Switzerland's President Underlines EU Ambition

by Ulrika Lomas, Tax-News.com, Brussels

02 January 2003

Pascal Couchepin, Swiss Interior Minister, who takes on the additional role of President of the Confederation for 2003, says that joining the European Union is a necessity for Switzerland.

In an interview with Swiss Info, Mr Couchepin said: 'From outside, there is not always a negative view of Switzerland because we are not a member of the EU. In my opinion, we shall and must be a member of EU. But we have to take small steps because we have a system of direct democracy. It means that decisions about joining or not joining the EU will be put to the people through a public vote.'

However, the President reaffirmed the country's position on the EU's Savings Tax Directive, insisting that banking secrecy was paramount: 'We proposed a very generous solution with the withholding tax on European citizens’ asset income in Switzerland. But we will not agree to suppress banking secrecy because it is part of our view of interpreting the relations between the state and private citizens. But we are convinced that our proposition is generous and it is a good offer which can be accepted. We hope it will succeed.'

Asked if he had one particular task or goal for 2003, Mr Couchepin recalled the answer given by a British Prime Minister to such a question (Edward Heath, he supposed), that his first task was to respond to events. It was Harold MacMillan in fact ('SuperMac') who said: 'Events, dear boy, events'.

Let's wish Mr Couchepin, a 60-year old lawyer, good luck with this year's events.

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