The People’s Party, one of the four parties represented in the Swiss government, on Thursday came out in support of Switzerland’s bilateral accords with the European Union and said there should be no referendum on the issue.

The People’s Party, one of the four parties represented in the Swiss government, on Thursday came out in support of Switzerland’s bilateral accords with the European Union and said there should be no referendum on the issue.

The party’s parliamentary committee, which is a key policy-making body,
said the party should fully support the accords in Friday’s ratification vote.

The accords will move Switzerland closer than ever to the EU once all 15 member states also have ratified the agreements.

However, the People’s Party repeated its firm objection to EU membership and said the bilateral accords would be the final step toward the organisation.

Thursday’s policy statement, issued at a news conference in the capital Berne, is important as it comes from a party that has a very active and influential anti-European wing, grouped around parliamentarian and businessman Christoph Blocher.

Blocher and his supporters have led a high-profile and media savvy campaign against the Swiss government’s European integration policy, even though that policy has been publicly supported by the People’s Party’s own cabinet minister.

Political analysts point out that, despite the publicly stated support of the People’s Party committee for the bilateral accords, the issue will almost certainly be put to a national vote in Switzerland.

The right-wing Swiss Democrats have stated repeatedly that they will collect the 50,000 signatures necessary to pave the way for a nationwide referendum. The Party says the agreements undermine Swiss sovereignty and open the door to too many foreigners.

The Swiss-EU accords cover economic and technical cooperation, public procurement, mutual acceptance of diplomas and licences, agricultural trade, aviation issues, road and rail traffic and the free movement of people.

Cabinet ministers have repeatedly stated that the accords are very important for Switzerland’s social and economic future, as well as the country’s standing in Europe.

The government says a “no” to the accords would lead Switzerland to political isolation, damage its image abroad and could harm the country’s economic interests.

From staff and wire reports.

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