Switzerland: CVP boss Pfister sees little chance of the EU framework agreement

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President of the Christian Democratic People's Party, Gerhard Pfister , has spoken out against the framework agreement with the EU. For years, all parties have been reluctant to be the first to say it was dead. He explained this to the Zurich Tages-Anzeiger on Tuesday. The EU framework agreement has never existed. The result of the renegotiations without substantial improvements for Switzerland is insufficient.

The role of the European Court of Justice is toxic

He said, finally have to talk about the fundamental problem, sovereignty. The role of the European Court of Justice in the framework agreement is toxic, emphasized the CVP party leader. It cannot be that a unilateral European court decides on the relationship between the EU and a non-member.

He also criticized the framework agreement with the EU as the Federal Council's big lie. For far too long, the members of the Federal Council believed that everything could be sorted out somehow. The 57-year-old from Zug emphasized this.

He said, when it comes to wage protection, Switzerland will find a solution with the EU, if the previous level of protection can be secured. Pfister was convinced of this. The biggest sticking point is the Union Citizens' Directive. This would effectively integrate Switzerland into the EU.

More rights for EU citizens

This directive extends the idea of ​​the free movement of people, it said in this regard. This gave EU citizens the right to social benefits and pensions. The President continued to explain that they had hardly made any contributions to them. He had serious doubts as to whether the EU would be willing to accommodate Switzerland.

Pfister said, it is quite possible that the EU will come to the conclusion that the agreement is dead.