Ambassador of the European Union in Switzerland since 2020, Petros Mavromichalis is preparing to leave our country in two months. In the morning, the diplomat returned to the new bilateral Swiss-EU bilateral packages, presented last spring. After this last advance, the Greek leaves with the feeling of “accomplished duty”.
After four years of roller coaster in relations between Switzerland and the European Union, the two partners presented at the end of May a new package of bilateral agreements.
Very involved in negotiations, the European ambassador to Switzerland Petros Mavromichalis, who will leave his post in two months to represent the interests of the EU in Uruguay, believes that his camp has made a “step forward to stabilize this important relationship [pour les deux parties] And allow him to progress “. He says he leave with the” feeling of accomplished duty “.
>> Read also: The Federal Council approves new agreements to stabilize relations with Brussels
The sword of Damocles
But the process is far from over, since the two entities must still ratify the 1800 -page agreement. In Switzerland, the Federal Council put the package in consultation until October 31. The text will then be debated in the Parliament and the final decision should return to the people in 2027 or 2028.
From this perspective, Petros Mavromichalis, 61, is confident, despite the complex process that awaits Switzerland. “We have negotiated for a long time. We tried to take into account the concerns, the concerns expressed by our partner Switzerland and we therefore have a balanced package on the table which should, I hope, convince all the parts,” he argues in the morning.
In the end, he believes that these agreements are “win-win” and underlines the importance of Switzerland for the EU: “Switzerland is an important partner for us. It is our fourth trading partner. It is a nearby country, a friendly country”.
>> Read also the article in point J: What is the Swiss-EU bilateral way exactly?
“Values ​​that unite us”
In a geopolitical context which he describes as “troubled”, the European ambassador also believes that the ratification of new agreements goes further and will strengthen the links between European democracies. “We have an interest in tightening the links with our closest, culturally, but – and above all – partners, but above all – in terms of values: democracy, law, market economics and freedom of commerce. These are values ​​that unite in Switzerland,” explains the diplomat.
Petros Mavromichalis underlines the importance of preserving the integrity of the EU internal market while maintaining close relations with Switzerland. “We have an interest in preserving this living space, this economic space which links us to Switzerland and which mainly links the border regions of the neighboring countries of Switzerland,” he concludes.
>> All about “bilateral III”: Podcast: understand everything about bilateral agreements with the EU
Interview by Pietro Bugnon
Web article: Jeremiah Favre
