Emblematic conservative figure Christoph Blocher told People’s Party members that accepting the EU framework accord would be tantamount to ‘suicide for Switzerland’. Current president Ueli Maurer struck a more nuanced note.
This content was published on
2 minutes
SRF/dos
العربية
ar
بلوخر يُحذّر من تبعات الإتفاق الإطاري مع بروكسل ويصفه بـ “الإنتحاري”
Speaking to over 1,000 members of the right-wing People’s Party in Zurich on Friday night, Blocher said that the framework accord – which Switzerland and the European Union have been struggling to negotiate for five years – was a “classic contract of subjugation”.
Raising again the spectre of a “takeover” of foreign law and judges (a fear that was rejected by Swiss voters in a ballot last November), Blocher claimed that signing the accord would be harmful for competitiveness and would threaten jobs, salaries, and even social harmony.
He criticised the Swiss ruling class, who he said were like rabbits caught in front of Brussels’ headlamps and who receive their “commanding orders” from the economiesuisse business federationExternal link.
Should the accord be accepted by parliament in its current form, Blocher warned, a referendum would be organised.
Last Wednesday saw the Swiss government publish an explanatory note on the draft framework accord, which aims to pull under a single umbrella agreement the patchwork bilateral deals which determined relations between Bern and Brussels until now.
A consultation process involving those likely to be affected by the deal – employers, business leaders, etc. – was also initiated this week, and will run to early summer.
EU figures, however, are showing signs of impatience at the slow pace with which Switzerland is deciding whether to sign the deal, and this week, a leaked internal EU note revealed that progress on other areas of cooperation is set to be frozen until a satisfactory conclusion is reached.
Current Swiss president and finance minister Ueli Maurer, also of the People’s Party and who has previously made his scepticism of the deal known, spoke after Blocher on Friday, but grounded his speech rather in the challenge of marrying traditional Swiss values with the shifting challenges of the 21st century.
More
More
‘The EU will not renegotiate the framework treaty with Switzerland’
This content was published on
As signs increasingly suggest that a framework agreement with the EU is heading for failure, a political analyst warns that Brussels will not budge.
Swiss authorities announce cost-cutting in asylum sector
This content was published on
The government notably wants to improve integration into the labour force, particularly for people with protection status S.
Various leaders confirm participation at Ukraine peace conference
This content was published on
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.
This content was published on
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
This content was published on
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
This content was published on
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
This content was published on
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
This content was published on
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
This content was published on
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
This content was published on
Pro-Palestinian activists occupied university buildings in Lausanne, Geneva and Zurich on Tuesday, widening the protest movement in the Alpine nation.
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.
Read more
More
EU ramps up pressure on Switzerland to sign framework deal
This content was published on
The EU has stepped up pressure on Switzerland to sign a framework agreement by threatening to freeze discussions in other areas of cooperation.
This content was published on
What’s it all about? The EU is clear that participating in its single market requires a consistent implementation and interpretation of the market’s continually developing set of rules. Therefore, Brussels expects that the bilateral agreements between Switzerland and the EU will continue to be adapted to any potential legal developments in the future. Since 2014, the…
Swiss top official considers further talks possible with EU
This content was published on
Switzerland’s chief negotiator with the EU believes further negotiations with Brussels will be possible on a controversial accord.
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.