Berset in Vienna – Austria wants to support Switzerland with Horizon participation – News
- Federal President Alain Berset was received by his counterpart Alexander Van der Bellen on the traditional first visit to the Austrian capital Vienna.
- This promised of Switzerland support for participation in the “Horizon Europe” research program.
- Berset also met the Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer, President of the National Council Wolfgang Sobotka and other ministers.
Van der Bellen called the visit of the Swiss Federal President a nice tradition. They are indicative of the close and trusting relationship between the countries. Berset was greeted with immediate honor in the inner courtyard of the Vienna Hofburg.
During the exchange about the relations between Switzerland and the EU, Berset emphasized according to one Message of the Federal Department of Home Affairs (FDHA) the will of Switzerland to further develop the mutually beneficial partnership. The Federal Council has proposed a broad package approach to bring those concerned together.
Van der Bellen pledges support for Horizon
The association of Switzerland with the European programs “Horizon Europe” and “Erasmus+” is pending. As the Austrian news agency APA reported, Van der Bellen clearly criticized EU policy towards Switzerland. “Personally, I find it unbearable that Switzerland has the best universities in the world […] is currently excluded from Horizon Europe, the research program of the European Union,” says Van der Bellen.
The research area is an example of how the EU also needs Switzerland. “Austria will do everything to improve the relationship between the EU and Switzerland at this level,” promised the long-standing university professor.
Berset was “pleased” that Austria shares the Swiss position regarding Horizon Europe and acknowledged Austria’s commitment to a solution.
Ukraine war and climate are topics of conversation
But Berset did not only meet with the Austrian Federal President. There were also talks with Chancellor Karl Nehammer, in the presence of Alexander Schallenberg, Minister for European and International Affairs. A working meeting with the President of the National Council, Wolfgang Sobotka, and Johannes Rauch, the Minister for Social Affairs, are also on the agenda.
The topics of discussion were the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine and the commitment of both countries in favor of the Ukrainian population, as the EDI announced. Also on the agenda were European migration policy, climate policy, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and cooperation between the two countries within the framework of the UN and the OSCE.