decides not to remove controversial memorials
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The city of Geneva has presented an action plan regarding a series of controversial local statues and monuments of historical figures linked to racism, colonialism or slavery.
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.
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Swiss president sidelined by EU leader
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Swiss President Alain Berset has met leaders from Europe and Asia in Brussels but the EU leader gave him the cold shoulder.
Survey: nearly half of Swiss oppose an EU framework agreement
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A survey by Tamedia shows that some 48% of Swiss are against an institutional framework agreement with the EU while 43% support it.
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After British voters' decision to leave the EU, should post-Brexit negotiations be based on Switzerland’s bilateral treaties with Brussels?
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Some Brits believe Switzerland has benefited from the bilateral approach. The Swiss-EU treaties give Switzerland direct access to the best parts of the EU: trade, transport and science projects – plus visa-less travel around Europe. One thing the UK has in common with Switzerland since Brexit is coming to a vote: using direct democracy to…
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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.