European Foreign Affairs Strategy
The Swiss economy, known for its export-oriented nature, has recently faced concerns due to the tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump. These tariffs, amounting to 39%, have been a source of worry for the Swiss, particularly as they are more affected by these measures than the EU.
Amidst these challenges, Markus Töns, the European policy spokesman for the SPD parliamentary group, has expressed openness towards Switzerland joining the European Union as the 28th member. Töns, who also serves as the rapporteur for the neighboring country, sees the key prerequisite as Switzerland actively driving the accession process itself.
Töns is optimistic about Switzerland's potential membership, stating that if Switzerland submits an application, it would be warmly welcomed. He believes that the procedure for Switzerland to join the EU would be quite straightforward. However, he emphasises that the process would be long and complex, requiring political consensus both within Switzerland and among EU members.
It's important to note that the procedure for Switzerland's EU accession, according to established norms, would involve Switzerland applying for membership, followed by negotiations on numerous political, legal, and economic criteria. These negotiations would include adherence to the EU acquis and approval by existing member states.
However, recent poll results indicate a lack of widespread support for unconditional EU membership in Switzerland. A poll showed that only a fraction of the Swiss population thinks the country should join the EU unconditionally.
Interestingly, the EU has agreed to a flat rate of 15% with Trump after tough negotiations. This could be seen as a potential advantage for Switzerland, as the EU tariffs are lower than the ones imposed on Switzerland by Trump.
Despite the current lack of specific steps or requirements for Switzerland to join the EU, Töns is firmly convinced that Switzerland would be a very good member state of the EU. However, for up-to-date and detailed information on Switzerland’s EU accession status specifically tied to recent remarks by the SPD spokesman, further targeted search or direct official EU or Swiss government sources would be required.
- Markus Töns, the European policy spokesman for the SPD parliamentary group, discussed Switzerland's potential EU membership, suggesting it could be a strategic move to offset the challenges posed by US tariffs, given the EU's lower tariff rates compared to those imposed by Trump.
- The process for Switzerland to join the EU, according to Töns, would be complex and lengthy, requiring political consensus both within Switzerland and among EU members, but he remains optimistic about Switzerland's potential as a member state.
