- In the evening, Federal President Ignazio Cassis met with representatives from business, science and civil society organizations.
- It was the second such meeting at which Cassis exchanged views with the representatives on European policy.
The aim of the talks in Bern was an open discussion of proposals from civil society regarding Switzerland’s relationship with the European Union, said the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA).
The event complements the exchange with Parliament and the cantons, the FDFA continued. The first such meeting had already taken place in mid-November.
Waiting for the next step by the Federal Council
On January 12 of this year, the Federal Council held a debate on how to proceed in the relationship between Switzerland and the EU. President Ignazio Cassis confirmed at the time that he had commissioned “the preparation of this so-called Swiss agenda”.
“In one of its next meetings”, the Federal Council will deepen the topic, said Federal Council spokesman André Simonazzi. The EU has been waiting for a proposal from Switzerland since negotiations on the institutional framework agreement broke off at the end of May – Bern then left the negotiating table.
A meeting with EU Vice President Maros Sefcovic at the postponed WEF in Davos was actually planned. A new date is not yet known.