Switzerland remains an important EU partner, says EU Commissioner Johannes Hahn after informal talks.
The Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis, EU Commissioner Johannes Hahn and the EU Foreign Affairs Representative Josep Borrell met for informal talks in Brussels on Tuesday. Despite the tense relationship between Switzerland and the EU, the participants were very friendly afterwards. The conversation was good and friendly, said Hahn in the short message service Twitter.
Despite differing positions on some issues, it is important to maintain the basis of trust and continue the dialogue, said the EU representative responsible for budget and administration. Switzerland remains an important EU partner, said Hahn.
According to Cassis, the subject of the discussion was the further partnership on the basis of the bilateral agreement. The Foreign Minister reaffirmed Switzerland’s European policy goals of remaining a reliable and committed partner to the EU.
According to the Department of Foreign Affairs (EDA), Cassis spoke to Borrell mainly about international issues. At this level, Switzerland and the EU are partners and share basic values such as the promotion of democracy and human rights.
Cassis had last exchanged ideas with Hahn at the Europa Forum Wachau on June 12th in Austria, and he met Borrell at the Libya Conference on June 23rd in Berlin. According to the Swiss Foreign Ministry, both sides wanted to continue the exchange after both meetings. That happened with the informal meetings in Brussels.
In addition, Cassis met with the ÖVP MEP Lukas Mandl. As a member of the foreign affairs committee in parliament, Mandl is tasked with writing a report on relations between the EU and Switzerland.
Relations between Switzerland and the EU are tense after the Swiss government decided to break off negotiations on an institutional framework agreement at the end of May after years of talks. Switzerland then signaled that it now wanted to enter into a political dialogue with the EU. The EU Commission wants to take its time until autumn to decide how the relationship should continue.
(APA/sda)
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