Against the backdrop of the tariff conflict with the United States, a leading German politician has suggested that Switzerland could become a member of the European Union, reported dpa.
Omid Nouripour, who is vice president of the German lower house of parliament, or Bundestag, told dpa: "The German government should offer Switzerland the opportunity to quickly deepen cooperation, up to turbo membership in the EU."
Nouripour further stated: "If our Swiss friends want to move closer to the European Union in light of new times, Germany should actively support this."
US President Donald Trump has imposed a 39% tariff on imports from Switzerland, effective since August 7. For most products from the EU, a tariff of 15% applies.
Swiss economic associations have described this as a nightmare scenario, with tens of thousands of jobs at risk.
The country of 9 million inhabitants relies on exports, with the US being the most important market, accounting for 18% last year.
Nouripour: Smaller states vulnerable
"For centuries, the Swiss have maintained a tradition of strict neutrality," said Nouripour. "However, the recent tariff dispute with Donald Trump painfully shows how vulnerable smaller states are when they are left to fend for themselves. Politically neutral, economically global: That no longer works in the new era."
Not in a world where reliable rules are increasingly threatened by the law of the strongest, Nouripour added.
"Switzerland may be wealthy, but it is also at the mercy of the arbitrary games of the big players. From a Swiss perspective, the EU may not be the best choice, but it is by far the more reliable one," he said.
The Swiss would undoubtedly be a gain for the EU, but the EU also has much to offer Switzerland in times of necessary cohesion, he added.
The stance of Switzerland
In Switzerland, however, EU membership has no chance.
There are economic associations and some left-of-centre lawmakers who are calling for a faster rapprochement with the EU, but the strongest party by votes, the right-wing populist Swiss People's Party (SVP), is strictly against it.
The SVP have even called the painstakingly negotiated package for a new basis of bilateral relations over the years a "submission treaty." They are fighting for its rejection if the package possibly comes to a referendum in 2027.
"EU membership is not seriously discussed in Switzerland, as an overwhelming majority is against it according to surveys," swissinfo.ch, the international online portal of public broadcaster SRG, reported at the beginning of August.
(By Andreas Hoenig and Christiane Oelrich).
- German politician
- EU membership
- Switzerland
Source: www.dailyfinland.fi
