Switzerland and Germany maintain close relations in various areas and are closely connected by a common language and an active exchange at the economic, cultural and personal level. The working meeting in Bern on 5 and 6 December will provide an opportunity to foster these relations at parliamentary level and to exchange views on the challenges currently facing both parliaments. In addition to the talks between the two delegations, which are responsible for fostering relations between the Swiss and German parliaments, a meeting is planned with the National Council president, Martin Candinas.
Beside talks at the parliamentary level, a courtesy call on Federal Councillor Guy Parmelin, head of the Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research (EAER), and a meeting with the State Secretary of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA), Livia Leu, are on the agenda. The discussions will focus on the status of relations between Switzerland and Germany and between Switzerland and the European Union, as well as on cross-border ties in the areas of business and research. Further topics will include the war in Ukraine and the related challenges in the areas of energy and climate policy, sanctions policy and the export of war material. Finally, the German delegation will visit the SBB AG headquarters and hear about the latest developments in transport policy.
The delegation of the German-Swiss Parliamentary Group of the German Bundestag will comprise its president, Felix Schreiner (CDU/CSU), and the parliamentarians Ann-Veruschka Jurisch (FDP), Gerrit Huy (AfD), Gregor Gysi (Die Linke) and Lina Seitzl (SPD).