The trip is in response to a long-standing invitation from the president of the Austrian Federal Council, Andrea Eder-Gitschthaler, to visit a DemokratieWERKstatt (‘democracy workshop’) in Vienna. This political education initiative gives children and young adults access to democracy and parliamentarianism, a theme on which Mr Stöckli has chosen to focus during his presidential year.
Close relations with neighbouring countries and other European partners is important for Switzerland, especially in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic. The members of the Council of States have therefore decided to accept the invitation to visit Austria and to embark on the trip. Appropriate protection measures will be observed during the visit. Besides the coronavirus pandemic, the visit will focus on Switzerland’s relations with the European Union, particularly as the visit takes place immediately following the popular vote on 27 September 2020, which is of major importance for Switzerland’s European policy.
The delegation will take the night train to Slovakia via Vienna and will engage in official talks with the speaker and members of the Slovak parliament in Bratislava on 28 and 29 September. A courtesy visit to the Slovak president Zuzana Čaputová is also planned. During the stay, the delegation will also explore the Slovak media landscape and visit the Ringier Axel Springer Slovakia.
The delegation will then travel to Vienna, where on 30 September and 1 October it will meet for discussions with Austrian Federal Council president Andrea Eder-Gitschthaler and members of the National Council. A meeting with the Minister for the EU Karoline Edtstadler is also planned. Futhermore, with a view to the coming winter season, the delegation will talk to representatives of the Ministry of Economic Affairs about the tourism industry in times of the coronavirus. ‘Multilateral Vienna’ and its themes are also part of the programme.
The official Council of States delegation comprises: President of the Council of States Hans Stöckli (SP, BE), 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).