© KEYSTONE/APA/WHAT/ROLAND SCHLAGER
The European policy of Switzerland and Ukraine were discussed during a meeting in Vienna between the President of the Confederation Ignazio Cassis and his Austrian counterpart Alexander Van der Bellen. Both stressed the importance of multilateralism.
“We very much regret the deadlock in the negotiations between Switzerland and the EU,” Alexander Van der Bellen told media on Thursday following the meeting. Not only does Switzerland need the EU, but the EU also needs Switzerland.
Ignazio Cassis told him that the Federal Council wishes to pursue the bilateral path with the EU. Switzerland remains a stable partner of the EU.
Mr. Van der Bellen also welcomed the fact that Switzerland has always kept its borders open for the 9,000 Austrian border workers during the coronavirus pandemic.
Strategic partnership
Discussions also focused on the new strategic partnership between Switzerland and Austria. In particular, this plans to deepen collaboration in the field of digitization, research and training.
Berne and Vienna also intend to intensify the political dialogue on mutual consular assistance in third countries. During his visit to Vienna, Mr. Cassis also met with Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer and EU and Constitution Minister Karoline Edtstadler.
Good offices
The two presidents stressed the importance of multilateralism. They recalled that Switzerland and Austria both host a UN headquarters. “We are trying to promote dialogue, for example with regard to Ukraine,” Cassis said.
Switzerland can contribute to detente thanks to its good offices and bring into dialogue people who do not want to talk to each other, continued the President of the Confederation. “We have contacts with Russia, Ukraine and the United States. We can help them solve the problems.”
Geneva hosted discussions between the United States and Russia on Monday, focusing in particular on Ukraine. On Thursday, the topic was on the agenda of a meeting within the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) in the Austrian capital.
OSCE support
“The OSCE can play an important role in the face of the tensions which currently oppose Russia and the West”, underlines the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) in a press release. At the end of his trip, Mr. Cassis met the Secretary General of the organization, Helga Schmid, and the Polish Foreign Minister, Zbigniew Rau, new OSCE President.
On this occasion, he presented the Swiss action plan for the OSCE 2022-2025. This plan aims to strengthen the OSCE, to promote confidence between the 57 member countries and to make the organization a platform for dialogue for the resolution of conflicts as well as a place of exchange on European security, underlines the FDFA.
Ignazio Cassis’ trip is part of the tradition of the first visit of the Presidents of the Confederation, which takes place in Vienna, maintained for decades between Switzerland and Austria. This tradition is a sign of the close ties between the two countries, believes the Ticino.
