- Switzerland would like to negotiate a solidarity agreement with Germany to ensure gas supplies in the event of a crisis.
- This was decided by Federal Councilors Guy Parmelin and Simonetta Sommaruga with the German Vice Chancellor and Economics Minister Robert Habeck.
- Habeck also announced that he would support talks with Switzerland in Brussels.
Habeck spoke of a “special honor to be able to start the World Economic Forum in Davos with a meeting with members of the Federal Council”. The meeting was very open and friendly and led to a more concrete goal than is usually the case with such a first courtesy visit, he told the media in Davos on Sunday evening.
The aim of the planned solidarity agreement between Germany and Switzerland is “that we can support each other in an emergency with the gas supply,” Sommaruga explained. “This is an important step and we will now tackle it very quickly.” It was not possible to say how long it would take for the agreement to be concluded, the Energy Minister continued after the meeting on the sidelines of the WEF. But the will is there for a pragmatic solution.
Germany, which is heavily dependent on Russian gas, has just signed a partnership with Qatar. Part of this agreed package is to be able to buy liquid gas. “Swiss companies can apply to be involved,” said Habeck.
For the time being, the agreement only affects the gas supply. But they also want to support each other with electricity. Federal Councilor Sommaruga made it clear that Switzerland can play an important role in grid stability in Europe. Specifically, she meant the Swiss pumped storage plants, which can bridge bottlenecks in the power supply, including in the southern German region.
The relationship between Switzerland and the EU was also an issue
The relationship between Switzerland and the EU was also discussed at the meeting between the two countries. Habeck would like to mediate: “Next week I’m going to Brussels and will make some suggestions to Mr. Sefcovic on how the talks between Switzerland and the EU could be resumed.” He left it open which proposals he would like to make specifically.
The EU Deputy Commissioner Maros Sefcovic is responsible for the “Switzerland” dossier.
Appeal for ammunition deliveries
Habeck also brought up the ammunition bought in Switzerland, which Germany would like to deliver to the Ukraine, but the Federal Council prohibited this. “Even in Germany and especially in my party, there was a political attitude before this war that said: ‘We do not deliver weapons of war to war zones.’ That has clearly changed, and that also corresponds to my personal opinion.” Habeck spoke about Germany, but addressed Switzerland.
“I think we all learn in this phase that we have to measure our attitude against reality again.” A law that is blind to Russia and Ukraine does not do justice to this reality. “In Germany, the decision has been made to change this attitude.” And addressing the Federal Council, he said: “I would like us to give Ukraine maximum support so that it can defend itself.”