EU Council president praises Swiss democracy
The current European Council president, Jean-Claude Juncker, says Switzerland has much to teach the European Union, especially regarding democracy.
Juncker, who is also the prime minister of Luxembourg, told swissinfo the two countries had much in common, and he had never found it difficult to defend Switzerland.
The Luxembourg prime minister enjoys wide respect within Europe, being considered one of the EU’s most influential and credible politicians.
Luxembourg took over the six-month rotating presidency of the EU in January. The European Council is the EU’s main decision-making body.
swissinfo: During the state visit of Swiss President Samuel Schmid to Luxembourg at the beginning of February you said that Schmid would not wish to change places with you…
Jean-Claude Juncker: In Switzerland there are many people who could not imagine a Swiss ever becoming president of the EU Council, or even wanting to.
On the other hand, there are very many ways in which Switzerland could serve as a role model to the EU. I have the greatest respect for your exemplary democracy.
swissinfo: The EU has 25 members, and that could grow to 30 or more. Does EU enlargement make it harder for Switzerland as an outsider?
J-C.J.: As a friend of Switzerland, and someone who understands your way of thinking, I will refrain from issuing advice.
The Swiss people are more than mature in terms of democracy, and I don’t wish to say more about the forthcoming nationwide votes in your country.
swissinfo: With a vote on the Schengen accord looming in Switzerland, Luxembourg’s experience could be of interest: for 50 years now you have had open borders with Belgium, France and Germany. Have you ever wished you could reinstate border controls?
J-C.J.: I can’t imagine bringing back border controls. Classical borders are something that separate, whereas Luxembourg’s borders now unite it with other countries.
The different nationalities in Europe should be concerned about their autonomy, but modern patriotism means that people can be citizens of Luxembourg and Europe, or Swiss and European.
swissinfo: Like Switzerland, Luxembourg has banking secrecy. From Luxembourg’s point of view did it help that opponents within the EU had to keep negotiating with Switzerland too?
J-C.J.: For us it was clear that the EU had to find a way of dealing with countries that had banking secrecy, not just Switzerland.
Switzerland and the EU have clashed over this issue. But in Luxembourg we have always had a good understanding with Switzerland, and we often defended the country against intolerable reproaches.
We did this not because of our common interests, but because the EU wants to have friendly dealings with Switzerland. I have never had a problem defending Switzerland.
swissinfo: If we think of Switzerland and Luxembourg together we think of banking secrecy. What else links the two countries?
J-C.J.: Switzerland and Luxembourg are much more than just countries with banking secrecy laws. They are small European countries with as much worth as bigger countries.
They are countries that know they are small, while our bigger neighbours are often not aware of how unimportant they are in some respects.
swissinfo-interview: Simon Thönen
Jean-Claude Juncker, 50, has been prime minister of Luxemburg for ten years.
He is occupying the rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union in the first half of 2005.
He is also the first permanent president of EU countries which have adopted the euro as their currency.
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