Public panel discussion about the institutional agreement – opportunities and risks for Switzerland

3 May 2019. Wherever Switzerland wants unrestricted access to the EU market, it will have to agree to adopting the law of the EU’s single market – this is what the EU wants, and this is how we can summarise the core of the institutional agreement, which is a bone of contention in Swiss politics at present.

Switzerland and the EU

There are bilateral agreements between Switzerland and the EU in which the EU law applicable at the time of their conclusion was adopted. Whereas European law has changed in certain areas in past years, there have hardly been any adaptations of the existing agreements. The institutional agreement is intended to change this.

Switzerland and its decision

Switzerland is now confronted with the decision whether or not to sign an institutional agreement with the EU. A unanimous answer to this question has not been found to date, for the agreement contains some controversial sticking points – and politicians are therefore at loggerheads. Is the existing proposal of an agreement satisfactory, and what are the possible consequences of the institutional agreement for Switzerland?

Four national councillors in a discussion

Against this backdrop, the public panel discussion at the University of St.Gallen (HSG) will shed light on the current debate about the relations between Switzerland and the EU. The opportunities and risks of the institutional agreement will be discussed by a panel of four national councillors: Doris Fiala (Liberal Democrats), Roger Köppel (Swiss People’s Party), Martin Landolt (Bourgeois Democrats) and Corrado Pardini (Social Democrats). The discussion will be moderated by the CEO and Chairman of Mediapolis, Sven Bradke. After the panel discussion, a public debate will be held in which the panellists will answer questions asked by the audience.

Organisation and realisation

The event is organised by the St.Gallen Forum on Security Policy. This independent association is run by HSG students. In a lecture series on current issues of foreign and security policy, the association has actively contributed towards the political debate at the University of St.Gallen. The public panel discussion is followed by an aperitif. The event is open to the public; admission is free. Journalists are kindly asked to submit a brief notice of their attendance.

When: Thursday, 16 May, 7.15 p.m.
Where: Audimax, Library Building, University of St.Gallen, Dufourstrasse 50, St.Gallen

Contact point for questions and accreditation for media representatives:

Alice Brazzola, St.Gallen Forum on Security Policy (SPF): marketing@spforum.ch

photo: Adobe Stock / Zerbor