After Switzerland ended talks with the EU on an institutional framework agreement aimed at replacing the country’s current patchwork of agreements with the bloc in May 2021, some in government have been focused on how to keep the EU on side. One obvious way to curry favour is to make the second 1 billion EU cohesion payment.
However, to make the payment, the Swiss government must agree. This week a commission voted 11 versus 2 in favour of making the payment, moving one step closer to sending the money to the EU, reported RTS.
The next step is approval by both houses: parliament (National Council) and the upper house (Council of States) over the autumn.
In December 2019, the payment was approved by parliament on the condition that the EU did not adopt any discriminatory measures towards Switzerland. However, the Federal Council wants to remove this condition as an act of good will towards Brussels.
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Bob says
I am not Swiss, but loves Switzerland as my home, I am disgusted bu the
bulling from the EU. Lets make Switzerland stronger to defend itself against the EU monster. Get more rich powerful individuals to settle in Switzerland. Money talks, and so many intelligent successful citizen of EU would like to move here.
Hans says
This is insane! Judging by the number of Germans, Italians, French, Spanish, and Portegese employed here, EU already has a substantial benefit. The main “benefit” for Switzerland? More crime, less jobs for Swiss, and more crowded motorways, just to name a few. It is the EU that should be paying not the other way around! Time for Swiexit!