Close exchange with neighbouring countries and other European partners is important for Switzerland, particularly in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. For this reason, the Council of States decided that its president’s delegation visit to Bratislava and Vienna from 28 September to 1 October 2020 should go ahead. Appropriate precautionary measures were in place throughout the visit. In addition to the COVID-19 pandemic, the official talks focused on Switzerland's relations with the European Union, particularly as the visit took place immediately after the popular vote held on 27 September 2020, which was of significance for European policy.

Focus of the stay in Slovakia

Mr Stöckli and his delegation were received in Bratislava on Tuesday 29 September by the speaker of the Slovak National Council, Boris Kollár, and members of the Slovak parliament. Their discussion focused on the measures taken by both countries to contain the COVID-19 pandemic and to alleviate its economic consequences. So far, Slovakia has one of the lowest case rates in Europe, but the government recently introduced tougher protective measures in response to the steadily rising number of infections in the days preceding the visit by the Council of States delegation. Another major topic of discussion was the various popular votes held in Switzerland on 27 September – in particular the rejection of the ‘Limitation Initiative’ – the future shape of relations between Switzerland and the European Union and the Swiss enlargement contribution.

In addition to meeting representatives of the Slovak Parliament, Mr Stöckli was received by the president of the Slovak Republic, Zuzana Čaputová. They agreed that relations between Slovakia and Switzerland are very friendly and have great potential, especially as regards cooperation in the field of business and innovation.

While in Bratislava the delegation also visited the Ringier Axel Springer Slovakia publishing house, where it exchanged views with media representatives on the Slovak media landscape and the importance of investigative journalism. The delegation chose to make this visit because of the case of journalist Ján Kuciak, who was murdered on 21 February 2018 while working as an editor for a news portal belonging to the publishing house. Finally, at a working lunch the delegation had the opportunity to exchange views with various representatives of Slovak institutions, including Martin Klus, State Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and also met representatives of the scientific and business communities.

Main points of the visit to Austria

Some time ago the president of the Austrian Federal Council, Dr Andrea Eder-Gitschthaler, invited a delegation from Switzerland to visit a democracy workshop in Vienna. This initiative for political education gives children and young people access to democracy and parliamentarianism and mirrors a theme which Mr Stöckli, as president of the Council of States, has chosen for his presidential year. Mr Stöckli and Dr Eder-Gitschthaler agreed that parliaments have a special responsibility in the area of political education.

In addition to participating in the democracy workshop, the Council of States delegation and Dr Eder-Gitschthaler discussed the results of the popular votes held in Switzerland on 27 September. A further topic was the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the functioning of parliament. Both sides stressed how any measures taken against COVID should take into account the close economic, social and cultural exchange in the border regions.

Talks with Karoline Edtstadler, Federal Minister for EU and Constitution at the Austrian Federal Chancellery, also focused on relations between Switzerland and the European Union. In an exchange with Michael Esterl, Secretary General of the Federal Ministry for Digital and Economic Affairs, the delegation heard about Austrian measures to support the economy, in particular the Austrian government’s economic stimulus package and measures relating to winter tourism. During their stay in Austria, the delegation also exchanged views with members of the Austrian parliamentary group and representatives of the business community.

Vienna is also important for Switzerland as the seat of several international organisations. In talks with Ambassador Thomas Greminger, former Secretary General of the OSCE, the delegation discussed various security policy challenges currently facing Europe. On the initiative of the permanent mission of Switzerland to the United Nations and other international organisations in Vienna, at the end of the visit Mr Stöckli had the honour of handing over a piece of the Twannberg Meteorite to the Vienna Natural History Museum. The Twannberg Meteorite is a rare type of iron meteorite that was found near Mr Stöckli’s home town. The Vienna Natural History Museum houses the largest and oldest meteorite collection in the world. Among the approximately 1,100 pieces from its public collection, three exhibits from Switzerland can now be admired.

The Swiss delegation:

The official delegation of the Council of States comprised the president of the Council of States, Hans Stöckli (SP, BE), the second vice president, Thomas Hefti (FDP, GL), and Council of States members Elisabeth Baume-Schneider (SP, JU), Brigitte Häberli-Koller (CVP, TG), Lisa Mazzone (Green Party, GE) and Hannes Germann (SVP, SH).