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Former Secretary of State Franz Blankart died Sunday afternoon at the age of 84. His wife Anne confirmed the death at the request of the Keystone-SDA news agency. Among other things, Blankart was the chief negotiator for the EEA negotiations.
Anne Blankart specified that her husband did not die from Covid-19. Blankart married a second time and had two children. He was a member of the Swiss FDP and a colonel in the Swiss Army.
In 1986, when Kurt Furgler was head of the Federal Department of Economic Affairs (FDEA), Blankart was appointed Secretary of State and Director of the Federal Office for Foreign Trade (Bawi), now Secretary of State for Economic Affairs (Seco).
The philosopher, who received his doctorate in Basel, entered the diplomatic service in 1965 and was private secretary to the Federal Councilors of SP Willy Spühler and Pierre Graber. From 1973 to 1980 he headed the FDFA / EVD integration office, then moved to Geneva as ambassador to Efta and Gatt and later became a Federal Council delegate for trade agreements.
32 negotiated agreements
Blankart negotiated a total of 32 deals as head of delegation. He already participated in the negotiation of the Switzerland-EEC free trade agreement in 1972. Later he was chief negotiator of the insurance agreement between Switzerland and the EC and of the EEA negotiations and negotiator of the Uruguay Round of the Gatt.
FDFA Secretary of State Jakob Kellenberger was appointed chief negotiator for bilateral negotiations with the EU following the No to the EEA. In early May 1998, Blankart announced his resignation on his own initiative by the end of November of the same year. The experienced chief negotiator suffered his greatest defeat when the Swiss people rejected the EEA.
As a reason for his early resignation after 33 years in federal service, he had stated that new developments were coming in two important areas of the office, which he was still beginning, but which he could no longer complete for reasons of age. Blankart was 62 at the time.
The Swiss Trade and Industry Association (suburb) paid tribute to the outgoing diplomatic chief for bravely fighting for free market access in areas where there was resistance, such as agriculture. He has always advocated for a consistent regulatory policy and open borders.
