Swiss export industry backs EU framework deal
Switzerland’s largest industrial employer, the Association of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering Industries, has come out in favour of a controversial accord, covering relations with the European Union.
Hans Hess, president of Swissmem, said the draft agreement was tailor-made for Switzerland.
“I don’t think we can negotiate a better deal in three or four years,” Hess told the Neue Zürcher Zeitung newspaper.
He pledged to fight to maintain the system of bilateral treaties between the EU and non-member Switzerland, adding that Switzerland’s export industry was relying on access to the European market.
Hess said the framework accord also ensured legal certainty and the prospect of negotiating further deals, notably in the electricity sector.
He added that the price to pay for Switzerland is too high in case no agreement can be reached.
Hess appealed to the trade unions and other associations to reconsider their opposition, particularly over salary protection, in the light of the overall interest of the country.
His comments come after a controversial non-decision by the government on the framework deal earlier this month. Instead the document was put to a public consultation before it will be submitted to parliament.
The seven-member government was split over the deal and did not take position.
More
Framing the terms for future Swiss-EU relations
In compliance with the JTI standards
More: SWI swissinfo.ch certified by the Journalism Trust Initiative
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here. Please join us!
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.