Swiss Farmers' Association Holds Off on EU Treaty Stance, Citing Concerns Over Sovereignty and Future Renegotiations
The Swiss Farmers’ Association has not yet taken a clear stance on the EU treaty package, awaiting further improvements and details. President Markus Ritter has outlined the association's position, expressing concerns about the application of institutional rules to existing agricultural agreements and potential future renegotiations.
The association wants the public, including farmers, to fully understand what is at stake in the EU treaty package. It supports a double majority (canton and popular vote) for approving the treaties, preferring this over a simple majority vote.
The association's primary concern lies in the food sector, where it has procedural reservations. It fears a new integration procedure that could allow the EU to set new regulations without a domestic consultation process. The association wants to maintain full sovereignty over food and agricultural policy, including decision-making autonomy and direct democratic rights.
The association prefers the existing bilateral agreements over an updated deal. It believes the new treaties focus too much on institutional questions, which would tie Switzerland to EU rulemaking with little say in the process. However, the association supports the bilateral approach in principle.
The Swiss Farmers’ Association awaits further improvements and details before taking a definitive stance on the EU treaty package. It is concerned about the application of institutional rules to existing agricultural agreements and potential future renegotiations. The association wants to maintain full sovereignty over food and agricultural policy and prefers the existing bilateral agreements over an updated deal.
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