15/02/2007 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission must not treat Switzerland like “the Iraq of the Alps”, said Jean-Claude Juncker on Wednesday 14 February after a meeting in Luxembourg with Micheline Calmy-Rey, President of the Swiss Confederation, as reported by the Swiss daily, Le Temps. Speaking of the European Commission's decision early this week which described a number of Swiss cantonal measures as incompatible with the EU/Switzerland free trade agreement of 1972 (see EUROPE 9365), the Luxembourg prime minister said the Commission should not threaten Switzerland with safeguard measures. “We are not at war. This is a debate between friends”, he said, adding that, between friends, “you don't not talk of some things that it would be preferable not to talk about”. After Austria, Luxembourg therefore also shows its understanding for the Swiss authorities. In its decision, the Commission reserves itself the right to take safeguard measures. In parallel, it also called on the Council for a negotiating brief and for a friendly agreement to be reached with Switzerland. It is not clear at this stage whether the Council's decision to grant the Commission a negotiating brief requires unanimity or qualified majority. (mb)