Switzerland Today
Greetings from Lausanne!
Here are the latest news and stories from Switzerland on Monday.
In the news: Swiss media on COP26 results and Horizon Europe concerns.
- The Glasgow climate agreement secured at the COP26 conference late on Saturday has delivered a mixedbag, say Swiss media. Uncertainty remains a leitmotif in many papers.
- Being excluded from the European Union’s flagship research funding programme Horizon EuropeExternal link has increased the risks of a brain drain of scientists and young start-ups from Switzerland, top university officials have warned.
- Swiss child and youth support agency Pro Juventutehas received 40% more calls from youngpeople with suicidal thoughts during the pandemic.
EU-Swiss relations: Brussels wants timetable by January 2022 and Swiss political commitment.
Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis met European Commission Vice President Maroš Šefcovic (in photo above) in Brussels today for highly anticipated talks on the state of Swiss-EU relations. The atmosphere was reportedlyExternal link positive.
After their meeting Šefcovic told reporters that the EU wanted to intensifyExternal link the political dialogue with Switzerland – but it needs to happen soon. “A climate of trust needs to build up,” he added.
A roadmap should be available by January 2022 on how and when institutional questions are to be resolved. The EU Commissioner wants a schedule with concrete steps and tasks, and look at how the open questions of the failed framework agreement should be clarified.
If Bern makes a solid political commitment to this, the question of full Swiss participation in the EU’s flagship Horizon Europe scheme could move forward again, he said.
The Swiss foreign ministry saidExternal link Cassis had reaffirmed Switzerland’s will to continue on the bilateral path and to give relations a positive dynamic. The two sides agreed to establish a “structured political dialogue” at ministerial level, it said. The common goal is to take stock of the situation and work out a common agenda.
They will re-evaluate the situation at the World Economic Forum (WEF) meeting in Davos in mid-January 2022.
Šefcovic noted that the Swiss parliament had recently released CHF1.3 billion ($1.41 billion) to the EU – a second cohesion contribution – in a bid to thaw frosty ties with its biggest trading partner. However, he recalled that Brussels expects regular cohesion payments from Switzerland for poorer EU states in the future.
Relations between Switzerland and its biggest trading partner deteriorated last May when the Swiss government unilaterally walked away from seven years of negotiations over an institutional framework agreement with Brussels to oversee future long-term ties. The EU has taken a tough stance, relegating Switzerland’s status in the Horizon Europe education and research programme and banning its stock exchange from trading EU shares.
At stake are dozens of bilateral agreements already existing between Switzerland and the EU and future access to the EU’s electricity market. Standing in the way of progress are three main issues: salary protection, state aid rules, and the access of EU citizens to Swiss social security benefits. Also, Switzerland has continued to talk about concentrating on European affairs after the federal elections in autumn 2023.
Coronavirus situation continues to worsen in Switzerland.
The number of new reported coronavirus cases continues to rise in Switzerland. Today the Federal Office of Public Health reported 9,702 new cases over the previous 72 hours. The average 14-day incidence per 100,000 residents is up to 471. Meanwhile, hospital admissions and deaths remain stable. The 10-19 age group and eastern and central Switzerland are worst affected by the increase in new infections.
Around 65% of the population have been fully vaccinated against Covid. Approximately one million adults are not vaccinated. Switzerland continues to lag behind many other European countries and vaccine hesitancy is strong.
The results of last week’s National Vaccination Week to encourage people to get inoculated against the virus are mixed. The rate of new weekly injections doubled compared with the previous week – but at a low level. “We are satisfied but not that thrilled,” said the president of Swiss cantonal health directors Lukas Engelberger.
According to articles in the Sunday papers, a Covid-19 vaccine boostermay be available to younger people this year. At the moment, the booster is recommended for the over 65s and vulnerable people. Meanwhile, the head of the Swiss National Covid-19 Science Task Force has warned that more must be done to fight the present Covid wave.
Should Geneva allow controversial French right-wing commentator Eric Zemmour to hold a conference in the region?
Eric Zemmour (photo above) is not welcome in Geneva, according to Swiss public radio RTSExternal link. This is the official position of the Geneva city authorities, it reported at the weekend.
Zemmour, who pollsters say could edge Marine Le Pen out of the qualifying spot for a second-round duel against President Emmanuel Macron in next April’s presidential election, is due to give a conference in the Swiss city on November 24. Zemmour’s presidential candidacy remains unconfirmed.
“In principle, his presence is not welcome,” declared the Geneva Administrative Council unambiguously when contacted by RTS. An online petition launched a week ago urges the cantonal and communal authorities to “take their responsibilities” and ban the planned Geneva conference.
Geneva mayor Frédérique Perler told RTS on Sunday: “Allowing Eric Zemmour to hold a conference in an infrastructure of the City of Geneva would on the one hand demonstrate that the City of Geneva would be complicit in the propagation of hate messages disseminated by this gentleman and on the other hand contrary to the values defended by the city within the framework of its public policies. We would therefore be in total contradiction.”
But the city authorities are unable to issue a formal ban. Entry bans on Geneva territory are the jurisdiction of canton Geneva. It is therefore up to the Geneva cantonal government to decide.
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