Swiss Foreign Minister Micheline Calmy-Rey has downplayed differences with the European Union over the future of bilateral treaties between the two sides.
Calmy-Rey said comments by the EU justice commissioner, Viviane Reding, did not have to be taken at face value and were part of political “muscle flexing”.
Reding last week indicated that non-EU member Switzerland did not play a major role in Brussels political considerations. Talks over bilateral accords are currently on hold.
Calmy-Rey explained both sides had a common interest to find solutions and exploratory talks over a new framework agreement might be concluded by the end of December.
A dispute over tax issues and the exchange of information have no direct impact on discussions over a possible tightening of bilateral relations, Calmy-Rey told journalists in Bern on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, EU tax commissioner Algirdas Semeta has called on Switzerland to step up cooperation on fiscal matters, notably an automatic exchange of information with the 27-member bloc.
He indirectly criticised Germany and Britain for agreeing to negotiations on separate tax deals with Switzerland.
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.
Read more
More
Switzerland and EU mark golden anniversary
This content was published on
Alexis Lautenberg, who headed the office from 1993-1999, dismisses EU accusations of Swiss cherry-picking and believes Swiss citizens are possibly better informed about the EU than those of the big member states. His comments come as Swiss foreign minister, Micheline Calmy-Rey, attended a ceremony in Brussels marking the anniversary. Calmy-Rey said the future challenge was…
This content was published on
The rightwing Swiss People’s Party collected more than 210,000 signatures – double the number needed – to bring the issue of the mandatory deportation of convicted criminals without Swiss citizenship to a nationwide vote. If one believes the polls taken before the campaign started – and bear in mind that the polls got it spectacularly…
This content was published on
Finance Minister Hans-Rudolf Merz and his German counterpart, Wolfgang Schäuble, signed a joint declaration for formal talks on tax issues as well as a revised Double Taxation Agreement in line with international standards. At a news conference, Merz described the signing of the declaration as a “milestone”. The negotiations to begin early next year will…
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.