Mr Cassis, the WEF gathered the European Elite. What do you have for the framework agreement to get?
The agreement is in Switzerland in the consultations. It is not the Moment to speak to European politicians about it. We want to wait for the results of the consultations and feel, as the Text arrives.

We see everywhere skepticism, even in the Federal councils. It seems you are the last one who stands behind the agreement.
This is a false impression. The Federal Council has done its work, and until the results of the consultation are there, he has nothing more to say. The Text is open to the public; now, a maturation process takes place. I take a positive development: Each week, more concrete questions on the table, we can answer. That was the goal: We wanted to make a symbolic discussion of the sovereignty of an objective.

The discussion may be factual, the first results are very clear: Nobody of this agreement want.
Yes, the first Manifestations are present. But we are waiting for the next and the last. Only then will we have a real image.

Three things are controversial: the Union citizens Directive in the case of the Bourgeois, the accompanying measures in the case of the Left and the dynamic right acquisition at the SVP. Even Federal President Ueli Maurer has said that one must be tracked.
He has not used the word later, because it will be in the sense of technical negotiations renegotiations. The EU has made it clear that the negotiations are completed. This door is, but it is not complete for further talks at the political level.

There are ideas to make the agreement attractive. You should not hold in an additional Protocol, that the Union citizens Directive in Switzerland?
This could be a possible therapy. But also it depends on the results of the consultations. First the diagnosis, then we will select the appropriate therapy.

To be 80 percent of the contract well, says the Federal Council. How do you convince the populace to swallow the Rest?
With factual arguments. In Switzerland, also the most emotional debates with an objective vote.

What are these arguments?
We are in the midst of Europe. We are an export-oriented country. Every second Swiss francs in your wallet comes from foreign trade, 60 percent of them from the EU. That seems to me to be a sufficiently factual Argument.

“If the economy is now – why have we done this?”

you argue in purely economic terms. The support of the economy is not even on safe. People like UBS President Axel Weber to recommend that the agreement not to sign it.
we take very seriously. The question of how the economy is evaluated by this agreement, is a crucial one.

If the economy does not want to, there are also for the citizens of little reasons to say Yes.
Yes. If the economy turns against it, then we must ask ourselves: Why have we done this Exercise at all? At the beginning of the negotiations, the desire was for improved market access in Europe. But we must not forget that The side effects of a lack of agreement about the question of market access.

the cantons are Also skeptical. They fear that the EU can intervene in their tax policy – due to the framework agreement.
In the agreement, we declare our willingness to modernize the free trade agreement of 1972 – this is the reason for the fears of the cantons is to. That’s all. Therefore, it is worthwhile today to talk about the possible consequences of such a modernization. Because as and when the upgrading should happen is completely open. Of course, you can fear a lot of things. What we can’t, however, plan for the future in 200 years. Once again: We make this agreement to secure market access for our economy. It comes to our prosperity, and social peace.

What provides the keyword to the dispute with the unions on the accompanying measures. What is your strategy?
The consultations! We bring people to the table. We need not discuss the abstract content, but have a Text in front of us.

But the SP and the Christian Levrat turn to be stubborn. It seems that you have a personal Problem with each other.
sympathies or antipathies play here no role, now it comes to content. We are negotiating a crucial issue for the Future of Switzerland. Because you have to be able to fight in the interest of the country. Don’t forget The accompanying measures of the EU were at the beginning of the problems with Switzerland. The only reason why the EU wanted the negotiations on the framework agreement.

If the SP does not want to, you can think of, to come up with the SVP and the SP prior to the outside?
no. We need the SP. The social partners need to stand behind the agreement. Blocher and the SVP draw their political legitimacy for the past 20 years, from the struggle against the EU. You are not likely to change.

we Summarize: The economy is divided, the cantons are not skeptical of the unions want the agreement, the SVP anyway and the rest of the Commoners also. Councillor: no one wants to, this agreement.
you are the results! I hope that now, objectively in-depth discussion and differing opinions. Of course you can say at the end, no. But it must be a reasoned no. I repeat myself: Without Export, our country would not be so, as it is today. 60 percent of our exports go to the neighbouring countries. This is a very clear starting position. If you don’t want it, you have to say it.

abroad, the fronts are rigidly. The Brexit negotiations show that the EU will act as rare.
Yes. We have experienced in the past year, a very compact Union, it was no comparison to the negotiations of the Bilateral 15 years ago, when the EU was much more accommodating. Today, the EU has to cope with the Brexit a Trauma, and that has consequences. Firstly, the EU realized that the British would like to have a access to the market. It makes you self-conscious. Secondly, the EU wants to send in the current negotiations, no wrong signals to the member States. The message is clear: Only together we are strong. And if you want to leave us, then it has a price. This is due in part to the Brexit.

When you look five years forward: we Have a framework agreement?
An agreement we have. Maybe it is not what exists currently. We have a choice: With our situation in Europe, we come not to help but to maintain good relations with our neighbours.

we are Talking about Saudi Arabia. For Ueli Maurer Jamal Khashoggi reigns after the assassination of the journalists Courant normal. For the Guy Parmelin is: economic relations remain, for the time being not normalized. You yourself talk of a “reduced scale”. What is true?
I can’t comment on the statements by Federal President Maurer and Federal councillor Parmelin, because I have not heard in the Original. I can present you with the facts. The Federal Council has taken in the past year, the case, Khashoggi noted. As a result, we have decided to waive the existing war material deliveries to Saudi Arabia. This is not a Courant normal. What he wanted to tell the Federal President Mason: We still have a dialogue, we always speak with Saudi Arabia. However, the dialogue has become more cautious. Therefore, the visit of the Federal President, which was scheduled for the beginning of the year was moved to the rear.

But he will fly anyway.
Yes. But the postponement of a presidential trip is a strong Signal. A Signal that shows that the relationships are strained. We will be performing at the end of March political consultations with Saudi Arabia. There we will emphasize once again that we are dealing with Saudi Arabia is preparing with the people right big.

This is pretty much the opposite of what has been said by the Federal President Maurer this week: “We Arabia to understand Saudi extraordinarily well.”
As I said: I have not heard his statement in the text. But I have bilaterally talked to him, when it came to the postponement of the trip. If and when this journey takes place is not yet decided definitely. We are true in our Department, the critical approach in dialogue with Saudi Arabia. But we will not cancel the Dialog. We remain with all the countries in the contact, even if problems should consist of. The only way we can take in conflicts, an important role.

(editing Tamedia)

Created: 24.01.2019, at 22:41