Ursula von der Leyen has made with a view on Switzerland in a first position. The designated EU Commission President, the office officially on 1. December commencement, with a view to the framework agreement on continuity. So, the Austrian Johannes Hahn, the point of contact for the Swiss Minister of foreign Affairs remains. And, like Jean-Claude Juncker also wants to accompany the Swiss Dossier personally.

Ursula von der Leyen, is happy with the outcome of the negotiations, which were led by Johannes Hahn, said Commission spokesman Eric Mamer. The incoming Commission chief had decided, therefore, that the Austrians had to lead this process to the end. Continuity in this complex Dossier not be important: “We change the agreement that was negotiated with Switzerland, and we also change the contact person, was charged with this negotiation.”

continuity has the advantage that a valve does not have to learn new. However, the early is not necessarily good news. The Name of the Austrian, the one you saw in Switzerland, originally as a potential ally in the EU Commission, is now in Berne closely with the deep-linked state in bilateral relations: Switzerland need a “warning shot across the bow”, wrote the Austrian, last June, in a published letter to the Commission and called for an end to the exchange of equivalence. This, after the Federal Council wanted to before the summer, the framework agreement still to sign.

Weighted ratio

the relationship between The Hahn and the Swiss government was already loaded before. The EU-Commissioner, Federal councillor Ignazio Cassis, accused in last December, indirectly, of the lie, after the Swiss government had initiated at the end of the consultation process for the framework agreement additional consultations on three controversial points, protection of Wages, state aid and EU citizenship Directive. Johannes Hahn claimed, contrary to the presentation in Bern, he had agreed with the Swiss foreign Minister on a final Text for the framework agreement.

That cock retains the Dossier, is not a matter of course. Juncker had the Austrians only in a late stage of the negotiations on the framework agreement as a point of contact. The Swiss foreign Ministers lacked previously, on Visit in Brussels is the contact person. The Swiss Desk of the technical Expertise actually belongs to the authority of the EU high representative on Foreign Affairs Federica Mogherini. However, this was just like her predecessor, Catherine Ashton, on the Switzerland Dossier, a little interested, and with the other crises the world is busy.

Dossier does not fit in Hahn’s area of responsibility

John Hahn appeared as the Austrians and the Commissioner for neighbourhood policy, at the time, as the ideal conversation partner. Seven times he wants to met up to a head in December a year ago, with Ignazio Cassis, and even more often on the phone. In the new Commission, Hahn substitute for the portfolio and for the EU budget. Switzerland as the Dossier not fit there.

Ursula von der Leyen would have been able to hire Hahn’s successor as Commissioner for neighbourhood policy with the business: The Hungarian Olivér Várhelyi is, finally, also for the EEA-States Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein, in charge. That would at least have been an indication that you could be in Brussels for an unloaded start and more flexibility in relation to the disputed points ready. Now the two opponents, Johannes Hahn, and Ignazio Cassis shall have to pick up the thread of conversation again.

Created: 21.11.2019, 19:40 PM