During her term as president of the Council of States, Brigitte Häberli-Koller aims to foster relations with two of Switzerland’s important European partner countries. She will travel with a parliamentary delegation to Poland and Germany from 27 to 31 March as part of these efforts. Official talks are to focus on Switzerland’s bilateral relations with both countries as well as the consequences of the war in Ukraine and European policy matters.

Switzerland and Poland have enjoyed very good relations for many years, including wide-ranging exchanges in the cultural and economic sectors. Poland is also the partner country receiving the most support from the second Swiss contribution to selected EU member states. The country has taken in more than 1.5 million displaced people since the start of Russian aggression against Ukraine on 24 February 2022, making it the primary destination for people fleeing Ukraine. Ms Häberli-Koller will take her visit to Warsaw as an opportunity to express her respect for the exceptional solidarity of the Polish people and the dedication of the Polish authorities. 

The Council of States delegation will be received in Warsaw on Monday, 27 March, by Professor Tomasz Grodzki, Marshal of the Senate of Poland, who presides over the upper house of the Polish parliament. They will also meet with Elżbieta Witek, the Marshal of the Sejm (the lower house of the Polish parliament), and with members of the Polish–Swiss Friendship Group. In connection with the second Swiss contribution, the delegation will meet with Minister for Development Funds and Regional Policy Grzegorz Puda, and visit the city of Legionowo, where Switzerland’s contribution to EU enlargement facilitated the successful completion of a transport infrastructure project.

On Wednesday, 29 March, the delegation will travel to Berlin. Germany is Switzerland’s largest trading partner, and the two countries also maintain diverse and close relations in a wide range of political, scientific, cultural and social endeavours. German Bundesrat President Dr Peter Tschentscher (President of the Senate and First Mayor of the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg) will receive Ms Häberli-Koller in Berlin. Talks at the Bundestag are also planned, with representatives of several ministries, as well as with the head of the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung, Professor Norbert Lammert.

These talks will focus on bilateral relations, while also looking closely at the impact that challenges in Swiss-EU relations are having on collaboration between Switzerland and Germany, especially in the economic and research sectors. Issues surrounding Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, and the effect of the situation on German and Swiss foreign and security policy, are also on the agenda.

The Council of States president will be accompanied on the trip by Council of States members Lisa Mazzone (Greens, GE), Andrea Caroni (FDP, AR), Stefan Engler (The Centre, GR) and Werner Salzmann (SVP, BE).