While Britain’s departure from the European Union has attracted a great deal of media attention, another breakup is taking place in the European area relatively inconspicuously. Switzerland has recently shown that it is not interested in further rapprochement with the community. All indications are that Brussels will now take a tougher stance on it, and Bern, for example, will not have access to the EU’s energy projects. The small Alpine country therefore plans to increase its own electricity production.
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At the end of last month, after seven years of negotiations, Switzerland concluded negotiations on a framework agreement with the EU. It is now said that the move will have far-reaching implications for its participation in the single market and other areas of cooperation. The convention was to replace a wide range of 120 existing bilateral agreements, which are gradually coming to an end.
The rejected Brussels did not provide any guarantee of their recovery. Big questions are being raised about future cooperation in the field of electricity. Although the Swiss network is connected to the European network, the business operates rather informally.
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The energy sector has become the last battlefield for the European Union, which is trying to get the country to obey after refusing to sign an agreement on all relations in May, writes in its analysis Bloomberg. “Switzerland will gradually lose its privileged connection to the European transmission system,” the European Commission answered the agency’s questions. “Due to less interconnection and cooperation, the Swiss energy system will be less efficient and will mean more costs for Swiss consumers,” she added.
These risks are also acknowledged by the Swiss side. There is talk in the country of the expected less stability of the domestic network and the possible threat of blackouts, although more at the level of theoretical risk in the distant future. In addition, Switzerland is heavily dependent on electricity imports in winter. Thus, the Swiss are now debating that it is not wise to rely on imports in the future.
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This month, the government came up with specific proposals to expand its own production, especially from water and other renewable sources. “It is important for our country to accelerate the expansion of domestic clean energy production. We don’t have time to waste. With more clean energy, we are strengthening the security of our supply and the position of our country, “she said Reuters Minister for Energy Simonetta Sommaruga.
However, it is not just the energy sector that is at risk. At the end of May, Switzerland lost access to the EU market for medical goods, which affects, for example, manufacturers of joint replacements. In the coming years, products from the field of engineering and chemistry will also come into play.
And academics are deeply concerned about participating in the Horizon Europe research program. Nevertheless, some Swiss are optimistic and believe that Brussels is only bluffing and that cooperation through sectoral agreements will continue.
