Because of a broken framework agreement
EU takes revenge on Swiss machine industry
After the medical device industry and in-vitro diagnostics, the machine industry is now threatened with losing its privileged access to the EU internal market. Brussels is taking revenge for the failure of the framework agreement.
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The Swiss state government around the then Federal President Guy Parmelin pulled the emergency brake in May 2021.
Daniel BallmerEditor Politics
The continuing blockade of the bilateral path after the breakdown of negotiations on a framework agreement with the EU could soon claim further victims in the Swiss economy. After the medical device industry and in-vitro diagnostics, it is now threatening to hit the machine industry. Easier access to the EU internal market could soon be abolished.
The Swiss industry is still benefiting from a gallows respite. So far, the new EU Machinery Regulation has not cleared all the hurdles: the EU Parliament and EU states are arguing about details such as the length of the transition periods. Despite everything, the new EU regulation should come into force in the first half of 2023.
The agreement between Switzerland and the EU would also have to be updated with the new regulation. However, there are currently no signs that Brussels will agree to this update. This should have consequences for Swiss producers.
The result would be a “considerable additional effort”
Because like the currently valid EU regulation, the new regulation also provides for two categories of machines. The vast majority of machines belong to the first category – such as coffee machines, mixers and packaging machines.
The manufacturers themselves are already allowed to certify here. This should also remain under the new regulation. This is good news for Swiss producers.
But Swissmem expects that Swiss exporters will now “need a so-called economic player in the EU”. This person must then be specified on the product, “which leads to a considerable additional effort in the case of mass-produced products”.
And there are still more hurdles to face
The second category includes products with a particular risk potential if used improperly. These include hand chain saws, milling machines and plastic injection molding machines. With a few exceptions, these must be certified by a third party.
While the EU today recognizes certifications by Swiss bodies, this will no longer be the case unless the agreement is updated. According to Swissmem, certification must then be carried out by a body in the EU. “Otherwise, the certificate will not be recognized by the authorities,” which in turn means more bureaucracy and costs for Swiss manufacturers.
Cassis remains optimistic
But there is still hope. Relations between Switzerland and the EU have recently improved again. The hangover is gone, the dynamic with the EU is positive, FDP Federal Councilor Ignazio Cassis (61) recently confirmed in an interview with the “NZZ”. It is now important to use this positive dynamic.
“If the Federal Council sees a viable basis for an agreement, I can well imagine that it will also be ready to start negotiations in the election year,” said Foreign Minister Cassis optimistically. (SDA/dba)