There is greater understanding among Europeans of Switzerland’s unique political system compared to previous years, declared Interior Minister Alain Berset after several days of bilateral meetings at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in the Swiss resort of Davos.
Addressing reporters in Davos on Thursday, Berset said he had used bilateral talks with leaders and officials to discuss the Swiss-EU framework agreement and to underline the Swiss challenges.
“When I explained our direct democracy system to people five or seven years ago, they used to just stare at me with big eyes,” Berset told reporters in the resort in eastern Switzerland, adding that officials’ understanding had changed considerably.
Over the past five years, the EU and Switzerland have been locked in difficult negotiations on a framework agreement to cement future ties currently governed by numerous bilateral accords. The government has yet to take a position and is carrying out a public consultation on the agreement proposed by the EU in December.
Health and German doctors
Among the other issues covered in Davos, Berset said health matters seemed to have grown in importance at WEF. He met Alfredo Moreno, the Minister of Social Development from Chile, who faces similar demographic challenges to those in Switzerland, such as how to look after an ageing population.
Berset also held talks with his Dutch and British counterparts, Bruno Bruins and Matt Hancock, on the digital transformation of the health sector.
“We may be a little slower than others in this area, but I would say we are more solid and stable,” said the Swiss minister.
Berset also met German Minister of Health Jens Spahn to discuss the issue of German medical specialists who work in Switzerland. Spahn recently expressed his regret that numerous doctors and nurses were migrating to Switzerland and wants a new regulation to stop to this flow. Germans account for more than 50% of foreign doctors in Switzerland and many work in Swiss hospitals.
The Swiss minister concluded that on a personal level, he felt it was important to be present in Davos, as he could make numerous contacts in a short space of time.
“It’s always struck me how much human contact counts; and for that you have to meet each other. Personal meetings make a difference,” he said.
Other Swiss ministers, Ueli Maurer (finance), Ignazio Cassis (foreign affairs) and Guy Parmelin (economics) were also present in Davos this week.
More
More
Swiss president wants to do business with Saudi Arabia
This content was published on
Comments by Switzerland’s president, Ueli Maurer, about normalising relations with Saudi Arabia have caused irritation.
This content was published on
A majority of Swiss citizens have open attitudes towards various infertility treatments, including even egg donation, which is currently prohibited.
Reports of Swiss cyber fraud almost doubled in six months
This content was published on
The head of the new Federal Office for Cybersecurity (FOC), Florian Schütz, has presented a new strategy after just over four months in office.
Ecological status of Swiss streams insufficient according to study
This content was published on
Pesticide use and obstructions of waterways have a particularly negative impact on sensitive organisms, completely absent in 70% of streams analysed.
Train line between Brig and Domodossola interrupted
This content was published on
One day after a derailment approximately 15 kilometres from the Swiss border, BLS is running buses for passengers between Preglia and Domodossola, in Italy.
Swiss football boss wants crackdown on individual hooligans
This content was published on
The head of the Swiss Football League says he prefers a harsher approach to individual hooligans rather than collective punishment measures affecting all fans.
Amherd: Council of Europe is ‘as urgently needed as ever’
This content was published on
The Swiss government emphasised on Sunday the vital role of the Strasbourg-based Council of Europe, 75 years after it was founded.
Switzerland will not over-regulate fintech sector, says president
This content was published on
Swiss politicians and leaders from the tech sector reaffirmed in Davos their liberal strategy towards the regulation of new technologies.
Flurry of meetings mark Swiss ministers’ WEF presence
This content was published on
Swiss government ministers have held a series of bilateral meetings on the first day of the World Economic Forum in the mountain resort of Davos.
This content was published on
“We reject diktats. The most commonly used word in our constitution is ‘freedom’ and we are proud of that,” said Maurer during his opening address in DavosExternal link on Tuesday morning. “We are free to accept responsibility for ourselves and others,” he explained. Maurer, who holds the rotating Swiss presidency alongside his role as the…
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.