Switzerland-European Union
27 August 2021
The Thinktank Metrobasel organised a meeting on 25 August on the Swiss-European Union relationship and, in particular, the so-called Institutional Treaty (Rahmenabkommen/accord cadre).
The fresco in the main chamber of the city hall (symbolically) commemorates the accession of the canton of Basel to the Confederation (Eidgenossenschaft) in 1501.
The European Union’s Ambassador, Petros Mavromichalis, stated that there was little room for concessions from the EU. The internal market, and especially the free movement of persons, are inalienable principles.
However, the Bundesrat (minister) Ignazio Cassis believed that the so-called Citizenship Directive (Unionsbürgerrichtlinie) and the transfer of sovereignty to the Court of Justice of the European Union were unacceptable.
Since 2004, the Citizenship Directive (Directive 2004/38/EC) has regulated the free movement and residence of European Union citizens.
There is disagreement about the applicability of social security for European Union citizens who are not working or have worked for a short period.
In addition, Switzerland has problems recognising the Court of Justice of the European Union as the highest legal authority. The country is not isolated from this perspective either.
The (former) presidents of the German Constitutional Court (Bundesverfassungsgericht) in Karlsruhe also share concerns about the functioning of this Court: Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (08.09.2008), Roman Herzog, Stoppt den europäischen Gerichtshof, idem Paul Kirchhof (30.06.2021) and Andreas Vosskuhle in the Neue Zürcher Zeitung, 22.06.2021.
Cassis stated that Switzerland is a sovereign country like the USA, Canada, China or Australia. These countries also have access to the internal market, and students, researchers and stock exchanges from these countries also have access to the EU.
Why should it be different for Switzerland, which always fulfils its (financial) obligations? Why is Switzerland suddenly denied access to several economic (electricity market, stock exchange) and research programmes (Horizont)?
The ambassador, however, believed that Switzerland had only three options: EU membership, the European Economic Area, or the Institutional Treaty (Rahmenabkommen). To be continued.