CommunicationPublished on 26 June 2020

«The crisis has shown how important open borders are»

For weeks, the Swiss border with neighbouring countries has been closed. Now, developments in the containment of COVID-19 have made it possible to reopen the borders. Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis is underscoring the importance of this step for border regions with meetings in Chiasso, Kreuzlingen and Geneva. From 16 to 26 June, he will be meeting with representatives of Italy, Austria, Liechtenstein, Germany and France. «The crisis has shown how important open borders are,» he said.

Map of Switzerland showing which national representativesFederal Councillor Cassis will be meeting and where. In Chiasso he meets the Italian Foreign Minister. In Kreuzlingen he will meet representatives of Austria, Liechtenstein and Germany, and in Geneva, a representative of France.
Federal Councillor Cassis and his Italian counterpart Di Maio greet each other at the border crossing in Chiasso in conformity with the FOPH.
Shaking hands with distance: Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis welcomes the Foreign Minister of the Principality of Liechtenstein, Katrin Eggenberger.

Solidarity and pragmatic cooperation during COVID-19

Despite the relaxing of measures in everyday life and the reopening of the borders, COVID-19 remains an important topic between Mr Cassis and his discussion partners. Close contact, solidarity, and pragmatic, shared decision-making facilitated cooperation between Switzerland and its neighbours at the peak of the COVID-19 crisis. Cooperation in the following areas was particularly successful:

  • repatriation of citizens of Switzerland and neighbouring countries who had been stranded abroad
  • free movement of frontier workers, especially health workers
  • ensuring the flow of goods across borders

Switzerland's neighbouring countries are very important to its economy, culture and society. They are among Switzerland's biggest trading partners worldwide. Switzerland's trade volume with Baden-Württemberg amounts to CHF 35 billion per year, making this German state Switzerland's seventh most important trading partner worldwide. Trade with the Austrian border regions of Vorarlberg and Tyrol amounts to CHF 6 billion, more than the volume of trade with Brazil or Russia.

The crisis has shown how important open borders are, not only for the economy but also for people: it is crucial for them to be able to move freely between countries.
Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis

The reopening of borders to restore the free movement of persons is a key element in the transition to a new normality. However, the COVID-19 pandemic is not yet over. Close collaboration between neighbouring countries will remain important.

COVID experience as a basis for future negotiations

In addition to shared experiences in fighting COVID-19, the meetings will focus on European policy and international issues. Among other things, Ignazio Cassis will brief his discussion partners on current progress on the European dossier. He will stress that cooperation between Switzerland and the EU and its member states has been crucial in tackling the coronavirus crisis, and that the pragmatism that emerged in the joint management of the pandemic will prove useful in future discussions between Switzerland and the EU.

Contact

FDFA Communication
General Secretariat GS-FDFA
Federal Palace West
3003 Bern