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The politician from Neuchâtel SP advocated for greater participation in Europe. The no to the EEA was a setback.
Switzerland should have a voice, not just watch. That was René Felber’s motto as Chancellor. The Neuchâtel assumed control of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs on January 1, 1988, as the end of the Cold War was looming.
Felber, who was pro-European as a social democrat from western Switzerland, wanted to renounce Switzerland’s traditionally more passive policy of neutrality for a more active foreign policy. And he saw, together with the majority of the Federal Council, joining the European Community, the EC, as the EU was still called at the time, as the best path for Switzerland.
Fateful request to join
In May 1992, Felber announced to the media that the Federal Council had signed a request for negotiations for accession to the EC. Of course, CE is not a silver bullet, but it is the best solution. Switzerland must participate in a united, peaceful and strong Europe, Felber said.
The application to join the EC was fateful to the extent that it was submitted during the vote to join the EEA. As a result, opponents of joining the European Economic Area (EEA) around political Vice President Christoph Blocher received a boost. As a result, on December 6, 1992, the electorate narrowly refused to join the EEA.
Resigned because of cancer
And so the embarrassed faces of the Federal Councilors who campaigned for a yes to the EEA are remembered. “The Federal Council regrets that Switzerland is giving up on the many openness and development opportunities offered by the EEA,” Felber said on the night of the vote.
Nothing came of the dream of Swiss codetermination. Due to cancer, Felber resigned from the state government shortly after the EEA failed. Even after his resignation he remained active, for example, in the fight against landmines. The former Federal Councilor passed away on Sunday at the age of 87.
