Former Swiss official invests one million francs in EU debate

Former senior Swiss official Hans Werder has put one million Swiss francs of his private fortune into a foundation aimed at making the debate over Switzerland’s relationship with the European Union more substantive, SRF reported.

The foundation, called Swiss Perspectives in Europe, was established as Switzerland and the EU prepare to debate a package of agreements that will be among the country’s most important political issues in the coming years.

Werder, who is 80, said he was concerned that the discussion focused too heavily on details while neglecting the broader questions. He cited disputes over registration deadlines for posted workers, expense rules and whether a German Flixbus should be allowed to travel once a week from Basel Badischer Bahnhof to Zurich.

“We still act as if we could watch from a balcony,” Werder said. “We are neutral, so nothing happens to us. That has not been true for a long time.”

Werder was secretary general of Uvek, the Federal Department of the Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications, from 1996 to 2010. During that time, he worked under former Federal Councillor Moritz Leuenberger and also experienced Christoph Blocher’s time as a federal councillor.

Werder said he respected Blocher, a leading figure in the Swiss People’s Party, for spending his own money on his political goals. “If something is important, you have to get involved,” he said. “And if you have the opportunity and the means to do so, you have to spend them.”

Werder said he had invested the money because he had earned enough, had no children or descendants and could not take his small fortune with him. The foundation is using the money to finance studies. Its first study, on the consequences of Brexit, has already been published. Further studies on security and Switzerland’s success model are planned.

The foundation supports a regulated relationship with the EU but will not comment on ongoing referendums, Werder said. Political parties, associations and trade unions should do that instead.

Werder runs the foundation with former Council of States member Christine Beerli and historian André Holenstein. It aims to remain independent and to bring broader issues into the public discussion about Switzerland and Europe.