Cassis in Berlin: Much Talk, Little Protocol – and a Lot of Europe 😏

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Cassis in Berlin: Much Talk, Little Protocol – and a Lot of Europe 😏

1. Overview – What Is This Actually About?

  • Who wrote this (original article)?
    Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) – in other words: official Switzerland.

  • Where was this published?
    Press release on news.admin.ch

  • When was the text published?
    Original press release from November 14, 2025 (visit on November 13-14, 2025).

  • Additional context / contextual source:
    LinkedIn post by Daniel Moeckli (CSS ETH Zurich) on the future prospects of the OSCE, including reference to the preparation of the Swiss OSCE Chairmanship 2026:
    https://www.linkedin.com/posts/daniel-möckli-673a4a17_what-are-the-prospects-for-the-organization-activity-7395191727336194048-okeG

  • Who appears politically?

    • Ignazio Cassis, Head of FDFA / future OSCE Chairman 2026
    • Johann Wadephul, German Foreign Minister since May 6, 2025
    • Reem Alabali Radovan, German Development Minister since May 6, 2025

  • When am I reading this?
    On November 16, 2025 (i.e., right in the aftermath of the Berlin trip).

  • Reading time

    • Original press release: approx. 3 minutes
    • This slightly ironic deep-dive: approx. 5 minutes – strong coffee recommended.

2. Summary – I Got It, Now You Do Too

Brief Introduction

Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis travels to Berlin, meets the new German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul and Development Minister Reem Alabali Radovan. Officially, it's about "bilateral relations," "cross-border cooperation," the Switzerland-EU treaty package, and major crises (Ukraine, Middle East). Unofficially: It's about nothing less than the question of how much freedom Switzerland can still afford in Europe – and who will control which levers in the future.

The Most Important Points (max. 7)

  1. Two-day working visit by Cassis to Berlin on November 13-14, 2025, with official meeting with Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul.
  2. At the center is the Switzerland-EU treaty package ("Bilaterals III"), which aims to stabilize and further develop relations across around 800 pages – including dynamic adoption of law, dispute resolution, and new internal market agreements.
  3. Germany, as the largest EU neighbor and political heavyweight, is central to whether this package becomes politically viable – or gets torn apart as an "EU submission treaty" in the Swiss referendum campaign.
  4. Additionally, it's about security policy: war in Ukraine, tensions in the Middle East, and Europe's role in a fragile world order – including a look at the OSCE, which Switzerland will chair for the third time in 2026.
  5. Cassis also meets Development Minister Reem Alabali Radovan, who is currently realigning German development cooperation with a budget of over 10.31 billion euros per year – with greater involvement of the private sector.
  6. Much remains surprisingly vague: concrete commitments on customs issues, the treaty package, or new projects are simply not mentioned in the press release – transparency looks different.
  7. In the background: debates about a new European security architecture, the future of the OSCE with its 57 participating states, and the question of whether small states like Switzerland can still implement real innovation in these structures.

Uncertainties and open points:

  • Exactly how Germany will comment on the Swiss referendum campaign regarding the EU treaty package remains open. [⚠️ Still to be verified]
  • Which concrete projects were agreed upon with Reem Alabali Radovan is not apparent from the press release. [⚠️ Still to be verified]

3. Opportunities & Risks – It's Complicated

Opportunities

  • Solid Partner for European Issues
    With Wadephul as a clearly transatlantic and Europe-oriented Foreign Minister, Germany could become a predictable partner for developing the bilateral path.

  • Tailwind for the Switzerland-EU Treaty Package
    A benevolent Berlin increases the chances that the EU will support pragmatic solutions on dispute resolution, wage protection, and state aid rules – which could defuse the domestic political debate in Switzerland.

  • Preparation for the OSCE Chairmanship 2026
    Good relations with Germany and the EU are worth their weight in gold when Cassis wants to play a credible role as a bridge-builder as OSCE Chairman – especially regarding Ukraine, arms control, and human rights.

Risks

  • Transparency Deficit
    When only platitudes remain after a high-level visit ("broad exchange of views," "excellent relations"), this appears unconvincing both internally and externally – and feeds suspicions that sensitive commitments are better made behind closed doors.

  • Freedom vs. Treaty Text
    The EU treaty package promises stability but simultaneously restricts Switzerland's political room for maneuver – e.g., through dynamic adoption of law and dispute resolution mechanisms. Anyone speaking of freedom must explain how these mechanisms should be democratically controlled.

  • Political Instrumentalization
    Every gesture in Berlin will be interpreted in Swiss domestic politics: as "kowtowing to Brussels" or as "responsible European policy." The danger that it ultimately becomes less about substantive responsibility than campaign slogans is real.

4. Looking to the Future – What Could Still Come?

Short-term (1 year)

  • Federal Council Message and Parliamentary Debate
    After concluding the consultation on the Switzerland-EU treaty package, the Federal Council will send its message to Parliament; political fronts in Bern will sort themselves out – including intra-party trench warfare.

  • Test Run with Berlin
    Whether Wadephul is really perceived as a reliable partner for Switzerland will be shown by how Germany publicly comments on critical dossiers – such as wage protection or potential customs conflicts with third countries. [⚠️ Still to be verified]

  • OSCE Countdown
    Preparation for the Swiss OSCE Chairmanship 2026 becomes more concrete; panel discussions like those outlined by Daniel Moeckli already sketch scenarios of how much room for action the OSCE has left in a blocked security order.

Medium-term (5 years)

  • Implementation or Failure of the Treaty Package
    If the package is accepted in a referendum, a multi-year process of legal adaptation, monitoring, and practical cooperation begins – with much potential for disputes over comprehensibility and transparency. If rejected, Switzerland is back at square one with treaties.

  • New Balance Switzerland-Germany-EU
    Depending on how Germany positions itself in European policy (more integration depth vs. renationalization tendencies), Switzerland and the EU must recalibrate their relationship – for instance, regarding electricity markets, research, or migration.

  • OSCE under Swiss Influence
    If the Swiss Chairmanship 2026 sets some concrete reform impulses for the OSCE (e.g., in conflict prevention or technology issues), this could strengthen the role of small states in multilateral forums – provided the major powers allow it.

Long-term (10-20 years)

  • New European Architecture
    With or without a formal EU membership scenario: the bilateral special path will have to adapt because the EU and domestic political realities continue to evolve. The question is whether Switzerland actively helps shape this or passively follows.

  • Switzerland's Role as Bridge-Builder
    Between EU, non-EU states, OSCE, UN, and a fragmented world order, Switzerland could maintain its role as a neutral mediator – or lose it if it cannot credibly combine free trade, human rights, and its own freedom.

  • Innovation vs. Administrative Routine
    In the long term, it will be decided whether such visits to Berlin remain mainly protocol and obligatory appointments – or whether they actually result in new innovation models in cross-border cooperation (e.g., in energy, digitalization, climate). [⚠️ Still to be verified]

5. Fact Check – Is This Actually True?

Solidly documented:

  • Cassis' Berlin visit on November 13-14, 2025 including meetings with Federal Minister Wadephul and Development Minister Alabali Radovan is officially documented in the FDFA press release.
  • Johann Wadephul has been German Foreign Minister since May 6, 2025 in the Merz cabinet – confirmed by the Foreign Office and other official biographies.
  • Reem Alabali Radovan has been Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development since May 6, 2025.
  • The Switzerland-EU treaty package ("Bilaterals III") exists, encompasses several federal decrees, dynamic adoption of law, and new internal market agreements; consultation opened on June 13, 2025.
  • Switzerland will assume the OSCE chairmanship for the third time in 2026 with Cassis as Chairperson-in-Office; the OSCE has 57 participating states.

Plausible, but politically charged:

  • Assessment of whether the treaty package restricts or rather secures Swiss sovereignty is heavily dependent on political standpoint; here there are contradictory assessments from government, business associations, and critics.

Open / poorly communicated transparently:

  • Which concrete commitments Berlin made regarding the treaty package (e.g., on handling disputes or political support in Brussels) is not mentioned in the official communication. [⚠️ Still to be verified]
  • Whether new joint projects in development cooperation have already been agreed upon is not apparent from freely accessible sources about the visit. [⚠️ Still to be verified]

6. Brief Conclusion – So, What Is This Really About?

The most important message: Cassis' visit to Berlin is less courtesy program than strategic assessment – right in the middle of a decisive phase for the Switzerland-EU treaty package and before the OSCE Chairmanship 2026. Anyone interested in how much freedom Switzerland wants to retain in Europe and what responsibility it assumes in the security order should not dismiss this visit as a marginal note. At the same time, communication remains surprisingly sparse, raising questions about transparency and democratic accountability. Recommendation: stay alert, read sources, not just headlines – and next time there's a "everything remained the same" statement, politely ask for details.

7. Three Critical Questions – Fair, but a Bit Uncomfortable

  1. Freedom:
    How does the Federal Council ensure that the Switzerland-EU treaty package doesn't gradually bring more external control than stability – and how can citizens actually monitor this balance?

  2. Responsibility:
    If Cassis plays a more active role in conflicts like Ukraine or the Middle East as future OSCE Chairman 2026 – how is it democratically clarified in advance what risks Switzerland is prepared to bear, and who takes political responsibility if something goes wrong?

  3. Innovation & Transparency:
    Are meetings like the one in Berlin used to really build new, innovative forms of cooperation (e.g., in energy, security, development) – or does it remain with nice-sounding communiqués without concrete, verifiable goals and metrics that the public can examine?

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