Federal President and Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis is traveling to Berlin today, Thursday, to meet the entire German leadership: Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock. Central Councilor Pirmin Bischof, who chairs the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Council of States, expects a lot from the meeting.
SRF News: How important is Federal President Ignazio Cassis’ trip to Berlin?
Pirmin Bischof: When the Swiss Foreign Minister travels to Berlin, it is not a routine visit. Germany is the most important member of the EU and at the same time by far our most important trading partner.
This is not a routine visit.
Switzerland therefore has a great interest in establishing good relations with the new German government. After such a long time with a CDU/CSU government, it is particularly important for Switzerland to quickly establish personal relationships with the people in the new governing coalition.
Legend:
Cassis last traveled to Berlin on a working visit four years ago – at that time the CDU/CSU-SPD coalition government under Chancellor Angela Merkel was still at the helm.
key stone
What are the current challenges in German-Swiss relations?
Ten years ago, during the tax dispute with Germany, I was President of the Economic Commission of the State Council – at that time the relationship was a bit difficult. In the meantime these problems have been solved. By and large, Switzerland now has very good relations with Germany.
There is hope that the German government can be something of a bridge builder to Brussels.
Our problem is not with Germany – but with the European Union. And Germany is probably the country that is closest to us in terms of the weight it can bring to the EU Commission. So, thank God, our relationship with Germany is excellent – and there is hope that the German government can be something of a bridge builder to Brussels.
How central is Germany in restarting relations between Switzerland and the EU?
Germany is indeed central to answering the question of how Switzerland will manage to stabilize bilateral relations with the EU after negotiations for a framework agreement have been broken off. Of course, France and Italy are also important countries, but Germany is the largest and most important country in the EU.
What should Cassis try to achieve when he visits Berlin?
I hope he succeeds in establishing a relationship with Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock and Chancellor Olaf Scholz so that we can start the conversation first.
I hope Cassis succeeds in explaining why we are continuing the bilateral agreements and why we do not want institutional integration into the EU.
I also hope that Cassis will succeed in explaining Switzerland and its direct democracy to the German partners and making it clear why we want to continue the bilateral agreements that have been so successful for both sides. This also includes explaining why we do not want institutional integration into the EU. Cassis has good arguments for this – and he should be able to illustrate them to a fact-oriented German partner.
The conversation was conducted by Elmar Plozza.