Europe

At its meeting on 26 May, the Federal Council undertook an overall evaluation of the outcome of the negotiations on the institutional framework agreement (InstA). It concluded that there remain substantial differences between Switzerland and the EU on key aspects of the agreement. The conditions are thus not met for the signing of the agreement. The Federal Council today took the decision not to sign the agreement, and communicated this decision to the EU. This brings the negotiations on the draft of the InstA to a close. The Federal Council nevertheless considers it to be in the shared interest of Switzerland and the EU to safeguard their well-established cooperation and to systematically maintain the agreements already in force. It therefore wishes to launch a political dialogue with the EU on continued cooperation. Meanwhile, it has tasked the Federal Department of Justice and Police (FDJP) to consider how autonomous amendments to Swiss legislation might contribute to the stabilisation of Swiss–EU relations.

On 21 May 2021, 47 foreign ministers met online for the 131st Session of the Council of Europe Committee of Ministers. They work as a team, also in the digital sphere. It is precisely the digital sphere that presents the Council of Europe with both a challenge and an opportunity to safeguard human rights, democracy and the rule of law not only in the physical world but also in cyberspace. Four Swiss experts working in the Council of Europe share their experiences.

Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis talks about the framework agreement in an interview with CH Media. He emphasises the clear position of the Federal Council, adding that failing to strike a deal and reaching an agreement both come at a price. The bilateral path remains in place in both cases.

Confident, cosmopolitan and creative: in his address at the Churchill Symposium, Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis takes a look at Switzerland's role in Europe and Winston Churchill's special relationship with this country. Thereby, raising the question: What does an entrepreneur from Urdorf have to do with the colourful history of Switzerland's foreign policy?

Twelve representatives of Switzerland's cantons, communes and cities sit in the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe. The Congress is an important forum that gives a voice to the local and regional authorities of the 47 member states of the Council of Europe, allowing them to share their insight and defend local and regional democracy. Five members of the Swiss 2021–26 delegation talk about their work and motivation.

In March, the European Parliament will decide whether or not to approve the new Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) agreed between the European Union and the United Kingdom on 24 December 2020. The agreement governs relations between the EU and the UK after the latter's departure from the EU (Brexit). It was signed on 30 December 2020 and has been applied provisionally since the beginning of the year.