Federal President Ueli Maurer has expressed doubts about a rapid agreement on a new framework agreement with the EU. He warned on Friday in Vienna, ahead of an “economic war” with Brussels.
During his first official visit in Austria, a bricklayer at a media conference in Vienna pointed out that in this year in both the EU as well as in Switzerland, elected; he asked Brussels for a little more patience. Mason came on Friday with his Austrian counterpart, Alexander Van der Bellen in front of the media.
On the question of whether we should not postpone the agreement with Brussels anyway, to 2020, said Maurer: “Probably almost from the procedures that are given.” Finally, a consultation on the draft contract to be held in Switzerland until the middle of the year.
patience of Brussels, strained
“If you have the patience to look at it also after the elections with new people, that might not be a bad solution. According to our understanding, something Good is produced under pressure, never, because we need longer,” said Maurer, with a view to the Ultimatum of the EU Commission. He asked in this regard to understand the Swiss decision-making system, with the image of rumination cows illustrated – and he admitted: “We have strained the patience of Brussels.”
The EU Commission, Switzerland has placed the middle of December, an Ultimatum until the middle of 2019 and the subsequent negotiations on the draft of the framework agreement is excluded. If the draft as a “Take-it-or-leave-it”will be considered a Deal, is the risk that in the relations between Switzerland and the EU, “harness” will smash said Maurer.
The EU Ultimatum related threat to the EU, to deny the Swiss stock exchange for the recognition as equivalent, rejected the Finance Minister sharp. The stock exchange should not be recognized as equivalent, there is a danger of an economic war. “We should not try to avoid such blind alleys.”
Vienna shows understanding for Bern
The Austrian Federal President Van der Bellen reiterated his country’s support for the agreement and expressed at the same time, understanding of Bern. “I would like to have a bit of patience.” Van der Bellen expected that you “will talk about the beginning of 2020” on the topic. Finally, it was “like the Brexit”, where you have Nothing to stand without a solution.
Although the Austrian President expressed regret on request the decision of Switzerland to become a member of the EU, he referred to many of the similar views of both countries, for example in climate policy.
Mason said, that a country like Switzerland, will be discussed in the three years on issues such as the dehorning of cows has no place in the EU decision-making system. “We would never fit into the EU,” the 68-Year-old a EU-accession of Switzerland-at least during his lifetime. “I’m not going to experience it.”
Mason and Van der Bellen praised after their Meeting on Friday, the Tradition in which top politicians of both countries to complete their first foreign visit in the neighboring country. Van der Bellen stressed that Switzerland Harbor with 65’000 Austrians, the second-largest municipality of Austrians Abroad and at the same time for five million overnight stays in Austria’s tourism.
“Key to Europe”
Maurer, in turn, shows the Austrian warmth and the stroke of the common belonging to the Alps. “In this Alpine region, the economic power of Europe”, he was also today, “an important core of Europe”, said Maurer. Thus, he rejected at the same time, indirectly, a reproach to Switzerland, according to the country of isolation is more macho: “We are one of the most European countries,” he said.
Van der Bellen had received a Mason in the late morning on the Inner courtyard in Vienna with full military honours. At noon, a Mason with the Austrian Finance Minister and people’s party politician Hartwig Löger met. In the afternoon President Wolfgang Sobotka (both ÖVP) held talks with the German Chancellor, Sebastian Kurz, and the national Council.
(fal/sda)
Created: 11.01.2019, 17:20 PM
